Emmanuel Burriss entered the Cape Cod League a year ago with a small goal. The Wilson High graduate wanted to land a roster spot for the entire summer.
He did more than that.
And, in part because of it, he’s expected to be selected in the first five rounds of the Major League Baseball draft, which begins today. The 50-round draft ends Wednesday.
Washington has four picks in the first two rounds, including the 15th and 22nd picks in the first round; the latter was obtained when the Nationals lost pitcher Esteban Loaiza in free agency.
Kent State’s Burriss could provide the lone drama for local players. Others clearly will be picked, but no one rates as highly as Burriss, according to one longtime area scout.
Burriss was named the Mid-American Conference Player of the Year this past season for the Golden Flashes.
In 56 games, he batted .360 with 42 stolen bases in 44 attempts, giving him a combined 72 stolen bases in his last two seasons. He also scored 70 runs.
Burriss vaulted into elite status after a strong summer in the 2005 Cape Cod League. After the season, in which he led the league in hits (52) and stolen bases (35), the shortstop was named one of the top 30 prospects in the league. The former Gatorade Player of the Year in high school was third in runs scored with 28.
Among other local players with hopes of being drafted:
» George Washington pitcher Derrik Lutz, a first-team All-Atlantic 10 performer for the third straight season. Lutz was 6-4 with a 1.54 ERA this past spring. Teammate, and reliever, Dan Pfau (3-5, 4.21 ERA) is another possible choice.
» Old Dominion’s Dana Arrowood (Hylton High) could be picked as either a closer or designated hitter. This past season, the fifth-year senior batted .353 with seven homers and 52 RBI. On the mound, he finished his career with a 17-15 record and 4.51 ERA in 237 innings.
» Maryland reliever Seth Overbey (5-2, 3.49 ERA) could be picked on the first day. Teammate Ben Pfinsgraff had a tough season (3-7, 5.87 ERA) but still might be selected after solid seasons as a freshman and sophomore.
» George Mason senior catcher Robby Jacobsen finished his career among the school’s top 10 all-time leaders in nine categories, including hits, home runs, RBI and stolen bases.
» Among high school players, Magruder’s Matt Sweeney (bound for Potomac State), Westfield’s Justin Bour (George Mason) and Forest Park’s Ryan Woolley (Georgia) have received attention.
