The Guardians’ draft day stories: Soft-serve ice cream, HGTV and playing pepper
FILE - In this Jan. 13, 2015, file photo Stanford pitcher Cal Quantrill throws during a workout in Stanford, Calif. Stanford ace and projected first-round draft pick Cal Quantrill just hit the one-year mark from his Tommy John elbow surgery and hopes to be facing live hitting within a couple of weeks and perhaps get into games sometime later next month. The most encouraging sign that his comeback is on track: The junior right-hander is pain free after each bullpen he throws. (AP Photo/Marcio Jose Sanchez, File)
By Zack Meisel
6h ago
3
Save Article
CLEVELAND — When the Guardians called Tanner Bibee on draft day in 2021, Bibee’s agent told him, “even if it’s a discount, take it.” He did.
Josh Bell penned a letter to teams in 2011 asking them not to draft him because he was set on attending the University of Texas. And then he signed with the Pirates, who had selected him anyway, with the first pick in the second round, four spots ahead of Guardians teammate Cam Gallagher.
The Naylor family gathered in Cleveland on Sunday evening to watch the draft. In 2015, the Marlins chose Josh Naylor with the 12th pick in the first round. In 2018, the Indians chose Bo Naylor with the 29th pick in the first round. On Sunday night, the A’s drafted Myles Naylor with the No. 39 pick.
Bo said it’s easy to get lost “in that thought of the trilogy,” but added they’ve mastered the art of tempering expectations. It’s incredible enough that Bo and Josh wound up in the same organization.
“At the end of the day,” Bo said, “you have to go in with a free mind, no expectations and just be grateful for any opportunity.”
Every player has a draft story. Here’s a collection from the Guardians clubhouse.
Will Brennan, OF
Selected by Cleveland in the eighth round of the 2019 draft out of Kansas State University
Will Brennan pitches for Kansas State in 2019. (Colin E. Braley / Associated Press)
Will Brennan describes it as “the most stressful, exciting day.” He was sitting on the couch, watching “Fixer Upper,” the HGTV house-flipping series, with his mom. He had his iPad beside him, tuned to draft coverage.
“You have your agent and scouts calling you, ‘Yeah, I think we’re gonna take you here,’” Brennan said. “But it’s all kind of BS. You don’t really know until you know.”
Brennan planned to sign “no matter what,” as he had only two classes remaining to graduate from Kansas State that summer.
“It was a no-brainer for me,” he said.
In the middle of the episode, he received the call. He turned off the TV and spread the word.
“I was either going to love that show afterwards or I was going to hate it,” Brennan said. “I’m glad I got picked, so now I can enjoy it.”
Tim Herrin, RP
Selected by Cleveland in the 29th round of the 2018 draft out of Indiana University
Two players drafted 883rd overall have reached the majors: Tim Herrin and fellow reliever Mike Koplove (who pitched for Cleveland, briefly, in 2007). Herrin was set on leaving Indiana after his junior year, as long as he went in the first 20 or so rounds.
Well, Cleveland snagged him in the 29th, a round that doesn’t even exist anymore. But when a player actually confronts that decision, it can be more difficult to resist the temptation to begin the professional journey.
“It’s a surreal thing,” Herrin said. “You see your name. I wasn’t guaranteed to be drafted. I wasn’t guaranteed to be drafted my senior year, either. I had a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.”
Sam Hentges, RP
Selected by Cleveland in the fourth round of the 2014 draft out of Mounds View High (Minn.)
Sam Hentges was removing a soft-serve ice cream machine from the back of his mom’s car at the family home in suburban Minneapolis when Cleveland chose him in the fourth round. His dad rushed out the front door to share the news.
Hentges had heard rumblings he could fall into the third- to fifth-round range, and Cleveland had exhibited the most interest. But once the third round passed and the Indians instead tabbed Bobby Bradley, Hentges went on with his day, and that meant preparing for his high school graduation party that was scheduled for the following afternoon.
The left-hander had committed to the University of Arkansas, and he said he’d recommend college to most kids drafted in the middle rounds, but he opted to sign for a $700,000 bonus.
“I wouldn’t change anything,” Hentges said, “but I didn’t know what I was getting myself into it. It forces you to grow up really quick. I didn’t really know a ton about the whole process. Even after I was drafted, it was still a decision I had to make with my family.”
Cal Quantrill, SP
Selected by the Yankees in the 26th round of the 2013 draft out of Trinity College School; selected by the Padres in the first round (No. 8 overall) of the 2016 draft out of Stanford University
Cal Quantrill acknowledges he wasn’t ready for professional ball when he was drafted out of Trinity boarding school in Port Hope, Ontario. By the time he completed his junior year at Stanford, that sentiment had changed, and he figured he was destined to be selected in the first half of the first round.
“That doesn’t change how excited I was when the call came,” he said. “It’s a lot of work and every kid who gets drafted should be extremely proud. Getting drafted alone, you’re in the 1 percent.”
Quantrill lived with a handful of other draft prospects, including Tommy Edman (Cardinals) and Chris Viall (Mets). The group held a draft party at a bar near campus, and Quantrill particularly appreciated Edman attending the function, even though he was projected to be drafted early on Day 2.
