Walsh Jesuit's Johnny Fasola, Greg Greve and Tyler Skulina are among locals drafted today in late rounds of Major League Baseball draft.
UPDATED: 7:44 p.m.
View full sizeWalsh Jesuit shortstop/pitcher Johnny Fasola was drafted today in the 36th round by the Los Angeles Dodgers.CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Shortstop/pitcher Johnny Fasola was the first of three Walsh Jesuit players selected by California teams in the late rounds of Major League Baseball's first-year player draft Wednesday. The Los Angeles Dodgers selected him in the 36th round, the 1,102nd pick overall.
"We can finally exhale," said his father, John Fasola.
So can teammates Greg Greve and Tyler Skulina, as well as Garfield Heights' Dan Ward, who were the other area high school picks Wednesday, the third day of the draft.
Greve, a right-hander and third baseman who lives in Brecksville, was taken in the 45th round by the San Francisco Giants. He has signed with Ohio State.
Skulina, a right-hander thought to be an early-round pick before the draft, lasted until the 46th round when the Oakland A's took him with the 1,385th pick. The Strongsville resident has signed with the University of Virginia.
The order of the baseball draft usually reflects a player's "signability" as much as his ability, which was the case with Skulina. He was thought to be asking for early-round money, which caused him to drop to lower rounds.
"Signability definitely was an issue," he said. "I have a great opportunity to go to Virginia and I told them how much it was going to take for me to pass going to play with my friends at Virginia.
"This has been an exciting three days, for sure. It was good to see my buddies drafted."
Ohio University recruit Dan Ward, a third baseman and right-hander, went to the Texas Rangers in the 47th round.
They were among nine drafted players who graduated from Northeast Ohio high schools.
St. Edward right-hander/infielder Stetson Allie was the second pick of the second round (52nd overall) by the Pittsburgh Pirates.
St. Ignatius grad and Georgia Tech shortstop Derek Dietrich (second round, 79th overall) went to Tampa Bay.
Ohio University third baseman Gauntlett Eldemire was drafted in the sixth round by Philadelphia. He is a University School grad from Shaker Heights.
Brecksville graduate and University of Toledo junior right-hander Matthew Suschak was a seventh-round pick by Atlanta.
The Indians drafted St. Edward catcher and Georgia Tech recruit Alex Lavisky in the eighth round.
Johnny Fasola, a hard-throwing right-hander, has signed to play at Kansas State. Like the other drafted high school players, the Fasolas will meet with the Dodgers this week to negotiate a signing bonus and decide whether or not to sign with Los Angeles or go to college. Johnny Fasola said the Dodgers considered him an 11th-20th-round pick and would offer him money in that range.
"We gave them a number and we'll see what they come back with. If they don't, he's got a scholarship to Kansas State," said his father.
The Dodgers plan to develop him at either shortstop, third base or the outfield. Fasola, of Hudson, was under the impression he would be drafted early Tuesday, most likely by Texas. Johnny said he was disappointed Tuesday, but happy Wednesday.
"It's awesome," he said. "I sat around [Tuesday] and didn't want to get my hopes up. But when they kept drafting guys I knew I could play with, or guys I played with in the summer, I'm thinking, 'I can hang with this guy.' It was a little disappointing when you hear those guys' names called and you don't get called."
Fasola didn't follow the draft online Wednesday and went out with friends.
"My dad called me and he was all breathing heavy, saying, 'Get home. You got drafted by the Dodgers,' " Johnny said.