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Published Wednesday June 6, 2001 Komine Slips to 19th Round, Likely to Return BY ROB WHITE
WORLD-HERALD STAFF WRITER

The first day of baseball's first-year player draft made it quite likely that at least two of Nebraska's star players will be around next season.

Shane Komine

Right-handed pitcher Shane Komine slipped to the 19th round, and first baseman-designated hitter Matt Hopper wasn't drafted in the first 21 rounds.

"We're going to have a super team next year, and those guys are probably going to be a part of it," Van Horn said.

Six Nebraska players, as well as two of the Huskers' recruits, were selected in the first day of the 50-round draft.

Outfielder Adam Stern was chosen in the third round (105th overall) by Atlanta, second baseman-outfielder John Cole in the fifth round (159th overall) by Seattle, first baseman Dan Johnson in the seventh round (221st overall) by Oakland, pitcher Thom Ott in the 10th round (310th overall) by Los Angeles, pitcher Brian Rodaway in the 16th round (476th overall) by Houston, and Komine was the 584th overall selection by St. Louis.

Despite another strong season in which he carries a 14-1 record, a 3.27 ERA and 148 strikeouts in 123²/₃ innings into the College World Series, Komine still has plenty of doubters among scouts. Professional baseball remains skeptical about short right-handed pitchers because of the possibility of injury and Komine - listed at 5-foot-10 - has had back problems in the past.

Van Horn said that once Komine slipped through the early rounds, he decided that he would return to Nebraska for his senior season, and told that to a few clubs that called him as the draft reached the eighth, ninth and 10th rounds. That caused him to slip to the 19th.

Van Horn said Pitching Coach Rob Childress spoke with Komine and relayed the message.

"Coach Childress made the comment that he's coming back, so we're pretty fired up," Van Horn said. "I guess we'll know a little more later, but I don't think Shane wants to drag it on very long. Once it got past a certain round he decided he was going to come back unless something drastically changes."

There is a possibility that St. Louis could offer a signing bonus befitting of a higher draft choice to entice Komine, but it's doubtful it would be the equivalent of a higher-round pick.

Hopper, a sophomore who is eligible for the draft, will more than likely come back for his junior season to try to set himself up to be picked in the early rounds next year.

"I just think he was very inconsistent this year," Van Horn said of Hopper, who is hitting .366 with 11 homers and 84 RBIs. "He'll still have another year of bargaining power next year and can possibly become a top five draft choice. We'd be excited to have him back. First base will be his, and he'll have a chance to improve his defensive skills. Hopefully, he'll use this as motivation to work real hard at getting bigger, stronger and better."

As seniors, Johnson and Rodaway will have an opportunity to extend their careers as professionals.

"I was a little surprised to go that high being a senior, but I'm very happy with where I went," said Johnson, who is hitting .360 with 24 homers and 85 RBIs. "When their (Oakland) scouts were talking to me, they said I fit the prototype of players they were looking for."

Cole, Stern and Ott are juniors who can use the opportunity to play in college next year as leverage in contract negotiations.

Cole and Stern are natives of Canada.

"I'm on cloud nine, and I know Stern is, too," said Cole. "I think having two players (from Canada) picked in the first five rounds says a lot about the quality of baseball players in Canada."

Van Horn said he expects shortstop Scott Hairston, who was to transfer from Central Arizona Junior College, to sign with the Arizona Diamondbacks, who selected in the third round.

Brad Nelson, a third baseman from Algona (Iowa) Garrigan High School, was selected in the fourth round by Milwaukee.

"I think Nelson needs to go to college and refine his defense, learn how to hit the breaking pitch and the changeup," Van Horn said. "But he's going to be offered pretty good money, so it will be a hard decision to make."

Also selected Tuesday were Iowa State pitcher Alan Bomer by the Chicago Cubs (ninth round) and West Des Moines Dowling shortstop Matt Macri by Minnesota (17th round).

Nebraska selections Tuesday in the first-year player draft:
Nebraska: Adam Stern, of, Atlanta (3-105); John Cole, 2b, Seattle (5-159); Dan Johnson, 1b, Oakland (7-221); Thom Ott, rhp, Los Angeles (10-310); Brian Rodaway, lhp, Houston (16-476); Shane Komine, rhp, St. Louis (19-584).

Draft picks of other CWS participants:

Southern California: Mark Prior, rhp, Cubs (1-2); Rik Currier, rhp, Yankees (6-185); Seth Davidson, ss, St. Louis (10-314).

Tennessee: Chris Burke, ss, Houston (1-10); Wyatt Allen, rhp, White Sox (1-39); Jeff Christensen, of, Yankees (5-155); Stevie Daniel, ss, White Sox (6-193); Justin Parker, lhp, Atlanta (18-555).

Tulane: Jake Gautreau, 3b, San Diego (1-14); Andy Canizzaro, ss, Yankees (7-215).

Miami: Mike Rodriguez, cf, Houston (2-54); Chris Sheffield, rhp, Toronto (4-121); Brian Walker, lhp, Mets (4-132); Charlton Jimerson, of, Houston (5-146); Tom Farmer, rhp, Detroit (7-207); Marcus Nettles, of, San Diego (10-330); Mike DiRosa, c, Arizona (16-488); Dan Smith, rhp, Detroit (17-507); Kevin Brown, 1b, Atlanta (19-585).

Georgia: Jeff Keppinger, ss, Pittsburgh (4-114); Jeremy Brown, rhp, Minnesota (5-137); Doc Brooks, of, San Diego (7-210); Rob Moravek, rhp, Texas (10-291).

Cal State Fullerton: Kirk Saarloos, rhp, Houston (3-86); Aaron Rifkin, 1b, Yankees (4-125); Mike Rouse, ss, Toronto (5-151); Brett Kay, c, Mets (8-252); Jon Smith, lhp, Pittsburgh (16-474); Robert Guzman, of, Minnesota (18-527).

Stanford: Mike Gosling, lhp, Arizona (2-66); Jeremy Guthrie, rhp, Pittsburgh (3-84); Jeff Bruksch, rhp, Oakland (5-161); Jason VanMeetren, of, Seattle (13-399); Mike Wodnicki, rhp, St. Louis (16-494).