The Waiting Game Begins

Originally Published: Jun 8, 2010 5:27 PM CDT

Bobby Lewis
Oklahoma Sports MOJO

TULSA, Oklahoma –The annual Major League Baseball Draft is a time of anticipation, elation and celebration for all of the young men across the country with dreams of playing professional baseball.

It’s also a time of worrying, pacing and nail-biting for top-tier college coaches, including Oral Roberts’ head man Rob Walton.

“It’s the best worst day of the year,” said the Golden Eagles’ head coach. "You know you want your own guys to have that opportunity to move on."

The Golden Eagles’ saw their star shortstop, and Summit League Player of the Year, get drafted by the White Sox Tuesday afternoon. Chicago snatched up Tyler Saladino in the seventh round with the 218th overall pick. ORU expected Saladino to be taken.

They hoped their incoming recruits would not be. Through 16 rounds of the 2010 draft, four Oral Roberts signees, including three pitchers, were taken in the draft.

"They guys that we have out there now, I think, if they get to campus, they're going to obviously improve their draft stock (down the line)," said Walton.

The Chicago Cubs drafted right-handed pitcher Aaron Kurcz (College of Southern Nevada) in the 10th round Tuesday. Another right-hander, Art Charles (Bakersfield College) was drafted in the 20th round by the Toronto Blue Jays.

Baltimore potentially stole two ORU signees away on Tuesday. The Orioles took hard-throwing righty Alex Gonzalez from Boca Raton (Fla.) Community HS in the 11th round and picked up outfielder Brandon King (Fresno CC) in the 16th round.

There are 50 rounds in the annual draft. Oral Roberts has a handful of current players on its roster still hoping for a chance at a career on the diamond. Seniors P.J. Sequeira and Seth Fermanek could hear their names called before the New York Yankees make the final pick in this year’s draft.