Huskers lose pitcher to pros; gain three new faces
Curtis Petersen got the signing bonus he’d demanded from the Florida Marlins, and for that, Nebraska baseball coach Mike Anderson was thrilled.
As for losing a powerful right-hander who figured to have a decent chance to anchor the Huskers’ weekend pitching rotation next season? Well, now you’re talking about a completely different emotion from Anderson.
“A high school kid should not sign for less than $1 million, and in a lot of cases it should be for more,” he said Monday after being asked if he believed the recruit from Aubrey, Texas, a fourth-round draft pick, got what he’s worth.
It’s highly doubtful Petersen got near that total. The two players chosen immediately after him received bonuses of $240,000 and $260,000.
So what’s up with Anderson’s belief about the cool million?
“That’s the value of the education you’re going to get at the university of Nebraska,” he continued. “Now, we have kids that sign for less than that, and we congratulate them, but that’s my opinion.”
Peterson is the second NU pitching recruit drafted in the first six rounds to opt for professional ball (Shane Dyer of South Mountain, Ariz., Community College was the other.). Nebraska also lost left-handed pitcher Dan Jennings, a ninth-round pick of the Marlins following his junior season, and will lose Aaron Pribanic, a third-round pick of Florida who has yet to sign but has said he intends to.
In addition, the Huskers could miss out on the talents of Khiry Cooper, a football recruit and standout center fielder taken in the fifth round by the Los Angeles Angels. Cooper has attended summer school at Nebraska, but the Angels have until Aug. 15 to sign him.
Anderson believes Cooper, who is currently back at home visiting an ill grandmother, would figure in prominently almost immediately.
“Khiry Cooper, we have a lot of plans for,” he said. “We think he’s a guy with the potential to add a lot of production for us this year.
“I can’t tell if it will be as a starter (right off). Like any first-year player, he’ll have some transitions to make, and like any first-year player, he’ll have some struggles.”
But in the next breath, Anderson offered that Cooper has the kind of talent to be a first-round pick three years from now. Throw in the fact that the Dodgers would be asking him to give up football, a sport that he also has the potential to play professionally, and Anderson believes Cooper should command a significantly higher bonus than his $1 million requirement.
When asked whether he believes he’ll get to coach Cooper, Anderson said, “I think he’s made a strong investment into his summer program, summer education, football, and I think he’s doing a lot of the right things right now. My read is he’s developed a lot of relationships. … But I could tell you I think he’ll be here and the next day he signs (professionally).”
While he awaits Cooper’s decision, Anderson has added three players to Nebraska’s 2008-09 roster: outfielder/pitcher Adam Bailey of Scottsdale, Ariz.; infielder Kyle Bubak of Salt Lake City; and left-handed pitcher Nate Kerkhoff of Overland Park, Kan.
At South Mountain last season, the left-handed hitting Bailey was first-team all-conference while hitting .400 with four homers, 21 doubles and 40 RBIs from the left side. He also was 1-1 with four saves and a 1.13 earned-run average in 16 innings. Bailey played at Arizona State in 2007.
The switch-hitting Bubak spent last season at Salt Lake Community College and was first-team all-conference while hitting .276 with two homers, 34 RBIs, 14 doubles and 14 stolen bases. He also was his region’s defensive player of the year.
Kerkhoff (8-2, 1.24 ERA) was second-team all-state while helping Blue Valley High win the Kansas Class 6A state title. He notched 55 strikeouts in 62 innings, and during his four-year career went 22-6 with a 2.25 ERA and 169 strikeouts in 1992/3 innings.
Nebraska is coming off a 41-16-1 season that left it No. 20 in the final Baseball America rankings.
Briefly: First baseman Tyler Farst, who came on strong at the end of last season after Craig Corriston suffered an injury, had shoulder surgery recently and will be limited in fall practice. Tyler Rank also underwent shoulder surgery and will be monitored closely in the fall.
Reach Curt McKeever at 473-7441 or cmckeever@journalstar.com.
As for losing a powerful right-hander who figured to have a decent chance to anchor the Huskers’ weekend pitching rotation next season? Well, now you’re talking about a completely different emotion from Anderson.
“A high school kid should not sign for less than $1 million, and in a lot of cases it should be for more,” he said Monday after being asked if he believed the recruit from Aubrey, Texas, a fourth-round draft pick, got what he’s worth.
It’s highly doubtful Petersen got near that total. The two players chosen immediately after him received bonuses of $240,000 and $260,000.
So what’s up with Anderson’s belief about the cool million?
“That’s the value of the education you’re going to get at the university of Nebraska,” he continued. “Now, we have kids that sign for less than that, and we congratulate them, but that’s my opinion.”
Peterson is the second NU pitching recruit drafted in the first six rounds to opt for professional ball (Shane Dyer of South Mountain, Ariz., Community College was the other.). Nebraska also lost left-handed pitcher Dan Jennings, a ninth-round pick of the Marlins following his junior season, and will lose Aaron Pribanic, a third-round pick of Florida who has yet to sign but has said he intends to.
In addition, the Huskers could miss out on the talents of Khiry Cooper, a football recruit and standout center fielder taken in the fifth round by the Los Angeles Angels. Cooper has attended summer school at Nebraska, but the Angels have until Aug. 15 to sign him.
Anderson believes Cooper, who is currently back at home visiting an ill grandmother, would figure in prominently almost immediately.
“Khiry Cooper, we have a lot of plans for,” he said. “We think he’s a guy with the potential to add a lot of production for us this year.
“I can’t tell if it will be as a starter (right off). Like any first-year player, he’ll have some transitions to make, and like any first-year player, he’ll have some struggles.”
But in the next breath, Anderson offered that Cooper has the kind of talent to be a first-round pick three years from now. Throw in the fact that the Dodgers would be asking him to give up football, a sport that he also has the potential to play professionally, and Anderson believes Cooper should command a significantly higher bonus than his $1 million requirement.
When asked whether he believes he’ll get to coach Cooper, Anderson said, “I think he’s made a strong investment into his summer program, summer education, football, and I think he’s doing a lot of the right things right now. My read is he’s developed a lot of relationships. … But I could tell you I think he’ll be here and the next day he signs (professionally).”
While he awaits Cooper’s decision, Anderson has added three players to Nebraska’s 2008-09 roster: outfielder/pitcher Adam Bailey of Scottsdale, Ariz.; infielder Kyle Bubak of Salt Lake City; and left-handed pitcher Nate Kerkhoff of Overland Park, Kan.
At South Mountain last season, the left-handed hitting Bailey was first-team all-conference while hitting .400 with four homers, 21 doubles and 40 RBIs from the left side. He also was 1-1 with four saves and a 1.13 earned-run average in 16 innings. Bailey played at Arizona State in 2007.
The switch-hitting Bubak spent last season at Salt Lake Community College and was first-team all-conference while hitting .276 with two homers, 34 RBIs, 14 doubles and 14 stolen bases. He also was his region’s defensive player of the year.
Kerkhoff (8-2, 1.24 ERA) was second-team all-state while helping Blue Valley High win the Kansas Class 6A state title. He notched 55 strikeouts in 62 innings, and during his four-year career went 22-6 with a 2.25 ERA and 169 strikeouts in 1992/3 innings.
Nebraska is coming off a 41-16-1 season that left it No. 20 in the final Baseball America rankings.
Briefly: First baseman Tyler Farst, who came on strong at the end of last season after Craig Corriston suffered an injury, had shoulder surgery recently and will be limited in fall practice. Tyler Rank also underwent shoulder surgery and will be monitored closely in the fall.
Reach Curt McKeever at 473-7441 or cmckeever@journalstar.com.
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