He knows who owns his rights. Still, talented American Heritage catcher Adrian Nieto's future remains uncertain after this year's MLB Draft. The Washington Nationals took him in the fifth round Thursday (151st overall), but -- as negotiations stand -- there's no guarantee he will choose professional baseball over his commitment to the University of South Florida.
"Right now we're far from an agreement financially," Nieto told The Miami Herald on Friday, adding that he likely will fly to Washington soon to meet with the Nationals and general manager Jim Bowden.
A Major League contract could have been a lock, though. Nieto said he had an agreement in place with the Baltimore Orioles, who considered taking him in the second round -- where he was projected to be picked in some circles -- "but they still had another guy [available]," Nieto said. (That turned out to be high school outfielder Xavier Avery.)
And although the Orioles passed on him in later rounds, Nieto still hoped Baltimore would select him.
"They were willing to still pay me what I wanted," he said.
But the Nationals came calling instead, and now Nieto must close the gap between the two sides (he didn't offer a dollar figure Friday). All things considered, though, the switch-hitting catcher sounded far from upset with the outcome -- in fact, he said he liked being part of an organization that is "excited and pumped to have me."
"The Nationals said they really want me," said Nieto, who met with Washington officials last weekend. "They didn't want to lose me to anyone else.
"So obviously they did that because they're willing to pay me what I want. Hopefully."
--Patrick Dorsey (e-mail)
