Reds top pick Christopher Gruler has a breaking ball and changeup better than Tom Seaver (above), says Johnny Bench, a special consultant for the Reds. (AP Photo)

CINCINNATI -- The Cincinnati Reds liked Chris Gruler. The feeling was mutual.

This, simply put, was the spirit that enabled the Reds to sign the right-hander almost immediately after he was selected Tuesday in the 2002 first-year player draft. Gruler, Cincinnati's first-round selection in the 2002 First-Year Player draft who was taken third overall, received a $2.5 million bonus, exceeding the $1.95 million outfielder Austin Kearns received in 1998 as the highest in club history.

Gruler sensed the Reds would give him a chance to be selected in a high-profile spot. Otherwise, he might have had to wait until the middle of the first round -- which was the case with Cypress Falls (Texas) left-hander Scott Kazmir, another high school pitcher the Reds considered drafting. The New York Mets took Kazmir with the 15th overall pick.

"What we agreed upon is better than what he would have gotten anywhere else," said Gruler's advisor, Ryan Ware, who works with the agency of Reich/Katz/Landis. "That's why we were willing to get something done quickly."

The speed with which the Reds signed Gruler was almost unprecedented -- especially for someone of his elite draft status.

"The Reds are on the upswing," said Reds scouting director Kasey McKeon, who also announced verbal agreements with third baseman-catcher Joey Votto, a second-round choice, and first baseman Walter Olmstead, a sixth-round pick. "People are saying that. So these kids are excited to join us."

Signability was an major issue for the Reds because last year's first-round pick, left-hander Jeremy Sowers, spurned Cincinnati and accepted a scholarship to Vanderbilt University. Gruler, from Liberty High School in Brentwood, Calif., had a full scholarship at Arizona State, but his desire to play professionally was evident.

"I do not think there'll be any problem with me signing and becoming a Red," Gruler said on a conference call with Cincinnati-area writers before the signing was announced. "My No. 1 goal is to become a Major League Baseball player. I need to get out there as soon as possible to make it to the majors as soon as possible and help the Cincinnati Reds win a World Series."

"I was not prepared to go through the summer. We have a limited budget," general manager Jim Bowden said. "When I talked to (Gruler) a few weeks ago in Northern California, (he) told me money was not an issue. He wanted to sign, go out and play, I said if we end up taking you, I'm going to take you at your word. Both (advisor) Tom Reich and the player accomplished what they wanted, and we accomplished what we wanted.

"This is a very special kid with a very special agent who wanted to get it done. We had all the elements of people trying to do the right thing."

Even with all that good karma, the Reds were strongly tempted to draft Kazmir. "We felt Gruler and Kazmir were the two best pitchers in the draft," Bowden said. "We were split as an organization on who to take."

The general feeling among the Reds' braintrust was that Kazmir, as a left-hander, would reach the Majors more quickly. Meanwhile, team officials thought Gruler had a higher potential, or "ceiling."

"A philosophy I've had in the draft is that we want the player with the highest ceiling, biggest reward. Adam Dunn, Austin Kearns, Chris Gruler," Bowden said. "This guy has a chance to be a No. 1 (starting pitcher). And it's so hard to get a No. 1 in this game."

Unbeknownst to Gruler, Hall of Fame catcher Johnny Bench was quoted as saying in a club news release that the 18-year-old "has a better breaking ball and better change-up than Tom Seaver." Bench, now one of Bowden's special consultants, witnessed Gruler's workout last Saturday at Cinergy Field.

Chris Gruler School: Liberty Union HS Position: RHP   B/T: R/R H: 6-3   W: 200 Born: 09/11/1983   Class: HS Scouting report: Good body. Large, raw-boned frame, similar to Jim Palmer. Fastball bores in on righties. Hard, tight-rotating curveball. Splitter with some sink, used as off-speed pitch. Mound presence. Great kid. Scouting video: 56k | 300k

Told of Bench's comment, Gruler sounded awestruck.

"Oh, wow. That's an honor," Gruler said. "I worked so hard to get to a certain point. I never thought this would happen. To be compared to a young Tom Seaver, that's icing on the cake. Wow. Unbelievable."

Reds Manager Bob Boone, an All-Star catcher, caught Gruler briefly during his throwing session.

"He has really good mechanics, a clean, easy delivery and a really powerful arm," Boone said. "The big thing is, he's really accurate. A lot of times, high school guys can't locate it too well."

Gruler's statistics from his senior year support Boone's observation. He posted a 4-3 record with a 1.49 ERA in 11 games, including seven starts. He struck out 135 batters while walking 26 in 66 innings. The Reds scouted Gruler heavily throughout the high school season, sending as many as 14 scouts to one of his recent appearances.

Gruler became Cincinnati's highest draft selection since shortstop Kurt Stillwell was taken with the second overall pick in 1983. He's the third high school pitcher the Reds have selected first in the past four years -- along with left-handers Ty Howington (1999) and Sowers -- reflecting the organization's efforts to bolster its pitching. This also marks the fifth consecutive year in a row that Cincinnati has dipped into the high-school ranks for its No. 1 pick, starting with 1998 (Kearns) and including 2000 (infielder David Espinosa).

"High school pitchers are something I don't like to take in the first round," Bowden said. "The success rate says you shouldn't believe in it. But (Gruler) was a special kid, and based on what was there, it was the best choice for the Reds."

