Canadian chosen 11th in baseball draft

Phillippe Aumont joined some select company Thursday, becoming the third highest Canadian selected in the Major League Baseball amateur draft.

The Seattle Mariners made the hard-throwing pitcher the 11th pick overall. In 2002, Adam Loewen went fourth overall to Baltimore, while Colorado chose Jeff Francis ninth.

"I was pretty surprised and excited at the same time," Aumont, a right-hander from Gatineau, Que., told reporters during a conference call Thursday.

"I was thinking about the team I would go to, and it's an honour for me to be with the Seattle Mariners."

Aumont, 18, possesses a fastball that regularly hits 96mph with good movement. He also throws a slider and changeup.

The Mariners were thrilled the imposing six-foot-seven, 225-pound Aumont was available with the 11th pick.

"When you look at this kid and see how big and strong he is and how big and strong he will get, you can't help but get excited," said Seattle scouting director Bob Fontaine of Aumont, one of the top high school pitchers available in the draft.

AnotherCanadian, right-handed pitcher KyleLotzker of Tsawwassen, B.C.,was taken 53rd overall by the Cincinnati Reds.

Lotzkar, 17,can reach 94 m.p.h. on the radar gun and is currently pitching for the Langley Blaze of the B.C. premier league.

Price is right for Devil Rays

As expected, the Tampa Bay Devil Rays snapped up consensus top prospect David Priceas the first selection.

Baseball experts have been trumpeting Price's talent for more than a year. Scouts rave about the lanky left-handed pitcher's 95 m.p.h. fastball, excellent slider and team-first attitude.

Price is a star in the American college ranks, posting an 11-1 record for the University of Vanderbilt Commodores this season and leading NCAA Division I with 194 strikeouts.

Later, the Toronto Blue Jays used the 16th overallchoice— one of twopicks they held in the first round— to get U.S. high school shortstop Kevin Ahrens, 18.

The six-foot-two, 190-pound Texanhas drawn good reviews for his strong arm and power from both sides of the plate. Ahrens hit .426 in his senior season with 10 home runs and 41 runs batted in.

Jays see a winner

"We just think [Ahrens] has all the indicators for future offensive success," said Blue Jays scouting director Jon Lalonde.

He addedthe switch-hittingAhrens, who has signed a letter of intent to attend Texas A&M University, projects as a third baseman long-term.

"I've always dreamed about playing pro ball and this decision about playing pro ball is kind of hard to miss," Ahrens said on a conference call. "Right now, I'm leaning toward signing … I'm really looking forward to playing."

Toronto also grabbed University ofTennessee catcher Jonathan Arencibia with the 21st pick.

Arencibia's defence has drawn criticism, but Lalone attributed that to an injury. Earlierthis season, he was bothered by a strained muscle in the upper part of his behind.

"[Arencibia] is a player, in all honesty, if he had the year we expected, I don't think he gets to 16, let alone 21," Lalonde said.