UCLA baseball coach John Savage was about eight hours away from doing it again.
A year after star pitcher Gerrit Cole put a hold on professional baseball by choosing to join the Bruins, prized catching prospect Max Stassi of Yuba City faced the same scenario at the signing deadline last Monday.
But unlike Cole, who passed up a multi-million dollar signing bonus, Stassi signed and forfeited his collegiate eligibility.
“I really think he could have been an impact player at UCLA,” Savage said.
According to Savage, the Oakland Athletics had offered Stassi a $1.25 million bonus a week before the signing deadline. Stassi and his family, though, had stood firm on the fact that only a bonus of $1.5 million would lure them away from a scholarship to play baseball at UCLA.
Stassi, rated by Baseball America as the 30th best prospect heading into the MLB Draft, dropped to the fourth round because of signability concerns ““ the same reason why Cole fell from being a projected top-10 pick to a late-first round selection last year.
“Obviously signability “¦ was an issue,” Athletics general manager Billy Beane told MLB.com. “He’s a good student, and UCLA was a very real possibility for him. “¦ We knew it would take something close to first-round money to get him.”
Savage said that the A’s finally offered the desired amount ““ which set a record for a fourth-round selection ““ on the day of the deadline and Stassi got exactly what he wanted.
“He stood by his number,” Savage said. “Whenever we have a family that stays by the number that they said they would sign for, then you’ve got to deal with it. That’s what happens when you recruit a lot of high profile players.”
Fellow recruits Trayce Thompson (second round to the Chicago White Sox) and David Nick (fourth round to the Arizona Diamondbacks) also signed.
“It’s part of the business that we deal with year in and year out,” Savage said. “We feel that the recruiting class is still very, very strong.”
Four other Bruin signees ““ Cody Keefer, Scott Griggs, Jeff Gelalich and Beau Amaral ““ were drafted but did not sign.
With the loss of Stassi, Savage said he expects rising sophomore Steve Rodriguez, who made 34 starts last season, and incoming freshman Trevor Brown to split time behind the plate. Incoming freshman Tyler Heineman will also compete at the position.
“We always anticipate certain things going on at the last minute,” Savage said. “Catching is premium. Whenever you have a guy (Stassi) that’s ready to step in and catch at our level; you just don’t see many of those come into college.”
Despite the loss of Thompson, the highest selection with ties to UCLA, Savage is excited about the other incoming outfielders. Dennis Holt joins the aforementioned group of Amaral, Gelalich and Keefer.
“This is the best group of outfielders that we’ve ever brought in,” Savage said. “All four are left-handed and skilled players who can go out and get the ball. It’s as good a class of outfielders as you can bring in.”
PITCHING AT A PREMIUM: The Bruins were left to absorb the loss of four more position starters at the end of the season. Third baseman Casey Haerther and outfielder Gabe Cohen signed professionally after being drafted to forgo their senior seasons. Starting first baseman Cody Decker was drafted and second baseman Eddie Murray graduated. And despite losing four additional pitchers ““ closer Gavin Brooks, starter Charles Brewer, and relievers Brendan Lafferty and Jason Novak ““ Savage knows that UCLA’s strength remains on the mound.
Last season’s top two pitchers Cole and Trevor Bauer, who both competed for Team USA this summer, return. So do junior left-handers Rob Rasmussen, who had a standout summer in the Cape Cod League, and Matt Grace. Rising senior right-hander Garett Claypool, an effective midweek starter last season, was drafted but will also return.
Add in the highly touted incoming freshman Griggs, a completely healthy trio of Dan Klein, Erik Goeddel and Matt Drummond, and the result is a deep staff.
“We expect a lot of competition within fall camp,” Savage said. “It’s really wide open.”