Tyler Matzek posed an unnerving question Tuesday after becoming the first-round pick of the Rockies in major league baseball’s first-year player draft.
The high school senior from Capistrano Valley (Calif.) High School wondered why the Rockies put their mark on him with the 11th overall pick, since he might be headed to the University of Oregon. Although Matzek’s future may rest in his left-handed arm, he also likes to bat, and has been told by the Oregon coaching staff that he will see playing time at first base if he opts for college baseball.
“I was a little surprised by the draft, but then again not so surprised,” Matzek said when contacted Tuesday night. “I expected to go about where I did. I look forward to the opportunity to go to Oregon and get some time at first base, but that’s really not that big of a deal.”
Matzek’s adviser in his dealings with the Rockies is Legacy Sports, headed by Greg Genske.
“I’m really excited about being drafted, and we’ll just see how everything goes with the negotiations,” Matzek said.
The Rockies have a bit of leverage in that they landed two players with the 32nd and 34th picks — Sacramento State center fielder Tim Wheeler and Lipscomb University left-hander Rex Brothers — that were considered two of the top 20 players in the draft.
Baseball America called Matzek the best high school prospect in the draft, but in a report said multiple team sources were told he wants “precedent-setting money.” The record is a $7 million guarantee given to Josh Beckett and Rick Porcello.
Rockies scouting director Bill Schmidt won’t be detoured.
“We’ll make every attempt to sign him, and we’d love to have him be part of this organization,” Schmidt said. “We took him with that intent. We’ll see how the summer unfolds.”
Schmidt said the Rockies are aware of Matzek’s thoughts on college, and they have until 9:59 p.m. on Monday, Aug. 17, to sign him.
“We feel good about what we did today,” Schmidt said. “We focused on the best player available when we picked.”
Matzek is the second left-handed pitcher taken by the Rockies in the first round in as many years. The Rockies took Christian Friedrich out of Eastern Kentucky University last year.
Friedrich has progressed to Modesto in the high Single-A California League.
In his senior season, Matzek posted a 13-1 record, with an 0.97 ERA and 106 strikeouts in 86 2/3 innings. At first base, he hit .404 with 32 RBIs and eight home runs in 94 at-bats.
Rich Awender, Matzek’s high school pitching coach, hinted he thought his former pupil would give the Rockies a close look.
“He has wanted to play professional baseball for a long time,” Awender said. “But he’s a 3.7 student and really has the best of both worlds between school and baseball.”
Said his mother, Kathy Matzek: “He’s excited about the draft, but absolutely, he’s considering the University of Oregon. He wants to become a doctor, and going to Oregon is one of his dreams.”
Staff writer Troy E. Renck contributed to this story.
Irv Moss: 303-954-1296 or imoss@denverpost.com
Report card
Scouting report on the Rockies’ first pick, Tyler Matzek:
Fastball: 90 to 94 mph with a windup, 86 to 88 from a stretch.
Curveball: 71 to 78 mph. It was only good at around 76.
Slider: Threw a spinning cutter that averaged 82 mph.
Control: It wasn’t pinpoint, but overall it was good.
Summary: When locked in, it’s easy to argue that he’s one of the top high school left-handed pitchers in this draft class.
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