DRAFT AND FOLLOW

BY ALLAN SIMPSON

As unsigned third-round picks from the 2005 draft, righthanders Bryan Morris and Sean O’Sullivan have understandably attracted considerable attention among this year’s draft-and-follow candidates. Both have enjoyed solid, if unspectacular 2006 seasons and are expected to command seven-figure signing bonuses from the teams that selected them a year ago.

Morris, a freshman at Motlow State (Tenn.) Junior College, remains under the control of the Devil Rays while rights to O’Sullivan, a freshman at Grossmont (Calif.) JC, are held by the Angels. Both have until May 31, the start of the closed period, to sign with those teams or go back into this year’s draft pool.

While Morris and O’Sullivan should be paid generously whether they sign with the teams that hold their negotiation rights or opt to be re-drafted, it’s unlikely either will receive the largest bonus among the elite players in this year’s draft-and-follow class. That distinction will in all probability go to 6-foot-6, 215-pound righthander Pedro Beato, who has blossomed into a first-round talent in his one season at St. Petersburg (Fla.) Junior College.

The Mets drafted Beato in the 17^th round a year ago and there are reports that they will go as high as $1.5 million to sign him. Beato attended Xaverian High in Queens, right in their backyard.

“He’s got electric stuff and has gotten better, and better, and better all year,” said St. Petersburg coach Dave Pano. “He was lights out last week in the state tournament. He sat at 96 in the sixth and seventh innings, and he did it so easy.”

Because St. Petersburg, which finished second at the Junior College World Series a year ago, was eliminated from the state tournament, Beato is eligible to sign now with the Mets, who have been camped out at all his games this spring. Mets GM Omar Minaya has also been to see Beato, who returned to his New York home Thursday after compiling a 6-3 record this spring. Negotiations with the Mets on a contract are expected to begin in earnest.

Beato, a product of the Dominican Republic who moved to New York seven years ago, is appealing to the Mets on another count because they do not have a first-round pick this year. They forfeited the selection in the offseason when they signed closer Billy Wagner as a free agent.

The Mets took a flier on Beato with a mid-round pick a year ago because he was not 100 percent physically. He had not fully bounced back from the Tommy John surgery he underwent in April 2004. His velocity, which was 92 mph as a high school sophomore and 93 as a junior, had dropped to just 86-88 as a senior. He also was reluctant to cut loose with his breaking ball.

But a year later, he’s healthy and has become even a better prospect than he was in high school before the surgery.

“He’s got the whole package,” said Pano, who also manages the Blue Jays’ Pulaski club in the Rookie-level Appalachian League. “He’s got the size and he’s very athletic. His fastball has been a steady 96 all year, he flashes a power curveball though it’s still inconsistent, and he has a plus changeup. You add all those things up and you can understand why he’s gotten the interest he’s been getting. I didn’t see anyone in Florida this year that was any better.

“Everything sets up perfectly for the Mets. Whatever he gets is what he deserves.”

With Beato atop the list, here’s how Perfect Game Crosschecker sees the top 25 players in this year’s junior college crop (players under control and eligible to sign before the draft are noted accordingly with the team that holds their rights):

      RANK      PLAYER, POS., SCHOOL                                            CONTROLLING CLUB

               1.      Pedro Beato, rhp, St. Petersburg (Fla.) CC                       Mets (17)

               2.      Bryan Morris, rhp, Motlow State (Tenn.) CC                      Devil Rays (3)

               3.      Sean O’Sullivan, rhp, Grossmont (Calif.) JC                      Angels (3)

               4.      Milton Loo, ss, Yavapai (Ariz.) JC                                    Reds (9)

               5.      Chad Lee, rhp, Barton County (Kan.) JC                           NONE

               6.      Martin Beno, rhp, Mississippi Gulf Coast JC                     NONE

               7.      Bryan Casey, rhp-3b, Arizona Western JC                        Royals (20)

               8.      Casey Beck, rhp, San Jacinto (Texas) JC                         NONE

               9.      Jake Renshaw, rhp, Ventura (Calif.) JC                             NONE

             10.      Bryant Thompson, rhp, Pensacola (Fla.) JC                      NONE

             11.      Jess Todd, rhp, Navarro (Texas) JC                                  NONE

             12.      Justin Souza, rhp, Sacramento CC                                   NONE

             13.      Aaron Breit, rhp, Garden City (Kan.) CC                            Padres (12)

             14.      Steve Marquardt, 3b-1b, Columbia Basin (Wash.) CC         Rangers (23)

             15.      Drew Miller, rhp, Seminole State (Okla.) CC                      Padres (37)

             16.      Tommy Hansen, rhp, Riverside (Calif.) CC                         Braves (22)

             17.      Jamie Arneson, lhp, Bakersfield (Calif.) JC                        NONE

             18.      Colt Adams, rhp, Dixie State (Utah) JC                             NONE

             19.      Luis Martinez, c, Jackson State (Tenn.) JC                       Mets (11)

             20.      Kyle Harper, rhp, Orange Coast (Calif.) JC                         NONE

             21.      Chase Fontaine, ss, Daytona (Fla.) CC                             Rangers (18)

             22.      Enrique Garcia, rhp, Potomac State (W.Va.) JC                White Sox (17)

             23.      Brian Flores, lhp, New Mexico JC                                     White Sox (37)

             24.      Jay Brown, rhp, Young Harris (Ga.) JC                              NONE

             25.      Kris Negron, ss, Cosumnes River (Calif.) JC                      NONE