June 8, 2007

Local sluggers taken second and third
Moustakas of Chatsworth is taken by Kansas City; Vitters of Cypress goes to the Chicago Cubs.

By Gary Klein and Eric Sondheimer

After a record-setting season and career at Chatsworth High, Mike Moustakas was regarded as a probable top-10 pick going into Major League Baseball's first-year player draft.

But when Commissioner Bud Selig announced Thursday that the Kansas City Royals had chosen him with the No. 2 overall selection during the first televised draft, even Moustakas was caught off guard.

"It was unbelievable," said the power-hitting infielder, who watched the broadcast with his family. "When they announced my name, it was news to all of us."

Moustakas was the first of three Southland high school players selected in the first dozen picks. The Chicago Cubs took Cypress High third baseman Josh Vitters at No. 3, and the Florida Marlins took Chatsworth third baseman Matt Dominguez at No. 12.

Clemson left-hander Daniel Moskos, who played for La Verne Damien High, went fourth to the Pittsburgh Pirates.

Oakland made UC Riverside pitcher James Simmons the first player from a local college to be selected when the Athletics took him with the 26th pick of the 30-player first round.

The Dodgers, picking 20th, selected pitcher Chris Withrow of Midland Christian High in Texas, then took University of Tennessee left-hander James Adkins with the 38th overall pick in the supplemental portion. The Angels, who did not have a regular first-round pick, chose 58th and took pitcher Jonathan Bachanov of University High in Orlando, Fla.

Three other Southland players were selected in the supplemental portion of the draft, between the first and second rounds: Lakewood High catcher Travis D'Arnaud, who was taken 37th by Philadelphia; Cal State Fullerton pitcher Wes Roemer (50th, Arizona); and Long Beach Wilson High infielder Ryan Dent (62nd, Boston).

The Tampa Bay Devil Rays surprised no one when they chose Vanderbilt left-hander David Price with the first overall pick.

Then came Moustakas.

"We have felt strongly about him being an impact bat, which is something that obviously you want to get with the No. 2 selection in the country," Royals scouting director Deric Ladnier told MLB.com. "We feel strongly that he will stay at shortstop. He is an athletic kid with good hands, plus his arm, feet are good. He is a baseball player with character makeup."

Moustakas, 6 feet, 185 pounds, is a two-time City Section player of the year who helped lead the Chancellors to two City titles. He hit a state-record 24 homers with 59 runs batted in this season.

"I had an unbelievable season, we won the City title and now this," said Moustakas, 18, who has signed a letter of intent with USC. "It can't get much better."

Vitters, 17, attended the draft in Lake Buena Vista, Fla. After his selection, he became the first draft choice ever to pose — wearing a Cubs hat and jersey — next to Selig.

"This was really important — a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity," Vitters told reporters. "I'm glad to be part of it. There's definitely some electricity, especially before I got picked. My heart was racing."

Dominguez, 17, experienced the same sensation several times because of the number of top prospects named Matt. Dominguez's emotions rose and fell listening to Selig announce Georgia Tech catcher Matt Wieters as the fifth pick by Baltimore and University of Florida outfielder Matt LaPorta as the seventh pick by Milwaukee.

"It was nerve-racking, kind of stressful, but I got through it and was happy where I ended up," he said. "I'm pretty stoked."

Florida General Manager Larry Beinfest, a Chatsworth High graduate, went back to his roots in selecting Dominguez, who slugged 13 homers with 41 RBIs this season. A slick fielder with a 6-2, 185-pound frame, Dominguez has signed a letter of intent with Cal State Fullerton.

Moustakas and Dominguez are the fifth set of high school teammates to be selected in the first round since the draft began in 1965.