Saturday, Jun. 13, 2009

Wesclin left-hander Tyler Kehrer ready to go to work for Angels

Former Wesclin High left-hander Tyler Kehrer is about to move his home base from Eastern Illinois University to north-central Utah.

The 48th overall pick in the Major League Draft signed Thursday night with the Los Angeles Angels. After a mini-camp in Tempe, Ariz., for physicals and orientation, Kehrer will pitch for the Angels' Class A affiliate in Orem, Utah.

Kehrer's signing bonus is likely more than $700,000 based on his slot position in the draft.

"The scout threw a number at us and it was right in the slot for this year, which is down 10 percent," said Kehrer, who chose not to divulge his bonus amount. "It was reasonable, so we signed."

Now Kehrer gets to do something he's always loved -- and get paid for it.

"You go to camp on Monday and it's still a dogfight. You've got to fight for a position," said Kehrer, who throws in the low to mid-90 mph range. "They're not just going to hand stuff to you because you're a first-rounder."

The Angels' area scout who followed Kehrer the closest was Joel Murrie.

"You look for a player that has the ability and the tools to be a projectable major-league pitcher," Murrie said when asked about Kehrer's future. "What I saw is a very young, fresh arm, a very clean delivery which tends to be injury-free, with two plus, or 'plus-plus' pitches at the major-league level."

Murrie said Kehrer's best pitches are his fastball and slider. He also credited the EIU coaching staff for having three players drafted this week.

"What a compliment to them to not only have an outstanding championship season, but to have three young men drafted that weren't previously drafted before entering Eastern Illinois," Murrie said. "That's the epitome of development to me."

Asked to name Kehrer's best attribute, Murrie did not hesitate.

"It takes more than just baseball tools to become a big-leaguer," Murrie said. "The more I'm around him and surrounded by his family, it's his work ethic and the environment he's been raised in. He's got off-the-charts makeup (as a player). The guy's going to be impressive."

Kehrer was the first college player drafted from Illinois. He also was one of four left-handers taken by the Angels with their first seven picks.

Kehrer said he picked up some valuable advice from former Eastern Illinois teammate Erik Huber, an Althoff High graduate from Belleville now playing in the Pittsburgh Pirates organization.

"I talked to him quite a bit about the experience and what to expect, how he's handling it," Kehrer said. "He said to enjoy it now, because it's brutal. It's a battle the whole time and you've got to really love baseball to play in the minor leagues."

* Former Highland High star right-hander Jake Odorizzi will begin his second minor-league season next week with the Brewers' Class A club in Helena, Mont.

Odorizzi was chosen by the Milwaukee Brewers with the 32nd overall pick in the 2008 draft. He was 1-2 for the Brewer' Arizona League team last summer with a 3.48 ERA and 19 strikeouts in 20 2/3 innings.

* Another of Kehrer's EIU teammates, senior infielder Jordan Kreke, signed with the Atlanta Braves on Friday. Kreke, a third-team All-American and Ohio Valley Conference Player of the Year as a senior at Eastern, was the Braves' 13th-round pick.

The Mater Dei graduate from Bartelso said the Braves told him he will be the starting third baseman at their Danville (Va.) rookie league team in the Class A Appalachian League.

"No matter what round you go in, you've got to perform," Kreke said. "I'm excited to get a starting spot and I'm ready to get down there and show them what I've got."

Kreke said his signing bonus money was fine, but it's more about the opportunity to play pro baseball.

"When you start playing baseball, you watch it on TV and you always wanted to be drafted," he said. "It's all about the opportunity to play at the next level. That's what it's all about."