Ex-walk-on likely to get a shot

All University of Utah shortstop Ryan Khoury can do now is sit back and wait and hope he's done enough to get a call on the first day of the Major League Baseball First-Year Player draft.

Khoury, who was a walk-on as a freshman four years ago, led the Utes (28-28) to their first non-losing season since 2002, was named the Mountain West Conference player of the year and currently stands fifth in the nation in hitting at .438.

"I felt I did all I could on the field and I can't control (anything) from here (on out)," Khoury said. "I'll just wait and hope for the best."

Utah baseball coach Bill Kinneberg is convinced Khoury placed himself firmly on the map and could be drafted in the top 20 rounds.

"He will be drafted," Kinneberg said. "I don't know where but he will be drafted sometime on the first day."

Khoury, Utah's all-time hits leader, led the MWC in hitting (.438), on-base percentage (.549), hits (98), hit-by-pitch (19) and finished in the top 10 in eight more categories.

"Ryan's philosophy is that he is now going to get a chance to move on to professional baseball and see what he can do," Kinneberg said. "Where he is picked and whatever money he gets is secondary to the opportunity."

Khoury is one of more than two dozen college and high school players from around the state who are hoping to get their names called in today's draft. The first 20 rounds will be held today and the final 30 will be Wednesday.

Along with Khoury, Josh Cooper, Jay Brossman and Luke Trinnaman are all draft possibilities for the Utes.

BYU's Ben Saylor, right-hander Jesse Craig and perhaps shortstop Marcus Villezcas, who is good with the glove but lacks with the bat, could go for the Cougars. Saylor, however, has age working against him.

Saylor, 24, is a returned LDS missionary and older than almost all of the prospects looking to be selected. Many of the players who will be drafted the next couple of days are 18-year-olds and recent high school graduates. In professional baseball circles, Saylor is considered an old man.

"I have no real big expectations going into the draft because of my age," said the 6-foot-4, 215-pound former Cougar outfielder, who led the team in home runs (21), batting average (.354), runs (58), hits (84), doubles (17), RBIs (66), game-winning RBIs (five), total bases (168) and slugging percentage (.709) this season. "I'm not worried about what round I go in. I just want a chance to play. I'm just waiting to see."