June 7, 2010
UT ARLINGTON MLB DRAFT CENTRAL | MLB Draft First-Round - Watch Live
Michael Choice Bio (PDF) | UTA MLB Draft Notes
ARLINGTON, Texas - UT Arlington junior center fielder Michael Choice is expected to be selected in the first round of the 2010 Major League Baseball First-Year Player Draft, which will be aired live Monday at 6 p.m. on MLB Network and on-line at www.mlb.com. The network's pre-draft show begins at 5 p.m.
UT Arlington's draft-day coverage begins right at here at 4 p.m. as Josh Bowe provides up-to-the-minute, live in-depth details while Choice and his family and friends await the unfolding of the 2010 MLB Draft.
7:03 p.m. - The choice household is still yelling and cheering. Choice's parents are in tears as Choice has just finished talking to MLB Network. Check back here for a full story on the drafting of Michael Choice.
7:01 p.m. - There it is. The Oakland Athletics have taken with the 10th overall pick, Michael Choice, the star center fielder from our very own UTA. The Choice household has exploded in raucous noise and hoots and celebrations all around. A truly great moment.
6:54 p.m. - The San Diego Padres have taken Karsten Whitson, RHP, Chipley HS, Florida with the ninth overall pick in the draft. A lot of analysts thought Choice wouldn't fall past this pick. The Oakland Athletics are on the clock with the tenth pick, another place some thought Choice would go.
6:49 p.m. - The Houston Astros make another surprising move by taking Delino DeShields Jr., OF out of Woodward Park Academy. MLB.com pegged him to be taken by the Astros...at the 19th pick. A lot of people said Choice won't fall past the San Diego Padres, who are on the clock next with the ninth overall pick.
6:44 p.m. - The New York Mets have selected Matt Harvey, a RHP out of the University of North Carolina with the seventh overall pick. His advisor is Scott Boras so the Mets obviously aren't scared to pay a big price. The Houston Astros are up next, a team some pegged to take Choice with the eighth overall pick.
6:39 p.m. - The Arizona Diamondbacks have selected Barret Loux, a RHP out of Texas A&M in College Station with the sixth overall pick. Things are getting interesting for Choice as the Mets are on the clock with the seventh overall pick.
6:37 p.m. - The Pomeranz family looks very stoic in their interview. MLB Network producer just said Choice household has to "show this family up." Someone in the family replied, "Oh, we will."
6:33 p.m. - The Cleveland Indians have selected Drew Pomeranz, a LHP out of Ole Miss. Pomeranz was the SEC Pitcher of the Year. The Arizona Diamondbacks are now on the clock with the sixth overall pick.
6:28 p.m. - An early surprise here as the Royals select Christian Colon with the fourth overall pick. Colon is a SS out of Cal State Fullerton in California. The Cleveland Indians are now on the clock with the fifth overall selection.
6:21 p.m. - With the third overall pick the Baltimore Orioles have selected Manny Machado, SS, from Miami Brito HS in Florida. Machado is regarded as the top high school position player. The Kansas City Royals are now on the clock with the fourth overall pick.
6:17 p.m. - The Pittsburgh Pirates have taken Jameson Taillon, a RHP from The Woodlands HS in Texas. Taillon is described as having a dominating fastball and is regarded as the top high school arm. The Baltimore Orioles are now on the clock.
6:14 p.m. - The Pittsburgh Pirates are on the clock with the second overall pick. They aren't expected to take Choice, but in this business, anything is possible.
6:11 p.m. - The Washington Nationals have selected Bryce Harper, catcher out of Community College of Southern Nevada first overall in the 2010 MLB draft.
6:06 p.m. - MLB commissioner Bud Selig is making his opening statement and the Washington Nationals are on the clock with the first overall selection. They are expected to take Las Vegas native Bryce Harper, a 17-year-old phenom.
5:55 p.m. - Here we go. Choice has returned from blasting virtual baseballs on his Playstation. He's sitting in a chair in the middle of his living room as the cameras are flashing and starting to role. We're close to the draft starting; so all the family and friends are starting to sit around him. MLB Network producer told Choice he looks calm as they fit him with a mic and earpiece. "I'm trying," Choice replied as he flashed a big grin.
5:40 p.m. - We're about 20 minutes away from the start of the 2010 MLB draft. The anticipation in the air is building as everyone waits where Choice will end up. A side note: there are a ton of incredible pictures of Choice playing baseball all over the house. It's a nice tribute from his family. Choice also has signed over 100 baseballs. Can only imagine that signature is going to increase in value over the next couple of years
5:30 p.m. - Matt Otteman just arrived to the Choice household. Otteman, if you recall Mavs fans, hit a team leading .432 and a team leading 95 hits for UTA in the outfield last season. Otteman saw the incredible food spread laid out by the Choice family and had a big smile. The food is a big hit.
5:22 p.m. - Choice is still upstairs with his friends and his farther as the rest of the family relaxes around the house. Besides all the reporters and TV crews, it's a very calm and relaxing atmosphere. I just heard Mrs. Choice exclaim, "I'm not stressed anymore, I was stressed during the season. Not anymore."
5:00 p.m. - It's an hour away from the start of the draft and what's Choice doing? Playing video games of course. Him and some of his buddies are currently gaming it up with MLB 10: The Show on Playstation 3. Funny thing is, after tonight, Choice might be able to play as himself pretty soon.
4:35 p.m. - We're less than half an hour away from MLB Network's pre-draft show which starts at 5 p.m. Choice is upstairs with friends as some friends and family and media members chow down on some good home-cooking. For the draft, Choice has been projected anywhere from 5-15 overall. In three of the latest mock drafts, Baseball America has him at number five to the Cleveland Indians, MLB.com has him at number eight to the Houston Astros and ESPN.com has Choice being picked number 11 to the Toronto Blue Jays.
4:27 p.m. - A couple of Choice's teammates have arrived as well as a few more family members. MLB Network crews are still the only TV stations here. Unfortunately there will be five more stations with camera crews and the Choice living room is going to be absolutely packed. Choice did a sound check with the MLB Network producer. Choice will be talking to MLB Network analyst Harold Reynolds after he gets the call.
4:07 p.m. - The Choice household is bustling. Finally got a chance to say hello to Choice. He appears just as calm as he is on an off day. More family and friends have just shown up and everyone appears to be in a jovial mood - for good reason.
4:00 p.m. - Josh Bowe here as promised at Michael Choice's residence. The Choice family has been very welcoming and has gone above and beyond helping all the media set up. They've also fed us. Can't ask for anything more than that. MLB TV crews are here as we await the local stations and reporters to file in.
