Wednesday, June 5, 2002 | 9:04 a.m.
At this rate, David Jensen will be running the Major League Baseball First-Year Player Draft before long.
For the third time in five years, the Green Valley graduate was selected by a professional franchise on Tuesday, this time by Kansas City. The Royals plucked BYU's sophomore first baseman with pick No. 78 -- the sixth pick in round three.
"Sometimes it can be a real mystery, the way the draft works," said Jensen, also taken by Cincinnati in round 38 out of high school in 1998 and by Cleveland in round 17 last year. "But (this time) I was expecting to be picked no later than the end of the third round, and the Royals were one of the top three teams that were on me."
A member of coach Rodger Fairless' final two state championship squads, the 6-foot-3 Jensen initially passed on his professional dreams in 1998, instead heading to Provo, Utah, to begin college.
After a season that saw him earn freshman all-American honors from Collegiate Baseball Magazine, Jensen spent two years away from the sport on a church mission in Uruguay. While he was away, he learned the Indians had selected him last summer, but again he opted not to sign, returning to BYU for his sophomore campaign.
"I came home from my mission and I'd lost 25-30 pounds, and I was rusty with the bat," Jensen said. "But I battled through and kept a positive outlook."
This spring, a re-vitalized Jensen started all 63 games for the Cougars, batting .411 with 10 home runs, 29 doubles and 69 RBIs. Co-Player of the Year in the Mountain West Conference and a Collegiate Baseball third-team All-American, he was also named MVP of the NCAA Regional in Los Angeles, where BYU fell to USC 13-10 in Monday's final.
Those accomplishments caught the eye of major league teams, who began projecting Jensen as a top-5 round pick. And this time, the former Gator star thinks the time has most likely come to turn pro at last.
"For the first time, I feel like the timing is right for me," Jensen, 22, said. "One of my goals is to play professionally, and I wouldn't really progress using a metal bat for another year and playing against the competition in our league."
A Royals scout is expected to fly to Utah today to meet with Jensen and begin negotiations on a signing bonus.
"It's satisfying. I've worked really really hard for this," Jensen said. "But you've got to prove yourself, whether you're a first-rounder or a 50th-rounder."
Two other former Green Valley products were selected on Tuesday, when 23 of the draft's projected 50 rounds were completed.
One-time Gator outfielder Jon Slack, now a Texas Tech junior, went to the Mets in round five. Slack, who spent his first two collegiate seasons at the Community College of Southern Nevada, batted .333 with seven homers, 40 RBIs and 76 runs for the Red Raiders this spring.
Former Gator shortstop Zeke Parraz became the third Green Valley graduate drafted, going to Cleveland in round 21. As a freshman at CCSN this year, Parraz hit .357 with 35 RBIs.
Cimarron-Memorial also had a big day, with three current or former graduates hearing their names called. Spartans' senior Steve Russell got things started in the fourth round, when he was selected by the Atlanta Braves with overall pick No. 125. The 6-5 right-hander went 5-3 with a 3.44 ERA in 2002.
"I thought I would go today, at some point, but the fourth round was definitely a surprise," Russell said. "The Braves are a great pitching organization, and all their facilities are wonderful, so my family and I are very excited."
Mike Esposito, a 1999 Cimarron graduate, was drafted by Colorado in the 12th round. The right-handed pitcher, originally selected by Cincinnati out of high school, went 9-6 with a 3.72 ERA for the Sun Devils in 2002.
Dixie College right-handed pitcher Brad Thompson, a 2000 Cimarron product, went to St. Louis in round 16. Thompson was 11-2 with a 1.38 ERA for Dixie this spring.
The Chicago White Sox tapped Basic third baseman Micah Schnurstein in the seventh round. Schnurstein batted .469 with seven homers and 52 RBIs for the Wolves as a senior.
Silverado's Tyler Coon, a left-handed pitcher and first baseman, was taken by Cincinnati in round 20. The 6-3 Coon went 11-0 with a 1.27 ERA on the mound and hit .438 with 37 RBIs for the Skyhawks this year.
UNLV senior outfielder Jason Reuss was selected by Houston in round 11. He hit .271 with six homers and 35 RBIs for the Rebels this year.
Nevada-Reno right-hander Darrell Rasner -- a Carson High product -- was the state's first player taken, going 46th overall in round two to the Expos. Seven picks later, the Angels took Bishop Manogue right-hander Kevin Jepsen. UNR right-hander James Holcomb went in round eight to the Angels.
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