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Wake-Up Call: Givens' future position still unclear

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By JOEY JOHNSTON | The Tampa Tribune

Published: June 10, 2009

The Wake-Up Call greets you each weekday with news, views and a few Tampa Bay area sports offerings to anticipate for the day and night. We encourage suggestions and contributions.

Good morning!

Mychal Givens, the all-everything baseball player from Plant High School, throws hard. On that point, there is a consensus.

But will he throw from the mound? Or from deep in the hole at shortstop?

Even though Givens has more clarity about his future – the Baltimore Orioles selected him in the second round (54th overall pick) on Tuesday night, a likely financial level that could sway him from his Oklahoma State University scholarship – there's still considerable intrigue about his ultimate destination.

During baseball's first-year draft, Givens was announced as a right-handed pitcher. Later, during a summary of the Orioles' first-day picks, Givens was described as a shortstop in the team's news release.

Which will it be?

"He's going to have a bat and there's power there,'' Orioles director of amateur scouting Joe Jordan told the Baltimore Sun. "We think there's potential for both. He throws 96, 97 [mph] off the mound, [but] because of the position he plays, that's something we will definitely try first.''

Earlier this season, Plant coach Dennis Braun said Givens' dual role made it difficult on scouts.

"There are a lot of shortstops with good arms, but not a lot who go to the mound and throw 96 mph,'' Braun said. "That kind of separates him apart a little bit.

"Having a potential first-round pick as a shortstop and pitcher is the hardest thing I've ever had to deal with. He can only throw so much.''

Jordan said he didn't think Givens slipped in the draft, but said, "I just think it was one of those things where there was some inventory with high school shortstops.''

It wasn't the first time the Orioles noticed a hard-throwing player from Plant High School. In 1987, the Orioles made Panthers left-hander Chris Myers the seventh overall pick (in the draft when Seattle led off with Ken Griffey Jr.). Myers, haunted by injuries, bounced around the minors and never made it to the big leagues.

Self improvement

University of Florida closer Billy Bullock (Riverview) was taken 70th overall by the Minnesota Twins, while Florida Southern College shortstop Robbie Shields (Pasco) went 103rd to the New York Mets.
Consider them examples of how three college baseball seasons can improve a player's stock.

Bullock was a 20th-round pick out of high school.

Shields wasn't drafted.

Lakeland's finest

Hillsborough Community College center fielder Evan Chambers and Santa Fe College third baseman Keon Broxton, who once were teammates at Lakeland High School, found themselves separated by 11 picks in the third round.

Chambers went 84th overall to the Pittsburgh Pirates. Broxton, a member of Santa Fe's runner-up team in the national junior-college tournament, was taken 95th by the Arizona Diamondbacks.

Tucker receives national honor

Florida first baseman Preston Tucker (Plant) was named the National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association Freshman Hitter of the Year. Tucker batted .364 with 15 home runs and a school-record 85 RBIs. He led the Gators in each category, winning the team's "Triple Crown.''

Additionally, Tucker has been invited to the USA Baseball National Team Trials, beginning next week in Cary, N.C. Thirty-six players are competing for a spot on the 22-player roster, which will be announced June 24.

The National Team will play exhibitions in North Carolina before departing for Japan and the 37th annual Japan vs. USA Collegiate Baseball Championships. Then it heads to Canada for the Enbridge Northern Gateway Pipeline World Baseball Challenge in Prince George, British Columbia.

Litsch done for the season

Toronto Blue Jays right-hander Jesse Litsch (Dixie Hollins), a 13-game winner last season and the No. 2 starter to Roy Halladay, will undergo "Tommy John'' surgery and miss the remainder of the season. On April 13, Litsch pulled himself out of a start against the Minnesota Twins after throwing 50 pitches in three innings.

Litsch, 24, has been rehabilitating in Dunedin, but the pain in his right elbow never subsided. He will use renowned arm specialist James Andrews for the surgery on Friday.

McCutchen breaks out quickly (.379)

Was he ready for the major leagues? So far, Pittsburgh Pirates rookie outfielder Andrew McCutchen (Fort Meade) looks like the team's best player. McCutchen, called up from Triple-A Indianapolis after Nate McLouth was traded to the Atlanta Braves, is batting .379. He was 4-for-7 – with two triples, a double and a single – in Monday night's 7-6, 15-inning loss to the Braves.

