Sheredy’s draft prospects undergo revision

Thursday, June 6, 1996

Pitcher one of three Bruins selected on opening day of draftBy
Yoni Tamler

Daily Bruin Staff

On Tuesday, the St. Louis Cardinals selected UCLA right-hander
Kevin Sheredy with their seventh-round pick in the Major League
draft, making him the first Bruin chosen and the third overall in
the day’s first 25 rounds.

"I expected to be signed higher but as you go through the draft
you learn that anything can and does happen," said Sheredy, who
joined teammates Tim DeCinces and Ryan Lynch as selections. "I’m
real happy to be with Tony LaRussa’s organization. My agent is
familiar with him from when he was still in Oakland, and he likes
to move people up in a hurry."

Sheredy, a junior who transferred to UCLA last fall from
Arkansas, pitched his way to national notoriety this season with
the Bruins, going 4-2 with a 4.49 ERA, and recording 55 strikeouts
in 49 innings. He also recorded a school-record eight saves while
working in relief for most of the season.

The Cardinals were so impressed with Sheredy that he was their
second pitcher taken in the draft, preceded only by first-round
pick Braden Looper out of Wichita State.

"I’m a little bit disappointed because I was told I’d go
anywhere from (rounds) three to five, and no lower than five,"
Sheredy said. "But (Looper) was the only pitcher taken before me
and he’s a reliever, which makes me effectively the first starting
pitcher taken by St. Louis."

With Sheredy’s one year of eligibility remaining, the obvious
question is whether he will sign with St. Louis or stay on with the
Bruins for another season.

"I would guess that signing would be the best thing for me to do
with the expansion year coming up in two seasons," Sheredy said.
"It would be in my interests to go out this year and prove to the
minor league teams that I can play. If I decided to wait and go
back to college I wouldn’t have that year of minor league
experience.

"Before coming here, I never would have expected that I would
consider staying after my junior year. But after being in L.A. I
will give it some honest consideration because I’ve had such a
great time here."

* * *

DeCinces, who put up Triple Crown-type numbers this season
(.341, 18 HR, 67 RBIs), was taken in the 16th round by the
Baltimore Orioles, who once had his father Doug as a player.

The Minnesota Twins took DeCinces’ classmate, Lynch (2-2, 6.88
ERA), in the12th round. Neither player could be reached for
comment.

Other third-year pitchers anticipating contract offers are Ryan
O’Toole, Jake Meyer and Matt Klein.

UCLA Sports Info

Kevin SheredySUSIE CHU/Daily Bruin

Tim DeCinces could be celebrating in the Major Leagues in the
near future after being drafted in the 16th round by the Baltimore
Orioles.