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06-17-2006, 05:49 AM
<b>Jeffress receives $1.55 million bonus</b>
When the Milwaukee Brewers said they expected to sign first-round draft pick Jeremy Jeffress in quick fashion, they weren't kidding.
After only two meetings with the family, the Brewers came to terms with the prep right-hander Thursday on a $1.55 million signing bonus. Jeffress, 18, will work out with the club today at Miller Park and appear at an introductory news conference before reporting to the Brewers' rookie-league camp in Arizona.
"What we've always done is try to get our guys signed quick and get them in the system," scouting director Jack Zduriencik said. "Everything with the family was very cordial. He indicated all along he wanted to sign quickly. The sooner you get him out there, the better you are."
Helping matters move rapidly was the fact that Jeffress' agent, Len Strelitz, formerly worked with Brewers general manager Doug Melvin in Texas. With Strelitz, Brewers area scout Tim McIlvaine and the Jeffress family working together, a tentative deal was struck Wednesday night and finalized Thursday morning.
Jeffress was taken by the Brewers with the 16th pick in the first round Tuesday. He pitched for Halifax County High School in South Boston, Va., going 5-1 with a 0.19 earned run average in six games as a senior and 71 strikeouts in 37 innings.
Zduriencik said Jeffress probably would throw a bullpen session during the pregame workout today.
"He hasn't pitched in at least 10 days, so we wouldn't do anything strenuous," Zduriencik said.
The Brewers previously had announced the signing of second-round pick Brent Brewer, a shortstop from Sandy Creek (Ga.) High School. Brewer, who had a scholarship to play football at Florida State, received $600,000 to commit to the Brewers.
Also signing were ninth-rounder Shawn Ferguson, a right-hander from Texas Christian, 10th-rounder Michael McClendon, a right-hander from Seminole (Fla.) Community College, 13th-rounder Chris Toneguzzi, a right-hander from Purdue, 30th-rounder Jordan Swaydan, a catcher from San Diego State and outfielder Mike Goetz, a 25th-round pick out of UW-Milwaukee.
Goetz, the NCAA Division I batting leader with a .493 average, took batting practice with the Brewers before their game against San Diego. His family, including father Dean and step-mother Deb, and friends came out to watch, along with area scout Harvey Kuenn Jr.
As Goetz popped out of the dugout to take BP, a young fan asked for his autograph.
"You know I'm not a real player, right?" Goetz asked the fan.
"He is a real player," manager Ned Yost said.
When it came time for Goetz to take his round of BP, it was discovered that he had no bat. Infielder Jeff Cirillo, in a veteran move, took Goetz back to the bat storage room and allowed him to pick out three of his model bats.
When the Milwaukee Brewers said they expected to sign first-round draft pick Jeremy Jeffress in quick fashion, they weren't kidding.
After only two meetings with the family, the Brewers came to terms with the prep right-hander Thursday on a $1.55 million signing bonus. Jeffress, 18, will work out with the club today at Miller Park and appear at an introductory news conference before reporting to the Brewers' rookie-league camp in Arizona.
"What we've always done is try to get our guys signed quick and get them in the system," scouting director Jack Zduriencik said. "Everything with the family was very cordial. He indicated all along he wanted to sign quickly. The sooner you get him out there, the better you are."
Helping matters move rapidly was the fact that Jeffress' agent, Len Strelitz, formerly worked with Brewers general manager Doug Melvin in Texas. With Strelitz, Brewers area scout Tim McIlvaine and the Jeffress family working together, a tentative deal was struck Wednesday night and finalized Thursday morning.
Jeffress was taken by the Brewers with the 16th pick in the first round Tuesday. He pitched for Halifax County High School in South Boston, Va., going 5-1 with a 0.19 earned run average in six games as a senior and 71 strikeouts in 37 innings.
Zduriencik said Jeffress probably would throw a bullpen session during the pregame workout today.
"He hasn't pitched in at least 10 days, so we wouldn't do anything strenuous," Zduriencik said.
The Brewers previously had announced the signing of second-round pick Brent Brewer, a shortstop from Sandy Creek (Ga.) High School. Brewer, who had a scholarship to play football at Florida State, received $600,000 to commit to the Brewers.
Also signing were ninth-rounder Shawn Ferguson, a right-hander from Texas Christian, 10th-rounder Michael McClendon, a right-hander from Seminole (Fla.) Community College, 13th-rounder Chris Toneguzzi, a right-hander from Purdue, 30th-rounder Jordan Swaydan, a catcher from San Diego State and outfielder Mike Goetz, a 25th-round pick out of UW-Milwaukee.
Goetz, the NCAA Division I batting leader with a .493 average, took batting practice with the Brewers before their game against San Diego. His family, including father Dean and step-mother Deb, and friends came out to watch, along with area scout Harvey Kuenn Jr.
As Goetz popped out of the dugout to take BP, a young fan asked for his autograph.
"You know I'm not a real player, right?" Goetz asked the fan.
"He is a real player," manager Ned Yost said.
When it came time for Goetz to take his round of BP, it was discovered that he had no bat. Infielder Jeff Cirillo, in a veteran move, took Goetz back to the bat storage room and allowed him to pick out three of his model bats.