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Burgess Hungers For The Next Level

By ADAM ADKINS The Tampa Tribune

Published: Jun 8, 2007

TAMPA - It wouldn't be much of a surprise if Michael Burgess packed on a few extra pounds to his bulky 220-plus-pound frame Thursday afternoon. After sitting through nearly four hours of baseball's first-year player draft without hearing his name called, Burgess said he relegated himself to a spread of food, trying to drown out what was going on - or not going on - by stuffing his face.

"Chicken wings, some fruit, anything, really," Burgess said of his flavorful choices. "I was just trying to wait it out, but I was getting nervous, and when I get nervous, I eat a lot. Everyone was trying to tell me to stop eating."

Burgess finally was able to stop consuming, thanks to the Washington Nationals. The club selected the All-American outfielder in the supplemental first round with the 49th overall pick, giving the highly touted Hillsborough High alum the distinction of being the first local player selected Thursday.

"I thought it was going to be in the first round. I didn't think it would be that low, but oh well, there was nothing I could do about it," said Burgess, regarded as one of the nation's top high school prospects entering his senior season. "I'm pretty happy about it."

Burgess was one of three local high school players selected on the draft's first day. Former Middleton standout Nevin Griffith was selected in the second round by the Chicago White Sox (No. 89), and former Alonso standout Tommy Toledo, the Tribune's Player of the Year, was selected in the third round by the San Diego Padres (No. 117).

"This is really unbelievable. This has been a great year for me. This was something I had been looking forward to for a long time because it was a dream of mine," Toledo said. "Actually, I'm pretty shocked [I was drafted so high]. I was hoping it would be something good, and when my name came up, I was really surprised. But this is great."

For Burgess, perhaps he was destined to be selected by Washington. After all, the Nationals were one of three teams - along with the New York Yankees and Atlanta Braves - that Burgess had face-to-face meetings with in the days leading up to the draft. While Burgess said Washington's representatives promised nothing, he seemed ecstatic at the chance to join the organization.

"This is one of the teams I wanted to play for, that I wanted to get drafted by," said Burgess, adding he didn't know what to expect after meeting with representatives of the three teams. "They're all looking for different things. You never know what these teams think.

"I was just waiting to see what would happen. I was just hoping one of the teams would take me and take me soon."

Burgess should garner a signing bonus in the mid-to-high six figures. The average signing bonus during the past four years for a player selected No. 49 overall is $645,000, according to Baseball America. Burgess' contract negotiations will be handled on his behalf by Chicago-based CSMG, he said.

While Burgess has signed a scholarship to Arizona State, he has made it clear he would like to play professionally. However, he was noncommittal Thursday as to which way he was leaning.

"Right now I don't have a clue," Burgess said. "I'm just trying to enjoy this day.

"I hope we can get [negotiations] out of the way and out of the way soon. But I'm patient. When it's time for me to hit the field again, I'll hit it full force."

Reporter Adam Adkins can be reached at (813) 657-4533 or aadkins@tampatrib.com.

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