By RICHARD JUSTICE
Copyright 2002 Houston Chronicle
"Cy Falls lefthander Scott Kazmir, widely regarded as perhaps the nation's best high school pitcher, agreed to a $2.15 million deal with the New York Mets late Wednesday.
The 15th overall pick of the June 4 draft, Kazmir received one of the eight highest signing bonuses at a time when the commissioner's office has been closely monitoring the soaring amount of bonuses given to young players.
His signing will end a turbulent couple of months. He awoke the morning of the draft believing the Cincinnati Reds would make him the third overall pick, but the Reds stunned him by taking California prep pitcher Chris Gruler.
The Mets initially offered around $1.5 million, but finally Peters and Mets general manager Steve Phillips struck a deal on Wednesday.
"It's a happy day, and I'm so glad it's almost over," Deborah Kazmir said. "Negotiations are a tough thing to go through. It's so long. You have a 10-minute talk one day and then don't hear a word for two weeks. You start getting discouraged after a while."
Last season at Cy Falls, Kazmir was 11-2 with a 0.37 ERA. In 74 2/3 innings, he allowed 19 hits and 19 walks and struck out 172.
Kazmir's righthanded teammate, Clint Everts, was taken by the Montreal Expos with the fifth overall pick. Negotiations between Everts and the Expos are ongoing.
talk about a decent 1-2 punch to have for district play--Everts went 9-3 with a 1.30 ERA over 81 innings, striking out 157 while walking only 28 in 2002. these guys go #5 and 15 overall and they lose in the regional quarterfinals. goes to show anything can happen--
Copyright 2002 Houston Chronicle
"Cy Falls lefthander Scott Kazmir, widely regarded as perhaps the nation's best high school pitcher, agreed to a $2.15 million deal with the New York Mets late Wednesday.
The 15th overall pick of the June 4 draft, Kazmir received one of the eight highest signing bonuses at a time when the commissioner's office has been closely monitoring the soaring amount of bonuses given to young players.
His signing will end a turbulent couple of months. He awoke the morning of the draft believing the Cincinnati Reds would make him the third overall pick, but the Reds stunned him by taking California prep pitcher Chris Gruler.
The Mets initially offered around $1.5 million, but finally Peters and Mets general manager Steve Phillips struck a deal on Wednesday.
"It's a happy day, and I'm so glad it's almost over," Deborah Kazmir said. "Negotiations are a tough thing to go through. It's so long. You have a 10-minute talk one day and then don't hear a word for two weeks. You start getting discouraged after a while."
Last season at Cy Falls, Kazmir was 11-2 with a 0.37 ERA. In 74 2/3 innings, he allowed 19 hits and 19 walks and struck out 172.
Kazmir's righthanded teammate, Clint Everts, was taken by the Montreal Expos with the fifth overall pick. Negotiations between Everts and the Expos are ongoing.
talk about a decent 1-2 punch to have for district play--Everts went 9-3 with a 1.30 ERA over 81 innings, striking out 157 while walking only 28 in 2002. these guys go #5 and 15 overall and they lose in the regional quarterfinals. goes to show anything can happen--
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