Draft aftermath

Despite seeing five pitchers selected, the Eau Claire Express staff may emerge from Major League Baseball’s first-year player draft relatively in tact.

Express manager Dale Varsho said Saturday afternoon that he expects most of his drafted players to remain with the team for the time being.

“I think we’ll be OK,” Varsho said. “I like what we have right now. Hopefully, we can improve as the season goes on.”

One player who will not be in Eau Claire is right-hander Shane Dyer, who Varsho said left the team Saturday morning after signing with the Tampa Bay Rays. Varsho said Dyer, who was drafted in the sixth round, received a $135,000 signing bonus.

But Varsho is expecting to have right-hander Chris Odegaard and reliever David Cales available. Odegaard was picked by the Minnesota Twins in the 23rd round, and Cales was selected by the Chicago Cubs in the 24th round.

Neither player has signed yet. Teams have until Aug. 15 to sign draft picks, meaning those organizations could wait and monitor those players’ progress this summer before inking them to deals. Short-season rookie ball leagues don’t start until mid to late June, so there’s not a huge rush.

“We still have to talk about it,” Cales said. “I don’t plan on leaving too soon.”
UC-Davis pitcher Brad McAtee, who has yet to report to the Express, also was picked in the draft, going to the Colorado Rockies in the 45th round. Varsho still expects him to report to the Express once the UC-Davis spring academic semester ends next week. McAtee also likely would be in a draft-and-follow situation.

Varsho is not expecting to see Wayne State (Mich.) right-hander Anthony Bass, who was picked in the fifth round by the San Diego Padres. Bass was waiting to report until after the draft.

- Joe Ziemer