Colorado Rockies draft Beerer 47th overall

Steve Virgen

Scott Beerer, a former baseball standout at Newport Harbor High and

Orange Coast College, was surprised, yet overjoyed the Colorado

Rockies selected him in the second round, 47th overall, in Tuesday’s

Major League first-year player draft.

Two other local athletes, Randy Blood and Justin Azze, were also

selected, while UC Irvine’s Chris Klemm and OCC’s Kyle Allen could be

picked when the draft coninues today.

In June 2001, after Beerer’s freshman season with OCC, he was

selected in the 23rd round, 681st overall, by the Texas Rangers. He

went back to Coast, then went to Texas A&M;, where he starred this

season. In two years, he improved his draft status by 634 positions.

“That’s a great turnaround,” Beerer said by phone from College

Station. “It has been an interesting morning and an interesting

season, that’s for sure. I was in shock for a little while. I really

didn’t have any expectations going in [Tuesday]. But it was a great

feeling.”

With the Aggies, Beerer earned Louisville Slugger NCAA Division I

first-team All-American honors, as a utility player after batting

.335 with 17 doubles, 11 home runs and 57 RBIs. Beerer, who was named

the team’s MVP Monday, also served as the Aggies’ closer,

accumulating a school single-season record 13 saves. He compiled a

6-1 record. In 49 1/3 innings, he allowed just 32 hits while striking

out 58.

He also earned first-team All-Big 12 recognition, as a relief

pitcher, helping guide the Aggies to a 45-19 season and second place

in the conference.

“It was a surprise,” Beerer said of his season. “I didn’t think I

would be able to do everything I did. To be selected first-team

All-American put a nice cap on it. It was just a great season.”

Beerer said he followed the draft on the Internet with his

teammates while at their home stadium, Olsen Field. He said he plans

to sign with the Rockies and pass up his senior year of eligibility.

Beerer endured back pains throughout his playing days at Newport

Harbor, yet overcame the nagging injury while at Coast. In 2002, he

missed roughly four games with a foot injury with the Pirates, but he

has been injury-free since.

“Everything is going so well,” Beerer said. “Last year, was just a

fluke with the foot. As far as my back goes, everything has been 100%

since after high school. I feel healthy.”

The draft’s first day also included Blood, who is originally from

Costa Mesa and played for Calvary Chapel High. He was the second

baseman for UC Riverside this past season. Blood was also selected by

the Rockies, in the sixth round, 167th overall. He was the

Highlanders’ second-leading hitter with a .358 average. He amassed 82

hits and 51 RBIs this spring.

Azze, a left-handed pitcher for OCC in 2001, was selected in the

seventh round, 194th overall, by the Baltimore Orioles. Though he did

not play this spring, he improved his draft status from a year ago.

Last year, the Montreal Expos picked him 287th overall.

Azze, who transferred to the University of Hawaii, was unable to

play this season because he wasn’t cleared by the NCAA.