J.D. in hitting
FSU junior a draft favorite
By Dana Heiss
USA Today: Baseball Weekly 5/7/97

Junior phenom J.D. Drew can't always be this cool.

It's got to be tough being Mr. No. 1 College Baseball Player in the Nation. All those draft questions like,

''Is it true your agent, Scott Boras, is going to ask for a record $12 million signing bonus?''

''Ha ha!!'' Drew laughs. That's all the Florida State outfielder will say to that one.

What about the mob of scouts that follow him from game to game. They must make him crazy, right? Isn't there a lot of pressure to show these guys what you're made of?

''Ha, ha! I don't pay attention to the scouts,'' says Drew good naturedly.

Those close to Drew say the down-to-earth thing is no act. Talking to him, you realize they're right. Drew, college baseball's finest, doesn't have a smidgen of the conceit that often tags along with such an abundance of talent.

''I'm having a good time,'' says Drew, currently leading Florida State in batting average (.481), home runs (28), hits (91), walks (62) and slugging percentage (1.042).

''I'm finally finished up with school (for the year), so baseball is it right now and I'm trying to have as much fun as I can.''

Drew drips Southern charm echoing his Hahira, Ga., upbringing. By the way, Hahira (pronounced Hay-HI-rah) has one stoplight, one barber and now, one favorite son who might be the greatest slugger in Florida State history.

''He's the complete package,'' coach Mike Martin says. ''He hits with power, hits for average, throws well, has speed and he has really devoted himself to becoming a better defensive player, which is the most interesting thing that he's done for his team.

''I'm a pretty good judge of talent. This guy will do very well on the next level.''

Relaxing is important to Drew --for his sanity. He thrives on fun escapes with roommate-teammate-best buddy Jeremy Morris. Both are avid outdoorsmen, hunting and fishing together. ''In the south, there's really nothing else to do,'' Drew says.

Morris and Drew also like to play golf, though Drew's perfect day on the links is anything but conventional. He approaches golf in the same manner he plays baseball - driving ball after ball to China a la Tiger Woods. Well, at least as Tiger-esque as he can be.

''It's just like hitting home runs in baseball,'' Drew explains. ''I'll put 15 balls on the tee and just drive them. Then I pick up the balls and go to the next hole. I just like seeing how far things will go.''

The same can be said about how Drew, together with Boras, will test major league baseball's willingness to sign him.

Drew's choice to align with Boras is a notice to all clubs that no matter how easygoing and affable Drew is outside the batter's box, he is prepared to play hardball when it comes to a signing bonus.

Boras is the agent who has done the most to drive up baseball signing bonuses, snagging record dollars for his numerous first-round picks over the past eight years.

Drew's rumored $12 million asking price would easily better the record $10 million bonus free agents Travis Lee and Matt White each got from the Arizona Diamondbacks and Tampa Bay Devil Rays, respectively.

The latest buzz is that Philadelphia will take Drew with the No. 2 overall pick if Detroit passes him by. Another rumor is that Drew may fall deep into the first round because teams fear his signability.

''Whatever will happen with the draft and money, my family hasn't discussed it,'' Drew says. ''Because once you start worrying about stuff like that it affects you on the field.''

Drew has put together a successful season despite the attention. Through April 27, Drew was second in the nation in batting average (39 points behind Fordham's Mike Marchiano), and third in the nation in RBI, four shy of his pal Morris.

''I remember I struggled a little bit in the Florida series,'' Drew says, ''and afterward, coach said not to put so much pressure on myself. He said, 'play each game like it's your last.' That's kind of how I've always played baseball.''

Martin doesn't hesitate to compare Drew to one of baseball's legends. ''J.D. is a country boy who has a Joe DiMaggio approach to the game in his demeanor. Very seldom do I see him get real mad. He keeps things in perspective.''

''That's a big compliment,'' says Drew. ''I don't know how to take it. I never was around DiMaggio or watched how he played. Hopefully I can live up to it.''

Where he'll go will be decided June 3. Another Drew may be drafted then, too - J.D.'s brother Tim Drew, an FSU recruit, is a dominating right-handed pitcher for Lowndes High. The pair could make history as the first brothers chosen in the first round.

J.D. Drew knows there's still business to take care of. Florida State is making a run at its fourth straight CWS berth.

He has an outstanding Series track record, starting with his first CWS hit, a game- winning homer against Oklahoma in 1995. Later that week he hit three homers in three at-bats (a personal highlight, says Drew) over Southern Cal.

''There's a lot of stuff left for me to do,'' Drew says. ''I don't really set my goals high. Just get a couple of hits a day, get a win for the ballgame and have fun.''

A philosophy that's pure Drew.

copyright USA Today Baseball Weekly 5/7/97


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