Golden Nugz 06.10.09

Last night was the Major League amateur draft.  No Gophers were drafted in the first three rounds (not a surprise) but you can expect to see some of the following names appear as the draft continues tomorrow...

• OF - Eric Decker
• IF - Derek McCallum
• CF/DH - Matt Nohelty
• IF - AJ Pettersen (not eligible)
  
• OF - Mike Kvasnicka (not eligible)
• RP - Scott Matyas
• SP - Seth Rosin (not eligible)
• SP - Tom Buske

Gopher fans have to hope that most of these guys return for another season.  With such a young nucleus of position players and pitching staff this could be a very good team next year.  I am assuming that Decker has taken his last composite swing at the college level, Nohelty was a senior, but McCallum needs to return for another year to dominate the Big Ten (again) and lead his team to a Super Regional or a trip to Omaha.

• Speaking of the baseball team I have been neglectful of their season ending and did not publish a recap.  Fortunately Gophersports.com has put together a lengthy recap for you to read.  The turnaround by this team truly was remarkable and arguably the story in Gopher athletics this year.
• The Twins must have figured that if Matt Bashore could shut down the potent Gopher lineup, he must be worth drafting.  The Twins took the former Indiana lefty with the 46th overall pick (their second pick).
  
• The Hockey News has a list of 10 players they are excited to see in the NHL down the road.  Number nine on the list is incoming Gopher Josh Burkhotlz.
• I didn't comment on it but Buck Bravo did, Sheldon Richardson is the five-star prospect who had formerly committed to Missouri and generated some excitement by visiting the Gophers last season.  Richardson is not going to Mizz and instead is headed down the JUCO road.  He will be attending College of the Sequoias, the former home of Big Play Traye Simmons and Clint Brewster.  I'm going out on a limb and predicting Sheldon will be a Gopher in a couple years (write it down!).