News
Leake, Boxberger meet with media
Right-handers visit Great American Ball Park on Tuesday
By Mark Sheldon / MLB.com
08/18/09 6:27 PM ET
CINCINNATI -- It was just a taste of what the Reds hope is their future. Freshly signed pitchers Mike Leake and Brad Boxberger, Cincinnati's top two picks in the 2009 First-Year Player Draft, were in the dugout at Great American Ball Park on Tuesday taking in the scene with their families. They met manager Dusty Baker and owner/CEO Bob Castellini, among others. Fittingly for such an occasion, the mood was all optimistic. "I want to be here as quick as possible," said the 21-year-old Leake, who was the eighth overall pick out of Arizona State University. "I just have to do my job and do it well. It's all on my shoulders. If I do well, I will get moved up. If I don't, I won't." Most of the time, organizations want to be as deliberate in the progress of top Draft picks as the player wants to be impatient. Not in this case. Reds general manager Walt Jocketty traded two young and promising pitchers -- Josh Roenicke and Zach Stewart -- in the July 31 Scott Rolen trade with Toronto. Part of Jocketty's rationale was that Leake and Boxberger would be in organization to maintain its depth. Both pitchers can be considered on the fast track -- and the Reds' hope is to have them as future members of the rotation. "They're definitely quality college pitchers out of quality programs that are further advanced," Jocketty said. "They should be able to move along quickly. That's why we felt we'd have some depth and were confident we'd get them signed." That doesn't mean their pro careers will begin immediately. Both pitchers threw a lot of innings this season and aren't likely to pitch during the remaining weeks in the Minors. Both pitchers were assigned to the Reds' Gulf Coast League level team in Sarasota, Fla. That's partly because there was no roster space at Class A Advanced Sarasota of the Florida State League. "They will work out there and be evaluated and brought into a training program," Jocketty said. There's a strong likelihood that Leake and Boxberger could be sent to instructional league or the Arizona Fall League after the regular season ends. Leake and Boxberger agreed to terms with the Reds over the weekend but the signings weren't announced until late Monday night, after they passed extensive physicals. Leake, who was given a $2.27 million bonus, was 16-1 with a 1.71 ERA, 24 walks and 162 strikeouts over 142 innings in 19 games this season. Boxberger, who was the 43rd overall pick out of the University of Southern California, received a bonus worth $857,000. "The last week or two, I was eager to get signed," Leake said. "I was getting sick of waiting and just wanted to get it done. The most painful part of the process was waiting." When he wasn't working out in his garage or his former high school in Fallbrook, Calif., to keep his arm in shape, Leake spent a little time in San Diego recently waiting for the process of negotiations to get done. "I surfed some waves," he said. "I'm not great at it. I like to long board." Boxberger, 21, spent his idle time at USC trying to keep himself ready for what was next. "I feel strong," Boxberger said. "I got a little more rest than [Leake] did because his college team went farther [in the World Series]. I've been throwing a couple of days week and staying in shape. I'm ready to get to Sarasota and start playing." Asked about what he knew about the Reds, Leake understood what has come before him in Cincinnati. "I knew more than I thought actually," Leake said. "When I was first asked that question, I kind of gave a bad answer. I'm aware of the background of the Cincinnati Reds and how rich of a tradition they have. Hopefully, we can be a part of reinventing the [Big] Red Machine. "Just to know I was who they wanted, even though I'm not typical at 5-foot-10. I'm glad they had the trust in me to pick me. Hopefully I can do something special here."Mark Sheldon is a reporter for MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.
