By Jim Callis
July 26, 2004

The Angels rolled the dice on several picks in Eddie Bane's first draft as scouting director, starting with taking Long Beach State righthander Jered Weaver with the No. 12 overall choice despite his reported eight-figure bonus demands. One of their biggest gambles paid off on July 26, when they signed 14th-round righthander Nick Adenhart.

Neither Adenhart's talent nor his signing bonus ($710,000) was typical of a 14th-rounder. The Williamsport (Md.) High righthander entered 2004 ranked as the nation's top high school prospect, and he battled LaGrange (Texas) High righty Homer Bailey for that distinction during the spring. While Bailey went on to get drafted seventh overall by the Reds and win BA's High School Player of the Year award, Adenhart didn't have a happy ending.

Adenhart opened his senior season with a seven-inning perfect game and 15 strikeouts, but his performance started to slip by May. He left a May 11 start after one inning because of elbow discomfort, and learned shortly thereafter that he would require Tommy John surgery. He went from a possible top-10 pick to falling out of the top 10 rounds.

Most teams figured Adenhart would follow through on his baseball scholarship from North Carolina after having his elbow reconstructed. But Angels area scout Dan Radcliff had an inkling Adenhart still might sign, and he successfully lobbied Bane to take him.

"You have to give Dan a lot of credit," Bane said. "He was in constant touch with Nick. He buried me with constant requests to come see the guy when he was healthy. When he got hurt, I thought I was going to have to visit Radcliff in the hospital rather than Adenhart because he was so disappointed."

Before he got hurt, Adenhart had a low-90s fastball that topped out at 95 mph, as well as a curveball that ranked among the best in the high school ranks. His changeup, which has late tumbling action, also showed promise. Command and a projectable 6-foot-3, 185-pound build were two more pluses in his favor.

Dr. James Andrews operated on Adenhart's elbow on June 17, and Adenhart passed a physical conducted by Angels team orthopedist Dr. Lewis Yocum prior to signing. The track record with Tommy John surgery is very promising, and he also has youth on his side. Adenhart should be able to return to the mound before he turns 19 in August 2005.

"One of the things we were able to sell him on is that we do a better job rehabbing guys than any college does," Bane said. "We're just really excited. We preach thinking outside the box, and it doesn't get much further outside the box than this."

Bane's work is far from done. Negotiations with Weaver and adviser Scott Boras could take months, and the Angels still are pursuing such tough signs as high school righthanders Mark Trumbo (18th round), Bobby Cassevah (34th) and Erik Davis (47th). But now Bane has gotten his first blue-chipper who slid under contract.

"We're patting ourselves on the back now, but we waited too long to draft him," Bane said. "He had too much value to wait until the 14th round. Fortunately, we got it done."