Gruler, who throws straight overhand, has been able to reach 96 mph with his fastball. His average range is 91-94 mph. He patterns himself after two other right-handed power pitchers: Arizona's Curt Schilling and the New York Yankees' Roger Clemens.

		JUNE 4-5 | NEW YORK CITY Draft order | Rules | FAQ FULL COVERAGE: • Bullington goes first • Drafttracker • Complete Draft coverage Round-by-round audio Round 1 Rounds 2-5 Rounds 6-10 Rounds 11-15 Rounds 16-20 Rounds 21-22 Rounds 23-27 Rounds 28-32 Rounds 33-37 Rounds 38-42 Rounds 43-50

"I feel their approach to the game is outstanding," Gruler said. "They definitely have control of what they do, their pitches are outstanding and they challenge hitters. That's my style."

Gruler enhanced his style by improving his strength. He "began to put himself on the big map," according to Ware, by excelling in the Perfect Game Showcase in Florida last year. "He was obviously a highly sought guy but he wasn't in the top echelon of high school pitchers."

Then Gruler began working on his speed and conditioning with world-class sprinter Aaron Thigpen and toned his arm with Alan Jaeger, a southern Californian who specializes in that realm. "I got on a big-time program with both of those guys to help me become what I wanted to be," said Gruler, who stands 6 feet, 3 inches and built himself up to 190 pounds.

This effort paid off for Gruler.

"That's what helped him and elevated his status," McKeon said.

Gruler is expected to begin his professional career at Rookie League Billings in the Pioneer League.

	REDS 2002 DRAFT PICKS
	3	CHRISTOPHER R GRULER	RHP	LIBERTY UNION HS
	40	MARK E SCHRAMEK	RHP	U TEXAS
	44	JOSEPH D VOTTO	C	RICHVIEW COLLEGIATE INSTI
	75	KYLE O EDENS	RHP	BAYLOR U
	105	CAMILO T VAZQUEZ	LHP	HIALEAH SENIOR HS
	135	KEVIN C HOWARD	3B	U MIAMI
	165	WALTER H OLMSTEAD	1B	TEXAS CHRISTIAN U
	195	COREY G WACHMAN	RHP	VALDOSTA ST U
	225	OCFUSKE J KING	RHP	NORTHWESTERN ST U
	255	STEVEN W BOOTH	C	U SAN FRANCISCO
	285	FRANKIE L KELLER	LHP	ABILENE CHRISTIAN U
	315	MICHAEL H BASSETT	OF	GEORGE WASHINGTON U
	345	DONALD S GEMMELL	RHP	SAN JOSE ST U
	375	JOSE E CRUZ	SS	RICE U
	405	PATRICK J CURRAN	LHP	FORT HAYS ST U
	435	CHRISTOPHER G KAMIS	RHP	ELGIN CC
	465	JONATHAN R GEORGE	RHP	CAMDEN CATHOLIC HS
	495	BEN E LAVENDER	C	PELHAM HS
	525	ZACHARIAH E MCCORMACK	LHP	SACRAMENTO CC
	555	CHRISTOPHER A DENORFIA	CF	WHEATON COL
	585	DOUGLAS T COON	LHP	SILVERADO HS
	615	MICHAEL D CAUSEY	RHP	MOORPARK COL
	645	MATTHEW C LUCA	RHP	BALL HS
	675	NICHOLAS W MARKAKIS	LHP	YOUNG HARRIS COL
	705	JARROD S SCHMIDT	C RHP	CLEMSON U
	735	ROBERT MOSBY	1B	NORTHEASTERN OK A&M
	765	CHRISTOPHER A DUNN	SS	CHAPARRAL HS
	795	JUAN L VELAZQUEZ	RHP	MONTGOMERY HS
	825	JAY C TUST	2B	STADIUM HS
	855	RICHARD B CORRELL	SS	LIMESTONE COL
	885	JUSTIN W KNOFF	RHP	SIENA COL
	915	MAYQUE QUINTERO	RHP	NO SCHOOL
	945	GERALD B SMITH	RF	THOMAS JEFFERSON HS
	975	BARTON L BRAUN	LHP	DIABLO VALLEY
	1005	CODY R MCALLISTER	RHP	SNOHOMISH HS
	1035	STANTREL SMITH	CF	TOWERS HS
	1065	MATT KRIMMEL	3B	GEORGE WASHINGTON U
	1095	SHAWN A AICHELE	RHP	WESTERN HILLS HS
	1125	HARDY L HUTTO	RHP	GARDEN CITY CC
	1155	CALVIN D MEDLOCK	RHP	WESTBURY HS
	1185	CHRISTOPHER BELL	RHP	MIAMI DADE NORTH JC
	1215	MARCUS B TOWNSEND	RF	U TEXAS
	1245	DANIEL T KELLY	SS	DURANGO HS
	1275	DEREK HAWK	RHP	MENDOCINO CC
	1303	JASON D BACA	RHP	SWEENY HS
	1331	DENNIS P LEDUC	RHP	CUESTA COL
	1358	TROY M CAIRNS	SS	U NEW MEXICO
	1384	MICHAEL A BRYANT	RHP	SAM RAYBURN HS
	1410	TRAVIS K WONG	1B	TEXAS A&M
	1436	WILLIAM A DENNIS	CF	INCARNATE WARD U
	1460	BENJAMIN B HIMES	RF	TEXAS A&M

Chris Haft covers the Reds for MLB.com and can be reached at haftkeem@aol.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.