Re: 2009 Reds draft signings
Saints’ pitcher Kummet drafted by Reds
Adian Kummet wasn’t in a hurry to watch the Major League Baseball draft on Thursday until he got a call from Cincinnati Reds scout Andy Stack.
By: Jon Nowacki, Duluth News Tribune
Adian Kummet wasn’t in a hurry to watch the Major League Baseball draft on Thursday until he got a call from Cincinnati Reds scout Andy Stack.
Stack told the St. Scholastica pitcher that the Reds were about to draft him, so Kummet quickly logged onto mlb.com at his family home in Brainerd, Minn., and saw his name called just in time as Cincinnati took him in the 31st round with the 929th overall pick. Kummet didn’t have to wait long as he was the eighth player selected on the draft’s third and final day.
“It felt great to get it out of the way early. I didn’t have to sweat it out,” Kummet said. “I didn’t want to sit there all day and watch names go by. That was a lot sooner than I expected. I got to breathe easy.”
Kummet joins Brett Nyquist, a 13th round selection of the Montreal Expos in 2002, as the only Saints players ever to be drafted, and he will join the same organization that includes Duluth native Ben Jukich, a pitcher with the Reds’ Class AAA affiliate, the Louisville Bats.
Stack is expected to be in Brainerd on Sunday to work out a deal with Kummet, who expects a signing bonus of $1,000. He hasn’t hired an agent. He probably will then be assigned to rookie ball in either Sarasota, Fla., or Billings, Mont., and could leave for his new destination as early as Monday.
“At this point it is more about the opportunity to play right now than about the money,” said Kummet, who graduated in May with a double major in accounting and finance. “This is a little surreal. It still hasn’t sunk in.”
Kummet, a 6-foot-4, 205-pound right-handed pitcher, went 6-2 with a 1.87 ERA and three saves in leading St. Scholastica to its fifth straight NCAA Division III playoff appearance this spring.
He had 73 strikeouts in just 57 and 2/3 innings.
Kummet finished his career tied for second in program history with 24 wins and fifth with 215 strikeouts.
St. Scholastica assistant coach Joe Wicklund helped Kummet through the recruiting process and said Cincinnati first inquired about Kummet midway through the season.
Stack saw him pitch in the regional playoffs, where Kummet no-hit eventual national champion St. Thomas for six innings.
“Stack didn’t ask me about Adian’s pitching ability,” said Wicklund. “He was so impressive physically there were no questions about that. What Stack wanted to know about was Adian the person, and that was a pleasure, because he’s an even better person. And I don’t know if anyone has worked hard over the last four years. He has done everything we’ve asked of him and then some.”
St. Scholastica initially used Kummet as a closer before having him start the past two seasons. He said the Reds haven’t indicated how they plan to use him, but he would likely have to further develop his changeup to be an effective starter at the pro level.
Kummet is just happy to have a shot. After getting the draft out of the way early, he took the rest of the day easy by playing golf.
“I don’t want to hurt anything,” Kummet joked as he was about to tee off. “I think I’ll be alright. I don’t think anything is going to get hurt on the golf course except for my pride. Sometimes I think I’d be better off just throwing it onto the green.”
http://www.duluthnewstribune.com/eve...70/group/home/
Re: 2009 Reds draft signings
I'm not surprised that Kummet signed first. The article I posted after he was picked indicated that if he hadn't been selected in the draft, he had offers to play in an independent league. Plus, who's hiring accounting and finance majors right now?
Re: 2009 Reds draft signings
The bonus money is small, but it would make the Reds look like the good guys if they covered all of the kids student loans debts. Also the kids would go into their first year out from a lot of pressure.
Re: 2009 Reds draft signings
Quote:
Originally Posted by
redsmetz
I'm not surprised that Kummet signed first. The article I posted after he was picked indicated that if he hadn't been selected in the draft, he had offers to play in an independent league. Plus, who's hiring accounting and finance majors right now?
He could probably make more doing his team mates taxes than he will make in salary.
Re: 2009 Reds draft signings
Quote:
Originally Posted by
bellhead
The bonus money is small, but it would make the Reds look like the good guys if they covered all of the kids student loans debts. Also the kids would go into their first year out from a lot of pressure.
Depending on the school, that could be a lot of money. I do know that some players who left college early made it part of their contract that the team would pay for them to finish college. One player from OSU was drafted by one team, ultimately traded to another, but the original team would be on the hook should he ever decide to finish up his degree.
Re: 2009 Reds draft signings
Quote:
Originally Posted by
bucksfan2
He could probably make more doing his team mates taxes than he will make in salary.
Sort of like Henry "Author" Wiggen selling insurance annuities to his teammates in "Bank the Drum Slowly."
Re: 2009 Reds draft signings
I was thinking that Baseball/Union ought to a establish a minimum signing bonus of $10,000. At most it costs a team 500K.
Re: 2009 Reds draft signings
Can we get a sticky on this? This is always one of my favorite threads.
Re: 2009 Reds draft signings
Of course... no one has actually signed yet.......
Re: 2009 Reds draft signings
Quote:
Originally Posted by
JaxRed
Of course... no one has actually signed yet.......
We've got one signing.
Re: 2009 Reds draft signings
That first guy expects to sign today. He hasn't actually signed.
Re: 2009 Reds draft signings
I am making Adian Kummet my nominee for the Chris Heisey sleeper from an unheralded program award.
Re: 2009 Reds draft signings
From Sheldon:
Hamilton, Billy SS Rd 2 GCL
Joseph, Donnie LHP Rd 3 Billings
Serrano, Mark RHP Rd 6 Dayton
Walczak, James RHP Rd15 Billings
Braun, Jason RHP Rd 29 Billings
Carlson, Shane SS Rd 32 Billings
Cannon, Forest RHP Rd 34 Billings
Burleson, Chris SS Rd 36 GCL
Wiley, Jake RHP Rd 41 GCL
Re: 2009 Reds draft signings
Quote:
Originally Posted by
redhawk61
From Sheldon:
Hamilton, Billy SS Rd 2 GCL
Joseph, Donnie LHP Rd 3 Billings
Serrano, Mark RHP Rd 6 Dayton
Walczak, James RHP Rd15 Billings
Braun, Jason RHP Rd 29 Billings
Carlson, Shane SS Rd 32 Billings
Cannon, Forest RHP Rd 34 Billings
Burleson, Chris SS Rd 36 GCL
Wiley, Jake RHP Rd 41 GCL
Are all of those signings?
Edit: I now see they are all signings. Surprised we got Hamilton that quickly!