Contracts hit & miss for locals

No news is good news, these days, for the UC Irvine baseball program.

The Anteaters, who had nine current or former players chosen in the recent Major League Draft, have seen only one with remaining eligibility sign a professional contract.

Pitcher Cory Hamilton, hardly a top contributor having posted an 0-2 record the last two seasons, signed with the Detroit Tigers organization after being selected in the 23rd round (No. 690 overall). He is with the Oneota Tigers of the Class A New York-Penn League and he earned a relief win in his two-inning debut on Wednesday.

The departure of Ben Orloff, who graduated after completing a record-setting career with the Anteaters, was, of course, expected. The Big West Conference Player of the Year and Brooks Wallace Award winner as the nation’s top shortstop does, however, leave an ample hole in a roster that went 45-15 and won the school’s first Big West title with a 22-2 conference record.

Danny Bibona, a junior All-American starting pitcher who was the ace of the Anteaters’ staff (12-1 with a 2.63 earned-run average and 108 strikeouts in 106 innings), is still negotiating with the St. Louis Cardinals, who drafted him in the 16th round (No. 489 overall).

Casey Stevenson, a junior second baseman for the ’Eaters in 2009, joins junior infielder Brian Hernandez and incoming Orange Coast College transfer Drew Hillman in the draft-and-follow classification. Stevenson (drafted in the 38th round by the Milwaukee Brewers), Hillman (38th round, Tampa Bay Rays) and Hernandez (39th round, Cleveland Indians) will be evaluated as they compete during the summer. Teams will then decide if they wish to offer them contracts.

Incoming pitching recruits Paul Strong (17th round, Texas Rangers), Kyle Hooper (28th round, Pittsburgh Pirates) and Beau Wright (29th round, Minnesota Twins), are also those awaiting contract offers. The longer the wait, the less likely it is they will trade their UCI jerseys for a professional uniform.

UCI Coach Mike Gillespie said Christian Bergman, a standout junior pitcher who was not drafted, remains hopeful of being offered a free-agent contract. Begman is pitching in the Alaska summer league.

Hillman has been sent home from the Cape Cod League, due to a sore arm, Gillespie said. Hillman, a two-time All-American third baseman who helped lead the Pirates to the 2009 state community college championship, was hitless in 12 at-bats for the Cotuit Kettleers. He struck out four times, walked once, stole one base and scored one run in six games.

Hernandez, representing the Yarmouth-Dennis Red Sox in the Cape Cod League, was three for 26 in nine games through Thursday, a .115 average. Hernandez, who redshirted in 2009 due to eligibility issues and whom Gillespie called the team’s best hitter, has played second base, the outfield and first base in the Cape. He had one run batted in.

Meanwhile, former OCC standout Eric Oliver, as well as would-be OCC recruit Aaron Northcraft, have both signed and begun professional careers.

Oliver, an All-Big West first baseman as a senior at UC Santa Barbara in 2009, is playing with the Arizona Angels, the Rookie League affiliate of the Los Angeles Angels, who selected Oliver in the 36th round.

Through Thursday, Oliver had played two of his team’s four games and was one for six with one RBI. He has been used as the designated hitter.

Northcraft, an All-CIF Southern Section Division I performer as a 6-4, 225-pound senior pitcher at Mater Dei High in 2009, has signed with the Atlanta Braves organization. Northcraft, a 10th-round pick, is playing with the Gold Coast Braves of the Florida State League.

Additionally, Richard Jessup, who completed his eligibility at Vanguard University and graduated in May, signed as a free agent with the Amarillo Dillas of the independent United Baseball League.

The right-handed pitcher, who was 4-6 with three saves and a 5.81 earned-run average for the Lions in 2009, is off to a blazing start as a pro.

He is 2-0 in three starts and has allowed just two earned runs and 11 hits in 19 1/3 innings. His ERA after a strong seven-inning outing in the Dillas’ 10-1 win Thursday is 0.93.