El Toro Pitcher Johnson Drafted by Twins in 16th

El Toro pitcher Rob Johnson, who has signed a letter of intent to play football at USC, was drafted by the Minnesota Twins in the 16th round of baseball’s amateur draft.

Johnson, a two-time Times all-county selection in football, was a four-year starting pitcher for El Toro. He has said he plans to play football and baseball at USC.

“It would take a considerable offer for me to sign with the Twins,” Johnson said. “I think my stock will only go up playing at USC.”

Johnson, who will play in the state all-star baseball series this weekend at Clovis West High in Fresno, said he was surprised he was drafted.

“I didn’t throw that well this year, but a Twins scout clocked me in our bullpen throwing 90 m.p.h.,” he said. “My dad (Bob) and I are meeting with (Twins representatives) Wednesday, but it would take a big offer for me to sign.”

In other draft news involving players with Orange County ties:

Mike Robertson, a Servite graduate who hit .329 with 14 home runs and 57 RBIs for USC this season, was picked in the third round by the Chicago White Sox.

The junior first baseman, who was drafted by the Angels after high school but turned down a $100,000 signing package to attend USC, will meet with White Sox officials tonight or Thursday.

* Former Mater Dei first baseman Joe Ciccarella of Loyola Marymount was drafted in the fourth round by the Boston Red Sox. Ciccarella, a junior at Loyola Marymount who batted .435 with 13 homers and 67 RBIs this season, said he will meet with Red Sox officials this week.

* Chris Reed, Katellapitcher, said he was prepared to sign with the Cincinnati Reds after Tuesday’s county all-star game.. Reed, who was drafted in the seventh round Monday, will report to the Reds’ rookie league team in Princeton, W.Va.

* Two members of Cypress’ state championship team--Sean Drinkwater and Robert Legendre--were selected.

Drinkwater, a sophomore second baseman from El Toro High, was taken in the 11th round by the Chicago Cubs. Drinkwater, a transfer from Texas A & M, hit .319 with nine home runs, 45 RBIs and a team-high 14 stolen bases. He has also signed a letter of intent to attend North Carolina State and is expected to decide in the next week or so.

Legendre, a freshman pitcher from Western High, was taken by the Dodgers in the 14th round. Legendre was 10-4, including 5-0 in five postseason appearences. He struck out 105 and allowed 84 hits in 110 1/3 innings. He had an earned-run average of 3.26.

* John Pitts, a senior catcher at Esperanza High, was selected in the 14th round by the Texas Rangers. Pitts batted .444 for Esperanza, which was ranked No. 1 in the nation by USA Today for five weeks.

* Two Cal State Fullerton seniors, Frank Charles and Matt Hattabaugh, were drafted and Charles signed with the San Francisco Giants Tuesday night.

Charles, the Titans’ designated hitter who batted .348 with seven home runs, 18 doubles and a team-leading 64 RBIs, was a 17th-round selection. Drafted as a catcher, Charles will travel to Phoenix Sunday for a one-week minicamp and then report to the Giants’ short-season, Class-A affiliate in Everett, Wash.

Hattabaugh, the Titans’ catcher who hit .304 with seven homers and 38 RBIs, said he was drafted by the White Sox between the 20th and 25th round. The former Marina High School standout was still negotiating with a team official Tuesday night.

UC Irvine senior Bryant Winslow, who set a school season record with 10 home runs, said he has been notified by the Houston Astros that he was drafted Monday, though he was not told in which round. Winslow, a first baseman and outfielder who transferred from Wichita State for his final season, batted .262 and was tied for second on the team with 31 runs batted in. He led the team in walks (34) and strikeouts (50).

* Jeff Henderson, a sophomore right-handed pitcher from Golden West College, was drafted by the New York Mets in the 14th round.

Draft Notes

Six high school players who have signed letters of intent with Fullerton were drafted in the first 10 rounds and at least one, Ontario catcher Mike Sweeney, has signed a professional contract, Titan associate head Coach George Horton said. Sweeney was a 10th-round pick of the Kansas City Royals. . . . Dante Powell, Long Beach Millikan outfielder, was chosen by the Blue Jays between the first and second rounds.

Monte Vista (Danville) pitcher Chris Gambs, considered one of the nation’s top 25 high school prospects by USA Today, was a third-round pick of the Giants. . . . Cerritos outfielder Rickey Cradle was a fifth-round pick of the Blue Jays, Pioneer pitcher Hector Trinidad was a sixth-round pick of the Chicago Cubs, and Millikan catcher Pat Thacker, who has signed a basketball letter of intent to Fullerton but hoped to play both sports, was a ninth-round pick of the Blue Jays.

Times staff writers Robyn Norwood and Steve Kresal contributed to this story.