Deadline approaches soon for draftees

The void at the top of the UC Irvine pitching rotation expected to be created by junior All-American Danny Bibona’s departure to professional baseball, might actually be filled by Bibona himself.

The deadline for the St. Louis Cardinals organization to sign Bibona, drafted in the 16th round (No. 489 overall) in June, is Monday at 9 p.m. pacific time.

If an agreement cannot be reached, the 2009 Big West Conference Pitcher of the Year, who was 12-1 with a 2.63 earned-run average, should return to anchor a pitching staff that figures to include senior standouts Christian Bergman and Eric Pettis, as well as junior Crosby Slaught.

Bibona would then be eligible for the 2010 Major League Draft.

Bibona was recognized on a handful of All-American teams after last season, in which he helped lead the Anteaters to their first Big West Conference championship and the program’s first No. 1 national ranking. He struck out 108 in 106 innings, holding opponents to just 78 hits and a .208 batting average.

Monday’s deadline will also clarify the status of other UCI players who were drafted and have yet to sign.

Second baseman Casey Stevenson (38th-round pick of the Milwaukee Brewers) is foremost among those. Stevenson hit .346 with three home runs and 41 runs batted in as a junior, when he earned second-team All-Big West recognition.

Others who might still consider signing with professional teams include Brian Hernandez, Drew Hillman and incoming freshmen pitchers Paul Strong, Kyle Hooper and Beau Wright.

Hernandez, who redshirted last season due to eligibility issues, will be a junior next season. He was selected in the 39th round by Cleveland.

Termed the best hitter in the program last season by Coach Mike Gillespie, Hernandez hit .244 with three home runs and 16 RBIs for the Yarmouth-Dennis Red Sox in the Cape Cod League this summer. He played first base, third base, second base and in the outfield in 40 games in the Cape.

Hillman, a two-time All-American third baseman at Orange Coast College, which he helped lead to the state title last season, was taken in the 38th round by Tampa Bay.

Hillman was sent home early from the Cape Cod League due to a sore arm, Gillespie said.

Strong was taken in the 17th round by the Texas Rangers, Hooper went in the 28th round to the Pittsburgh Pirates and Wright was a 29th-round pick of the Minnesota Twins.