Varitek, USA's top amateur, in pro limbo
( USA Today ) Rod Beaton; 11-17-1994
Jason Varitek is the king of amateur baseball. He has been in no
hurry to add the pros to his kingdom.
Wednesday, Varitek was named recipient of the 17th annual Golden
Spikes Award, presented by USA Baseball to the nation's top amateur
player. He was also nominated Wednesday for the Sullivan Award,
presented annually to the nation's best amateur athlete in any
sport.
Despite the outstanding credentials of the other eight Golden
Spikes finalists - seven of whom were first-round picks in June -
there was little doubt of Varitek's singular merit. The 1992
Olympian was a three-time, first-team All-American. He batted .426
with 17 home runs and 86 RBI in 67 games last season at Georgia
Tech, where he set career records in eight categories, including
homers, RBI, runs and total bases.
The pros know he can play. He was drafted by Minnesota in the
first round in 1993 and again by Seattle in the first round in June.
Unable to come to terms with either club, he remains adrift, a
hostage to the system.
"It is very ambiguous what is going to happen," he says. "We're
still waiting to find out what the next step will be."
Varitek is a decent receiver. What makes him special is his
ability to hit with vigor from both sides of the plate. He sees
fellow Olympian Charles Johnson has been designated the Florida
Marlins catcher for 1995. He knows past Golden Spikes winners Bob
Horner, Tim Wallach, Will Clark, Jim Abbott, Robin Ventura, Ben
McDonald and Alex Fernandez became major league stars. He knows he
can move into that class.
"I've seen different talent levels," he says. "I know what I have
to do to reach the majors."
First he has to sign. It has to be with Seattle until the next
draft. A ruling will be made on whether he becomes a free agent at
that time or goes back into the draft pool again.
"I believe in what I believe," he says. "I want to be treated
fairly."