Idaho Falls Chukars

Knowing full well that not everyone wants to hear all of the details, or is not at all as interested as we are, I thought I would take the chance to pass along some of the information that has come to light after the draft. Brandon has received calls from the Royals (obviously) telling him how it all went down Tuesday and Wednesday.

The Royals had Brandon listed on the board as their top catcher in the draft. Their system is set up so that they already have a plan for each position set to a certain round in the draft (ie: pitcher in the first, outfielder in the second, etc.). Their first spot to take a catcher was the seventh. Right before the draft, there was talk to let BL fall to the next slot in order to take a player that had caught some, but was not a true catcher and is a left-handed hitter. Brandon's scout fought hard to get Brandon then and not later because he was afraid that Brandon would go to another team before the 18th round slot (the next for them to take a catcher). He did not win, so they took the lefty as a project to see if he would pan out as a catcher, knowing that if he didn't they could put him in the outfield later. As the 18th round came closer - another catcher was brought up for discussion because he just finished his freshman year, and the Royals knew that he probably wouldn't sign, but wanted to have his rights for the next year. They took another gamble that BL would be available in the 31st round. He was...

The scout with the Royals called him last night as we were all together and told him all of this. Brandon said it was funny because it was like they were mad about how things played out "together". If anything it just makes Brandon feel good that he was in the mix all the way from the 6th round on.

Then today he got a call from the Tampa Bay scout and he told him that it played out about the same way for them. He was not in the meeting, but heard later. He told Brandon that when he got the call in the 30th that they were going to take Brandon Lance with their pick in the 31st round, he told them that it was about time! And then the Royals took him with their 31st round pick (which is TWO spots before the Devil Rays!) He also told Brandon that (not saying that this would happen) if he got into a bad situation down the road (ie: a manager didn't like him) to give him a call and he could be a Devil Ray the next day. The Tampa Bay scout, being good friends with the Royals' scout - called him and ribbed him about getting Brandon right before they took him. Then he told Brandon that the Royals' scout is VERY excited about Brandon and his potential career. Very nice of the guy to call Brandon back and tell him all of this even though his team didn't get him. VERY good for BL to hear all of this.

They have assigned him to Idaho Falls, ID. He is now a Chukar (apparently it is some type of bird) which is the Royals' Advanced rookie team. He was told that he will be the only catcher on the roster for at least the first two weeks, depending on how the other catcher they took does in Surprize, AZ at the rookie team facility.

He will probably leave next Monday or Tuesday.

Again - I know this is probably TMI, but just thought I would share.

B

PS - Does anyone know if Southwest flies direct into Idaho Falls? :)