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06/17/2007 6:25 PM ET
Nats draft a Boomer who can fly
Washington scouted Magnuson before selecting Whiting
By Kevin T. Czerwinski / MLB.com
Boomer Whiting made this spectacular leaping catch in the opening game of the College World Series. (AP)

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OMAHA -- Mike Rizzo was in the market for some potential bullpen help. So the Washington Nationals president of baseball operations did what any good executive would do -- he headed to Kentucky.

Rizzo, on the advice of his amateur scouting staff, was hoping to see Louisville closer Trystan Magnuson, whom the Nats were thinking of taking in the First-Year Player Draft earlier this month. Turns out, Rizzo didn't get his reliever; the Blue Jays grabbed Magnuson with the 56th overall.

But Rizzo didn't come away from his trip empty-handed. In fact, he ultimately may have plucked a bigger prize from the collegiate ranks than he would have had he gotten Magnuson. Washington accounted for one of the draft's more interesting selections when it grabbed Louisville center fielder Boomer Whiting in the 28th round.

Now the initial school of thought would be, what makes Whiting so special, particularly since the Nats waited until the 28th round to grab him and 29 other teams passed on him. For starters, the Pennsylvania native has speed, plenty of it. Whiting leads the nation with a school-record 73 steals [in 87 attempts], including a Big East-record 28 thefts.

But his game is more than just bunt, run and steal. The kid can hit, improving his average to .373 after a 2-for-4 effort in Sunday's 12-4 victory over Mississippi State in a loser's bracket game at the College World Series. Whiting's on-base percentage is .475 and he's hit safely in every NCAA tournament game.

"I was there to see Magnuson and [Whiting] caught my eye," Rizzo said. "I had nine innings to wait for the closer and I got a chance to watch the kid play. Our area scout [1994 AL Rookie of the Year] Bob Hamelin liked him. And after watching him, I liked the way he got after it and the way he played the game.

"A lot of guys can fly, but it's not usable speed. But this guy's speed seemed to be usable. I think he has a chance to be a basestealer. Some guys who have long strides, it takes a long time for them to get to top speed, but not him. I thought there was a place for him on our ballclub."

Whiting credited the staff at Louisville for the improvement in his speed game. After redshirting last season following shoulder surgery, Whiting exploded back onto the scene, nearly doubling the 39 career steals he had through 156 previous games at Louisville. The staff taught him how to use his speed wisely and efficiently, and the results have been impressive.

Rizzo also pointed to Whiting's defense as a big reason why he's so excited to have landed him. Whiting, who has committed only two errors in 70 games this season, gave an apropos demonstration of what he can do defensively earlier in the tournament. He flashed some leather Friday afternoon during the CWS opener against Rice when he robbed Phillies' first-round pick Joe Savery of an extra-base hit with a spectacular leaping catch against Rosenblatt Stadium's right-center field wall.

"He might be as fast as anyone in the draft," Rizzo said. "He can be a Bip Roberts-type of guy in the future. He has a chance to be a good big-league player. He can really cover ground in center field. He's a contact hitter that sprays the ball well. And he's a pest at the top of the batting order.

"He's one of those leadoff guys with speed who, in pro ball, chokes up and peppers the ball around. He's my kind of player, like the Dan Ugglas of the world who I've taken late in drafts that know how to play the game."

While Rizzo was effusive about Whiting, whose real first name is Brandon, the youngster was a tad surprised when the Nats chose him.

"They were one of the teams I didn't talk to much at all," Whiting said. "I talked to their area scout for about five minutes, maybe, one day. There were three or four other teams that I thought I would go to.

"I grew up a Pirates and Indians fan, being from that part of Pennsylvania. Those were the teams I followed. Now I'm a die-hard Nats fan. You have to believe in the red."

Kevin Czerwinski is a reporter for MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of the National Association of Professional Baseball Leagues or its clubs.