Weaver in heaven after selection by Halos

By: RYAN FINLEY - Staff Writer | Monday, June 7, 2004 9:36 PM PDT ∞

Jered Weaver, the nation's top college pitcher, woke up Monday unsure of where he would be taken in Major League Baseball's amateur draft.

Turns out the Long Beach State ace won't be going very far.

A one-time cinch to be taken with the first pick, Weaver was selected 12th overall by the Angels, who are apparently ready to meet the salary demands set by Weaver and his agent, Scott Boras.

Weaver said he was more than happy to fall in the draft because it meant staying close to home. His parents live in Simi Valley, and his brother, Jeff, pitches for the Dodgers.

"Any first-rounder is excited to go in the first round. No. 12, No. 1, it doesn't really make a difference to me," Weaver said. "I had never heard anything from (the Angels) before, but I couldn't be more happy.

"I about jumped through the roof when they called my name. It's going to be sweet to play in my backyard."

Anaheim's bold selection came during one of the most unpredictable drafts in recent years.

The Padres used their No. 1 overall selection on San Diego Mission Bay High School prospect Matt Bush, a sure-handed infielder who San Diego didn't court until recently. By taking Bush, the Padres passed on Rice's Jeff Niemann, who went fourth overall to Tampa Bay, Florida State's Tim Drew (15th to Arizona), and Weaver, who reportedly had been asking for a $10 million contract similar to one USC's Mark Prior received following the 2001 draft.

Weaver insisted Monday that his asking price will remain the same. Angels officials wouldn't comment on any impending deals.

"I figured the money maybe scared (San Diego) off or whatever," Weaver said. "It was always in the back of my mind that (by) picking Scott (Boras), something would happen, but I trust him. He's the best in the business."

Angels scouting director Eddie Bane said the team was happy to grab Weaver, regardless of his asking price. In three years at Long Beach State, Weaver set the school record for wins (35), strikeouts in a season (144) and strikeouts in a career (361), and was twice named first-team All-American.

Weaver's 2004 season has easily been his best so far. He earned his 15th win of the year with a five-hit, eight-strikeout performance Sunday against top-seeded Stanford in the first round of the NCAA playoffs. The 49ers (38-13) host Arizona in the NCAA Super Regionals, beginning Friday.

"There are a lot of things to like," Bane said. "He's got much better command than most every amateur pitcher you're going to see. He's got a mix of pitches, (and) you can't get by in the big leagues without two pitches. He likes to have fun, (and) he has his own way of doing things. He has a brother who pitches in the big leagues, and we like bloodlines a lot."

The pick marks yet another aggressive move by Angels owner Arte Moreno. Since buying the team in April 2003, Moreno has signed Vladimir Guerrero, Bartolo Colon, Kelvim Escobar, Jose Guillen and Raul Mondesi to free-agent contracts and renewed existing deals with Garret Anderson, Darin Erstad and Adam Kennedy.

Weaver said the Angels' growing talent pool made Monday's selection extra exciting.

"I'm more than happy to play with an organization that will compete for the playoffs and the World Series," he said. "You never know what's going to happen in this draft. It just happened that the Angels were interested at the last minute.

"I was definitely interested in them."

Ryan Finley can be reached at (909) 676-4315, Ext. 2630 or rfinley@californian.com.