Fifty rounds came and fifty rounds went. And Danny Almonte never had his name called.
The Monroe lefthander, who has been infamous since being embroiled in the Little League scandal five years ago, was not selected in yesterday’s Major League draft.
“I’m pretty surprised,” said his head coach Mike Turo. “I know he’s got more ability than a lot of guys that did get picked.” Turo and Almonte were in Albuquerque last night for the All-American Baseball Game presented by Playstation.
Almonte spent time before the game with coaches from New Mexico Junior College, where Turo said Almonte has a scholarship waiting for him. Almonte is scheduled to be the starting pitcher when the Eagles face George Washington in the PSAL title game tomorrow at Shea.
The combination of a lack of size and velocity, coupled with his penchant for being surrounded by controversy, did him in, according to one scout.
* Jeff Maier, who as a 12-year-old at Yankee Stadium interfered on Derek Jeter’s drive to the rightfield wall that was ruled a home run during the 1996 ALCS against Baltimore, also wasn’t drafted. The outfielder/third baseman is the career hits leader at Wesleyan.