By John Hoover
January 21, 2003

NORMAN, Okla.–When the radar guns come out and the pencils start scribbling, it’s not uncommon for college pitchers to vapor lock. After all, we’re talking professional baseball and million-dollar contracts here.

But don’t expect that to happen to Oklahoma draft-eligible sophomore David Purcey this season. Scouts and agents seem like old, familiar faces to him.

"I have an advantage because I went through all that in high school. I’ve seen it before," said Purcey, the gentle-giant lefthander who could be a first-round pick. "I’m used to those guys coming out and pulling out their guns. In high school I made the mistake of thinking I had to impress them. Now, if I help my team win, that’ll impress them even more."

Purcey is 6-foot-5, 240 pounds, wears a size 18 shoe and brings a live fastball clocked at 96 mph. He was a freshman All-American for the Sooners last year, going 5-4, 3.35 with six saves and 84 strikeouts in 75 innings. He was also a Baseball America Summer All-American (2-1, 1.13) after leading the Alaska League with 66 strikeouts and helping Anchorage to a runner-up finish in the National Baseball Congress World Series. He was ranked the No. 1 prospect in Alaska last summer, and major league scouting directors voted him a second-team preseason All-American this season.

"I’ve got scouts going nuts over him right now," said Sooners pitching coach Ray Hayward, himself a former major league scout and Oklahoma all-American. "He’s just got so much upside. He’s lefthanded. His arm works good. He’s got great velocity.

"His fastball is the big thing. He’s a big kid, strong, durable, can go a lot of innings, and he’s got the makings of a good changeup and a pretty good slider. He’s got everything you want."

In 2001, Purcey and his family declined Seattle’s predraft offer of "right at a million" dollars, Purcey said. He was eventually chosen in the 20th round by the Mariners but opted for school, knowing he would be eligible for the draft again in two years.

Purcey had just an ordinary senior year at Trinity Christian Academy in Dallas. Head coach/pitching coach/family friend Steve Adair died of bone marrow cancer a month before the season and Purcey went just 5-5. Still, he had a 1.88 ERA and 11.04 strikeouts per seven innings. Purcey figured if pro baseball was willing to give him a million bucks after a bad year, they’d pay even more after two years in college.

"If I’d had a good senior year, I would have gone," Purcey said. "My mechanics were off. My stuff didn’t look that good. Just overall, I didn’t have a good feeling on the year. (Adair’s death) was in my head. I’d known him since I was like 6. I kind of grew up at the school he taught, and he always helped me out and stuff. Plus, I knew him outside of baseball. Yeah, it was a little rough."

Purcey began his college career in the Oklahoma bullpen, but by midseason was in the rotation. Purcey’s highlight was holding Bedlam rival Oklahoma State to one earned run in seven innings in the middle game of the final regular-season series, then beating the Cowboys six days later in the first round of the Big 12 Conference tournament at The Ballpark in Arlington–in front of his home crowd.

"His hands are so big, (the baseball) looks like a golf ball in his hand. I still don’t see how he throws it over the plate myself," Hayward said. "And really, his upper body hasn’t developed yet. His ceiling’s so high, there’s no telling what he might turn into in the next four or five years."

Purcey was still very much a kid last year, so Hayward and Sooners head coach Larry Cochell sent him to Alaska for a specific reason.

"It gets you a long, long way away from home, and you’ve got to kind of grow up a little bit, do things on your own," said Hayward, who also pitched in Anchorage as a collegian. "I see a big difference in him maturity-wise."

"I think he’s right," Purcey said. "Being on my own, having to make my own decisions, manage my own money, take care of myself, being away from everyone, not having anyone else responsible for you–it does in a way help you grow up a little bit."

It was one more experience before facing all those radar guns and draft expectations again. Purcey stands ready.

"Looking back, I probably did need some time to get out and take care of myself and learn how to do it before I maybe play professional baseball out on my own completely," he said. "I think it was a good stepping stone, a good little trial period."