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Nationals Report Date published: 6/29/2007 By TODD JACOBSON BY TODD JACOBSON When Nationals officials finally emerged from the team's RFK Stadium draft room some three weeks ago, exhausted following a 50-round selection process, they did so believing they'd altered the course of the team's future. But what team officials called a highly successful draft came with a big if--as in, if the Nationals can sign most of their picks. "If we get all these guys signed we've got ourselves the best draft in baseball, there is no question about it," said Mike Rizzo, the Nationals' vice president of baseball operations. Washington has signed 31 of its 53 picks--already six more than it signed from last year's draft class. Second-rounders Jordan Zimmermann and Jake Smolinski--relative bargains with signing bonuses of $495,000 and $452,500, respectively--are already playing in the organization's minor-league system. But the team's top three picks--Missouri State left-hander Ross Detwiler (sixth overall), prep left-hander Josh Smoker (31st overall) and high school outfielder Michael Burgess (49th overall)--remain unsigned. Sixth-round pick Jack McGeary, a highly touted left-handed high school pitcher from Newton, Mass., also remains unsigned. McGeary slipped in the draft because of a solid commitment to Stanford. He said he's looking for a signing bonus akin to a first-rounder, and it will likely take in excess of $1 million to land him. "If they get him, it could go from a good draft to a great draft," one National League scout said. While signing McGeary may be tough, Washington has narrowed its focus on Detwiler, Burgess and Smoker, who attended one of the Nationals' games against the Atlanta Braves this week. As the 31st pick in the draft, Smoker should command a signing bonus near $1 million. (Last year's 31st pick, Preston Mattingly, received exactly that). Detwiler should command much more. Matt LaPorta, whom the Milwaukee Brewers took with the No. 7 pick, got a $2 million signing bonus, and Detwiler can probably expect a deal in the $2.5 million range. Andrew Miller, last year's No. 6 pick, received a major league deal worth $5.45 million from the Detroit Tigers (with a $3.55 million signing bonus). He was widely considered the top pitching prospect in the draft and slid only due to questions about his signability. Teams have more leverage than in years past, however.
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