Garnet Valley grad Bechtold taken by Twins in fifth round
It was January 27, a very long way from Southeastern Pennsylvania, in geography and climate, when Andrew Bechtold dug into the batter’s box under the watchful eye of Brendon Little on the mound.
Three long years had elapsed since they squared off against one another — Little as a junior at Conestoga, Bechtold a senior All-Delco at Garnet Valley. A tiny junior college field in Fort Myers, Fla., isn’t the scenery either might have anticipated for their renewal of acquaintance.
But four and a half months later, and by the first pick in the fifth round of the 2017 MLB Draft, both had found what they hope to be professional homes.
Bechtold was drafted Tuesday by the Minnesota Twins with the opening pick of the fifth round, No. 136 overall, right around the No. 142 prospect ranking bestowed by MLB.com for the redshirt sophomore out of Chipola Junior College in Florida.
“It’s awesome,” Bechtold said. “I kind of knew today was going to be the day. There was some talks about it happening yesterday but it didn’t pan out. I knew today it was going to happen, just a matter of when. Minnesota had its eye on me for a while, and I’m really happy they picked me.”
Bechtold is committed to LSU for next year, but the infielder said that “the probability of me signing is pretty high.” The draft slot carries an estimated bonus of $378,700.
The 6-foot-1, 185-pound third baseman was drafted in the 34th round in 2014 after his senior season at Garnet Valley by the Texas Rangers. Then, the lure of a scholarship at the University of Maryland proved too tempting to ignore. But it didn’t quite pan out in the straightline trajectory he’d hoped for.
An injury forced Bechtold to redshirt as a freshman. After a disappointing second season, it became clear he’d be a bit player in the Terrapins’ plans. Or he could seek regular time elsewhere. So Bechtold opted for the JUCO route, a decision he credits with Tuesday’s draft-day milestone.
“Going to Chipola was the best thing for me,” Bechtold said. “The coaches there developed me, got me back on track, and really let my athleticism take over. They revamped my career. … It was just a good environment to get better. I think the way I developed throughout the year led me to this point.”
The tiny school in Mariana, Fla., which has produced such major leaguers as Jose Bautista and Russell Martin, was the perfect setting for a reclamation project like Bechtold. He batted .419 with 12 home runs, 65 RBIs and 81 runs in 60 games with Chipola. He struck out 44 times against 49 walks for a .532 on-base percentage and swiped 24 bags in 28 attempts. He credits 20year manager Jeff Johnson and hitting coach Jeff Fiorentino, a former big-leaguer, with turning around his fortunes.
Little followed a similarly unconventional journey that ended with the uber-talented lefty being plucked with the No. 27 pick by the Cubs Monday night. Little was picked by the Giants in the 36th round after high school but opted for what he hoped was a promising career at the University of North Carolina, as a consensus top-20 pick in his high school class.
But after confidence issues and wildness at UNC, he was quickly cut loose, the imperative for the Tar Heels to win games far more pressing than the incentive to develop a talented if (temporarily) flawed arm.
Little landed at State Junior College of Florida-Manatee in Sarasota, and save for a homer surrendered to Bechtold in the opener (one of two by Bechtold that day), he showcased his undeniable talent.
“We talked about how underestimated junior college baseball is,” Bechtold said of a conversation with Little then. “There are guys transferring in from the ACC and SEC and a lot of good talent. … You look at the guys drafted in the first five rounds, it’s full of junior college guys, especially from Florida, and it’s a testament to the competition and how much people underestimate that level. It’s good baseball, with coaches that care and want to get guys back to the level they should be at.”
Bechtold was the third Chipola Indian off the board in the draft. Outfielder Reynaldo Rivera went in the second round, 57 overall, to the Detroit Tigers Monday. Right-handed pitcher Evan Steel was nabbed in the Compensatory B round, 73rd overall, by the Kansas City Royals, while righty Bowden Francis came off the board just after Bechtold at 205 overall.
Bechtold’s future (planned) roommate at LSU, Nate Pearson, also likely won’t make it to Baton Rouge, taken 28th out of the College of Central Florida, another JUCO, by Toronto.
For all the tribulations and deviations from the original plan, Bechtold has arrived at the point he’d hoped for, choosing between an elite college program and pro baseball.
“I really got along with their scouts,” Bechtold said of the Twins. “I know they had a lot of big-time guys out to see me play this season. I know a couple of guys in their organization. … They’re just a team that I got a lot of good vibes from and good information from throughout the year. As the draft started, in the back of my head, I kind of had Minnesota there and was like, I kind of hope they pick me.” NOTES » Rounds three through 10 were completed Tuesday, with 11-40 slated for Wednesday. Deon Stafford, a catcher from Saint Joseph’s University, was selected 148th by the Pittsburgh Pirates, marking the highest Hawk picked since 1979. Villanova left-handed pitcher Hunter Schryver went 199 in the seventh round to the Tampa Bay Rays. … Two of the top-200 prospects according to MLB.com were high schoolers from Pennsylvania, and neither was chosen in the first 315 picks. West Chester Rustin right-handed pitcher Chris McMahon (No. 100 at MLB.com) is the 12thhighest ranked remaining prospect, while Penn Charter righty Joe Lancellotti (135th) is 25th-highest. Commitments to top programs — McMahon to Miami, Lancellotti to UNC — weigh on their signability, the biggest strike against them. Of the top 25 undrafted prospects on MLB’s list, 21 are high schoolers.