Brackman May Fall From First Round of Draft

RALEIGH, N.C. — The first round of Thursday’s major league baseball draft might come and go for N.C. State pitcher Andrew Brackman.

Brackman, a 6-foot-10 junior right-hander, was once considered a potential top-five pick. Up to 50 professional scouts packed the stands behind home plate for his starts, with their radar guns registering in the high 90s on some of Brackman’s fastballs.

But those who follow the draft for Durham-based Baseball America say Brackman may fall out of the first round for two reasons: his injury and his advisor, Scott Boras.

Brackman has not pitched since May 12 at Virginia because of inflammation in his right elbow. An MRI done by N.C. State showed no structural damage, and Wolfpack officials expect Brackman to recover with rest.

But another factor is that Brackman is represented by Boras, a tough negotiator who demands big dollars. So, teams may be reluctant to use a high pick on Brackman and invest a huge amount in a player recovering from an injury.

“There are 30 picks in the first round,” said Will Lingo, editor of Baseball America. “I just don’t see how a team could risk its first-round pick on him with what’s gone on with him in the last month.

“Now, all it takes is one team to decide it’s worth a shot …. But based on what we know and what we’ve heard and seen, I don’t see any way that’s going to happen.”

The 50-round draft begins Thursday at 2 p.m. Players have until Aug. 15 to sign with their club. If the player doesn’t sign, the team gets a compensatory pick in the 2008 draft that is one pick behind the one it used on the player it lost. If Brackman is drafted but does not sign, he could return for his senior year at N.C. State.

Brackman has had a unique career at N.C. State. He came in as a highly regarded prospect for both baseball and basketball and played both sports his first two seasons.

As a freshman, he joined the baseball team late after basketball season and showed immense potential. He made three appearances in relief and had a 1.29 ERA. As a starter, he was a stellar 4-0 with a 2.25 ERA.

But as a sophomore, he had gained weight for basketball and was not as effective once he put on baseball cleats. He pitched just seven times before a stress fracture ended his season.

This year, he decided to concentrate on baseball and not to play basketball despite repeated overtures from new Wolfpack coach Sidney Lowe.

Brackman had a 6-4 record with an earned-run average of 3.81. He struck out 74 batters and walked 37 in 78.0 innings.

While those numbers were fine, they weren’t dominant. North Carolina’s Andrew Miller, drafted sixth overall by the Detroit Tigers last season, had a 13-2 record as a junior with an ERA of 2.48. He struck out 133 batters and walked 40 in 123.1 innings. Miller signed with Detroit for a signing bonus reported at $3.5 million.

Aaron Fitt, who covers collegiate baseball for Baseball America, called Brackman “the toughest guy to peg right now” going into the draft.

“Coming into the year, it was a no-brainer he was a top-five talent,” Fitt said.

“His stuff has been outstanding at times. But he just had a disappointing year -- there’s no other way to put it.”

Another player to watch Thursday is North Carolina shortstop Josh Horton. The draft has a supplemental first-round after the first 30 picks, and Fitt said Horton may be drafted in that range. There are 34 picks in that supplemental round.

“I have a feeling he’ll go into that supplemental first round,” Fitt said Wednesday. “I think there’s a little bit of a concern about his position. Some people think he might not stick at shortstop.”

Fitt said Horton can make spectacular plays but might not be consistent enough to be a major league shortstop and might shift to second base or a corner position.