The White Sox say they selected a ”Wade Boggs-type” hitter who also plays the same position as the Boston star. Now they hope he puts up Boggs-type numbers.
Using the 10th pick in the first round of Wednesday`s amateur free-agent draft, the Sox chose Oklahoma State`s Robin Ventura, who had a 58-hitting streak in 1987. He immediately became the organization`s top third-base prospect.
The Sox were hoping the 20-year-old Ventura would slip down to them. He fills two big needs: He`s a third baseman, and he can hit.
”Obviously, we were looking for a quality player,” said Sox personnel director Al Goldis. ”It just so happens we got a player to fill a need. He`s the best pure hitter in the draft, and we need hitting.”
Relatively unheralded after playing high school ball in California, the 6-foot-1-inch, 185-pounder exploded as a hitter in college.
In three years, he hit .428 with 68 homers and 302 RBIs. Last year, he was named the NCAA Player of the Year as a sophomore, hitting .428 with 21 homers and 110 RBIs. This year, he ”slumped” to .391 with 26 homers and 96 RBIs.
Ventura, a left-handed hitter, is best known for his streak, which was broken by Stanford`s Jack McDowell, last year`s No. 1 Sox pick, in the College World Series.
”He`s a Boggs-type guy,” Goldis said. ”His hitting fundamentals are excellent.”
Ventura, though, isn`t considered to have excellent tools in other areas. As a fielder, he`s rated average at best, and he doesn`t have good speed.
He probably will start at Class A, although the exact determination hasn`t been made yet. He`s well aware of the third-base situation with the big club.
”They explained when they picked me that they haven`t had a true third baseman in a long time,” Ventura said. ”It`s not going to be given to me, and I`m not going to go straight up to the big leagues. Hopefully, I`ll get my chance.”
Ventura said there`s still a question of when he`ll begin his pro career. He`s entertaining notions of playing in the Olympics this September.
”It would be exciting to play for our country,” he said. ”It`ll be a tough decision whichever way it goes.”