"I think it's his makeup,'' Pirates manager John Russell told the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. "He's got a calm demeanor about him, a lot of confidence in what he does. I think he's kind of been in the spotlight for a few years now [McCutchen was the 11th overall selection in the 2005 draft].

"Probably questions of when and why and all that. He's been grilled about it already. I think that's a thing that's helped him since he's gotten here, to handle it.''

Off and running

The NCAA Outdoor Track and Field Championships are today through Saturday at the University of Arkansas – and the Tampa Bay area will be well-represented.

The most legitimate hopes belong to University of Florida junior sprinter Calvin Smith (Freedom), a favorite in the 400 meters (personal-best 44.96). Smith is also part of UF's 4x100 relay team – along with Dennis Martin, Terrell Wilks and Jeremy Hall – that holds the nation's fastest time at 38.74. Smith will also compete with UF's 4x400 relay team.

The Gators also feature Beau Burroughs (Jesuit) in the shot put, Kallinka Pitt (Largo) in the 110-meter hurldes and Natalie Moser (Wharton), the East Regional champion, in the women's pole vault.

The Florida State University women have Teona Rodgers (Wharton) in the 100 meters and 4x100 relay.

The University of South Florida is sending Errol Blackmon in the high jump.

Meanwhile, Maryland senior Michelle Fedrick (Middleton) will compete in the 400 meters (she was fifth at regionals with a 53.36, her second-fastest time this season). Also, Texas Christian University senior Neidra Covington (Boca Ciega), a two-time All-American, is in the triple jump, coming off a wind-aided personal-best mark of 44 feet, 6 inches at the Midwest Regional.

Summer baseball beckons

For college athletes, it's summer baseball time. The local schools have sent players all over the map.
USF outfielder Ryan Lockwood will play for the Bourne Braves of the Cape Cod League.

Six other USF players are in the Virginia Valley League – outfielder/pitcher Stephen Hunt, pitcher Doug Wagner and third baseman Jonathan Koscso (Woodstock River Bandits); catcher Andrew Longley and pitcher Matt Reed (Covington Lumberjacks); first baseman Todd Brazeal and infielder Luis Llerena (Staunton Braves); and pitcher Adrian Puig (Luray Wranglers).

Elsewhere, pitcher Trey Dahl (Clermont Mavericks) is in the Florida Collegiate Baseball League and pitcher Kyle Eastham (Geneva Red Wings) is in the New York Collegiate Baseball League.

At the University of Tampa, seven Spartans will participate in a summer baseball league.

Pitcher Carmine Giardina is in the Florida Collegiate Baseball League. Pitcher Tommy Meagher (Keene Swamp Bats) and catcher Mike Bourdon (Manchester Silkworms) are in the New England Collegiate Baseball League.

Outfielder Tyler Cox and pitcher Daniel Foltz are headed to the Hawaiian Collegiate Baseball League. Meanwhile, designated hitter Mike Schwartz (Harrisburg Turks) and infielder Jared Simon (Front Royal Cardinals) are competing in the Virginia Valley Baseball League.

Caldwell shooting for UFL

Former Gators wide receiver Reche Caldwell (Jefferson) participated in a combine workout with 51 other free agents on Saturday for Orlando's team in the United Football League, which begins play this fall. Caldwell was a second-round draft choice of the San Diego Chargers in 2002. He also played for the New England Patriots and Washington Redskins, catching 152 passes for 1,851 yards and 11 touchdowns in six NFL seasons. He signed with the St. Louis Rams in 2008, but was released before the regular season.

Birthday wishes

Happy birthday to former Bucs punter Tommy Barnhardt, who actually had two tours of duty with Tampa Bay. He was drafted by the Bucs in 1986, but didn't stick. A decade later, he was summoned to replace Reggie Roby and punted from 1996 to 1998. What else? As an 8-year-old, he made it to the National Punt, Pass & Kick semifinals in 1971. He also was named to the University of North Carolina's football all-century team. Thursday, Barnhardt turns 46.

The Answer Man

Here's the answer to Tuesday's trivia question:

The two former Armwood High School baseball players who made it to the major leagues are pitcher Sterling Hitchcock and outfielder Matt Joyce.

Wednesday trivia

Here's our daily sports trivia question, featuring a Tampa Bay/Florida spin. Try your luck by commenting below.

Who are the four former Plant High School baseball players to make the major leagues?

Check for the answer in Thursday's Wake-Up Call.

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