Fielder's choice: Los Osos' Galloway faces draft decision
Isaac Galloway might be a mere signature away from becoming an 18-year-old millionaire in two weeks.
Or the Los Osos High School senior may decide to live in a San Diego State dorm room on a stipend for the next three years.
It depends on where the centerfielder is selected in the Major League Baseball first-year player draft on June 5.
"My first choice is to go pro," Galloway said Wednesday. "But if I'm not treated fairly in the draft then I'm prepared to go to school."
Galloway said he won't pass judgement on what he considers fair until he is selected. The 6-foot-3, 190-pounder has heard rumors "from people around" that he'll be a top-five overall pick, not a small feat considering the draft consists of 50 rounds with 30 picks each.
Those rumors Galloway heard may not be unsubstantiated; A mock draft on MLBDraftSite.com has Galloway going fourth to the Baltimore Orioles organization. It has been brought to my attention that BaseballAmerica.com is likely a more reliable resource. It has Galloway rated its 36th best draft prospect.
Galloway's advisor, Rich Aude of Wasserman Media Group, has gathered information from MLB scouts regarding Galloway's draft status but declined to make any estimates on account of his job security. Galloway hooked up with Aude, who made it clear he is not Galloway's agent (yet), in 2006.
Galloway signed a letter of intent in February to attend San Diego State. If he enrolls in a university, MLB requires a three-year wait until he is eligible for the draft again. If he attends junior college, an option still on the table, he'll be eligible for the draft in a year.
The decision may be an easy one if Galloway is selected in the first round, where the average signing bonus was $2.2 million in 2007.
"It's a money thing and it's about opportunity," Aude said. "If he doesn't think where he is picked is fair, he'll go to San Diego State for three years and get better."
Galloway batted .359 in 78 at-bats this season with five home runs, 16 RBI and 10 stolen bases.
There are certainly not any numbers that could describe how the fleet-footed Galloway patrols center field. There may not be words either.