Dittler eager to get pro career off the ground

Spencer Patterson

Tuesday, June 5, 2001 | 10:32 a.m.

After missing five weeks of the high school baseball season with an elbow strain, Jake Dittler's draft prospects appeared uncertain to say the least just a month ago.

Though the Green Valley senior returned to make three appearances in the high school playoffs, as well as another in the senior all-star game, questions lingered about the status of his prized right arm.

So last Thursday, Dittler staged a final, private workout for scouts. Throwing with ease and hitting the mid-90s on the radar gun, that showing appears to have secured him a spot in the early rounds of today's 2001 Major League Baseball first-year player draft.

"My arm felt good, the weather was good, everything was perfect," Dittler said. "I don't think it moved me up, but it let everyone know I'm definitely healthy and ready to pitch."

The 6-3, 200-pound Dittler, a three-year varsity standout for the Gators, is expected to be Southern Nevada's top selection during the two-day event. In 2001, he went 5-2 with two saves, a 2.44 ERA and 49 strikeouts and 11 walks in 43 innings pitched.

Major League Baseball's official website ranks Dittler as the No. 57 overall prospect heading into the draft.

"Obviously, there are some concerns when someone has an injury, but in Jake's situation I don't think it's going to hurt him one iota," said Craig Conklin of the Major League Baseball Scouting Bureau.

Projected as a second-to-fifth round selection by Baseball America, Dittler said that if things go as expected today, he will likely forego college to turn professional. Last November, he signed a letter-of-intent with Cal State Northridge.

"I've always wanted to go pro, so I'm going to take it," Dittler said. "I'm eager to get started."

Garrett Guzman, one of Dittler's Green Valley teammates and the Sun's 2001 State Player of the Year, is also likely to hear his name called today. Though he hit .533 with 12 home runs and 55 RBIs this spring, his 5-10, 165-pound frame could scare off teams looking for an outfielder more in the mold of former Gator David Krynzel, last year's No. 11 overall pick.

"That's what they look for, but no one said you have to be big to hit the ball," Guzman said.

Offered Conklin, "Hitting is probably one of the hardest things to evaluate, but every scout in the world knows Garrett Guzman can flat out hit. He's probably the best high school hitter I've seen in my area this year."

Guzman, who signed with the Community College of Southern Nevada, said the Coyotes' recent move into the Scenic West Athletic Conference -- a league featuring wooden, rather than metal, bats -- could keep him in Southern Nevada another year or two.

"I didn't want to go back and swing a metal bat again," Guzman said. "Now, with the wood, it's like a head start for your pro career."

Should Guzman opt to attend CCSN, he could follow in the footsteps of players like former Coyote stars Tommy Rojas, John DiBetta and Jason Habel. After being drafted but initially declining to turn pro, all three received far better offers from the club's owning their rights after putting time in at the junior college level.

"That's what it's all about," CCSN coach Tim Chambers said. "The kids come in here to see how far they can advance. Tommy, John and Jason all moved up 20-30 rounds in terms of the money they received."

Along with Dittler and Guzman, local prep players who might be drafted include: Durango catcher Danny Kahr, Bishop Gorman catcher Cooper Fouts, Green Valley shortstop Zeke Parraz, Basic pitcher Jesse Craig and Cimarron-Memorial catcher Robert Grana.

According to Chambers, scouts have shown considerable interest in several Coyote players as well, including pitchers Josh Kerschen, Cliff McMachen, Nate Fouts and Jino Gonzalez and outfielders Jon Slack and Brent Tarbett.

In addition, Chambers could see several of his program's prep signees, most notably Guzman, Grana, Craig, Parraz, Cooper Fouts, first baseman David Gomez (Calif.) and outfielder Alhaji Turay (Wash.), go in the draft.

UNLV's list of draft hopefuls includes pitchers Ryan Olson, Courtney Hall and Jamie Gann.

"The reputation of Las Vegas baseball is definitely getting better," Conklin said. "It's gotten to where it's consistently good, like Southern California. You can always count on a good group of kids to get drafted from there each year."

A total of 20 players with local ties were selected in the 2000 draft.

As for Northern Nevada, Galena's Billy Paganetti was expected to be the state's top overall draft pick, but the Stanford signee announced earlier this week that he would attend college regardless of his draft position or the team which selected him. Grizzly teammates Joe Hooft and Dustin Hahn -- two members of the Sun's all-state first team -- both could be drafted today or Wednesday.