“You should really revel in those days and enjoy them,” Quantrill said, “and then let it all go and know you’re starting at the bottom again. It’s a weird rollercoaster.”
Quantrill’s dad, Paul, was a sixth-round pick of the Red Sox in 1989, so Quantrill had plenty of guidance throughout the process.
“A lot of kids have come to me and I try to tell them the same thing every time,” Quantrill said. “You just lay out what you want from baseball. If a team is going to invest a top-three pick in you and give you ample opportunity and it’s something you’re ready to do, or if school doesn’t interest you, then, yeah, sign. That being said, the school route, especially now, is a way to extend the runway. If you’re as good as you think you are at 17, imagine how good you can be at 20. But, it’s really a personal decision. I don’t think there’s a right or wrong way.”
Triston McKenzie, SP
Selected by Cleveland in the first round (42nd overall) of the 2015 draft out of Royal Palm Beach Community High (Fla.)
Triston McKenzie was only 17 years when he was confronted with perhaps the most pivotal choice of his life, to that point. Cleveland selected him with the final pick of the first round and offered him a $2.3 million signing bonus. That was enticing for a kid who otherwise was bound for Vanderbilt, where his younger brother, T.J., spent the past four years.
McKenzie watched the draft from his living room, with his parents, brother, his coach and his coach’s wife. McKenzie took a call in the kitchen from Cleveland scout Juan Alvarez, who congratulated him. McKenzie had no idea what he was talking about … until he heard screams from the living room.
“Ohhh,” McKenzie said on the phone, before thanking Alvarez.
Three weeks later — and about a month before his 18th birthday — McKenzie signed.
“It’s a life-changing decision, regardless of if you decide to sign or you don’t,” McKenzie said. “It’s a crazy position to be in as a 17- or 18-year-old or even a 21- or 22-year-old.”
Rigo Beltrán, bullpen coach
Selected by St. Louis in the 26th round of the 1991 draft out of the University of Wyoming
Rigo Beltrán wanted to play in college, but he didn’t have any offers. So, he enrolled at San Diego State, with a long-shot hope of becoming a walk-on. Five days before the start of his first semester, a coach called him and insisted that, even as a walk-on, he wouldn’t earn playing time, and convinced him to attend junior college. Beltrán dropped out of San Diego State, spent two years at junior college and then transferred to Wyoming, where he developed into a second-team All-American first baseman in his senior year.
Ahead of the 1991 draft, the Giants and Reds had inquired about whether he preferred first base or pitching. He never heard from the Cardinals. When the draft arrived, Beltrán didn’t hear from any team.
“I was like, ‘Holy cow, I guess I didn’t get drafted,’” Beltrán said.
About five days after the draft wrapped, a scout from the Cardinals called and told him to stow his first baseman glove in storage. They had selected him in the 26th round as a pitcher.
“I just wanted an opportunity to play pro ball,” Beltrán said. “I said I’d give myself a couple years. If I still had a future in it, I’d stick with it. And if I didn’t, I’d go back to school and get my degree.”
Beltrán debuted with St. Louis six years later and ended up making 78 appearances in his major-league career.
Terry Francona, manager
Selected by the Cubs in the second round of the 1977 draft out of New Brighton (Pa.) High; selected by the Expos in the first round (No. 22 overall) of the 1980 draft out of the University of Arizona
Terry Francona in 1982, his second year in the big leagues. (Ronald C. Modra / Getty Images)
The Cubs tried first.
Terry Francona had dislocated his shoulder during his senior year of high school. Cubs general manager Bob Kennedy visited the Franconas before the draft, but stressed he needed to see Francona do some sort of baseball activity.
“So I went out in the backyard and played pepper,” Francona said.
The Cubs drafted Francona in the second round and offered him $18,000. Francona was seeking $40,000. He thought a check for that amount would last him the rest of his life. He also wasn’t a dedicated student, so he preferred to sign.
As the clock ticked toward the deadline, Francona told the Cubs he would honor his scholarship to Arizona, hoping it would compel them to up their offer.
They did — to $19,000. Francona went to class.
At the end of his junior year, when Francona won the Golden Spikes Award as the nation’s best player and Arizona won the College World Series, the Expos selected him in the first round. Francona’s dad, Tito, had taken out money from his pension so he and his wife could travel to Omaha to watch Arizona vie for the national title and be with their son on draft day.
John McHale was Montreal’s general manager. It was time to cash in.
In late 1958, with Terry due the following April, Tito, then with the Tigers, asked Detroit’s GM for a $500 raise. That GM was McHale, who denied the request. The Tigers traded Tito to Cleveland for Larry Doby in March 1959. Terry was born a month later.
When the Expos drafted Francona in 1980, Tito reminded McHale of their $500 dispute and told him, “It’s going to cost you a lot more now.”
“I about hit the floor,” Francona said, laughing.
go-deeper
GO DEEPER
Humor, humility and hot dogs: How Terry Francona managed his way into the Cleveland record books
