Brito


Brito's (Miami, Fla.) Manny Machado is a consensus top five player in the Class of 2010.

Brito's Machado goes third overall to Baltimore Orioles

Brito shortstop Manny Machado was snatched by Baltimore with the third overall pick.

Brito's Manny Machado is a good hitter who can play third base, shortstop and pitcher.

AL DIAZ / MIAMI HERALD STAFF

BY MANNY NAVARRO

mnavarro@MiamiHerald.com

Manny Machado grew up idolizing Alex Rodriguez. Now, he will try and follow in the footsteps of Cal Ripken Jr. and become the star shortstop in Baltimore.

A 17-year-old senior out of Miami Brito High School, Machado became the first South Florida player taken in MLB's First-Year Player Draft on Monday night when the Orioles picked him third overall.

He celebrated the moment at home with more than two dozen family members and friends, who piled up next to him as he was interviewed by the MLB Network for a few moments before his phone cut off.

``It was just a great feeling once I heard my name,'' said Machado, who at 6-3, 190 pounds and of Dominican descent has drawn comparisons to A-Rod. ``All the nervousness went away. It's a good opportunity.''

University of Miami catcher Yasmani Grandal wasn't with family.

He was in uniform for the Hurricanes in an NCAA regional elimination game against Texas A&M in Coral Gables.

Grandal was in the locker room during a rain delay when his mother called him to say the Cincinnati Reds had taken him 12th overall.

HUGS FOR GRANDAL

A few minutes later, he ran into the outfield to warm up, and teammates David Villasuso and David Gutierrez were the first two to sprint out and hug him. Grandal later received a standing ovation before his first at-bat from the crowd at Mark Light Field. Reports before the draft suggested Grandal, the Atlantic Coast Conference Player of the Year, would go right after Machado to the Kansas City Royals with the fourth overall pick.

But family advisor Mike Maulini said ``they were false rumors.''

``That must have been a leak from their organization because they never spoke to us about anything,'' Maulini said.

``I think Yasmani is in a great situation with the Reds. Cincinnati was very aggressive watching him even since his high school years. I think we're going to do a lot better than what Kansas City was going to pay anyway.''

The Washington Nationals selected junior college slugger Bryce Harper with the No. 1 overall pick. Harper, a 17-year-old with big power from the College of Southern Nevada, is represented by power agent Scott Boras, who also represents Machado. Major-league teams have until midnight on Aug. 16 to sign their draft picks or they lose their rights.

Machado, who signed to play at FIU, hit .639 with 12 homers and 56 RBI in 29 games for Class 1A Brito this past season. He also scored 43 runs, hit 27 doubles and stole 17 bases. With very few standout middle infielders in their minor-league system, the Orioles are expected to start Machado at shortstop -- although he could eventually move to third base.

``At the beginning of the year, everybody thought he would go between the 15th and 20th pick,'' Brito coach Lazaro Fundora said. ``But he's such a great player, he kept working his way up. We pretty much figured it would come down to the Pirates [at No. 2] or the Orioles.''