Dan Wilson---1991
Scout Tales... Dan Wilson
There is a saying in baseball that
"The first round draft pick belongs to
the Scouting Director." After that, the
cross-checkers and area scouts take
over. While Scouting Directors make
a living off the rounds 2 through 50,
their reputations are established in
who they select with their big pick.
Sitting next to area scout Bob
Szymkowski one day, we reminisced
about our days together working for
the Cincinnati Reds. I was Assistant
Scouting Director of the Reds from
1989-91, while Szymkowski was our
area scout in the upper Midwest,
covering Illinois, Wisconsin,
Minnesota, Iowa and maybe a few
points West.
There is a saying in baseball that
"The first round draft pick belongs to
the Scouting Director." After that, the
cross-checkers and area scouts take
over. While Scouting Directors make
a living off the rounds 2 through 50,
their reputations are established in
who they select with their big pick.
Sitting next to area scout Bob
Szymkowski one day, we reminisced
about our days together working for
the Cincinnati Reds. I was Assistant
Scouting Director of the Reds from
1989-91, while Szymkowski was our
area scout in the upper Midwest,
covering Illinois, Wisconsin,
Minnesota, Iowa and maybe a few
points West.
It was 1990 and the Reds were coming off a horrendous fifth place finish the previous
year, that was marred by the Pete Rose Scandal. Following the '89 season, Bob Quinn
took over for Murray Cook as General Manager and he partially cleaned house in the
Baseball Operations Department. One change saw Julian Mock being elevated from
cross-checker to Scouting Director.
Mock had long been an area scout for the Reds and had worked his way up the ranks.
Courtesy of a 75-87 mark the previous season, the Redlegs were slotted to pick
seventh in the 1990 Draft.
The buzz that spring was humming from Florida and Texas, as the debate raged over
who was the best high school player; Chipper Jones (The Bolles School. Jacksonville,
FL) or Todd Van Poppell (Martin High School, Arlington, TX).
Jones' talent kept him out of reach for the Reds, but Van Poppell placed a premium
price tag on his services. However, under the Marge Schott regime, the Reds were not
going to buy out the right-hander from the Lone Star State.
As the preparation for the Draft entered the final day, Cincinnati had narrowed the field
down to two Big 10 players, Iowa shortstop Tim Costo and Minnesota catcher Dan
Wilson. Szymkowski was the Reds area scout for both players. The consensus was that
both were solid college players at premium positions. Costo wielded the stronger bat
that had power potential. Standing 6-5, he evoked comparisons to Cal Ripken, Jr.
though it was most likely that the rangy kid would eventually move to third base. Wilson,
on the other hand, was a strong defensive catcher with a good arm, whose bat was
suspect, but clearly not an out as he hit .370 for the Golden Gophers during his junior
year. Remembering back to the draft room and watching video of the players, all in
attendance were impressed with the athletic ability of Costo and the catching ability of
Wilson.
Come draft day, it was apparent that both players would be available to the Reds, while
the loser of the sweepstakes would be selected next by the Cleveland Indians.
Gathered in the draft "war room," Mock surveyed his lieutenants one-by-one as he took
a roll call. Renown scouts as Larry Barton, Jr. (Eric Davis), Tony Robello (Johnny
Bench), Gene Bennett (Larkin, Sabo, O'Neill), Jackie Bowen, etc. which also included
myself and future GM Jim Bowden were polled. "Costo, Costo, Costo, Costo..." the
name rolled off each scouts tongue. Szymkowski had placed Costo above Wilson, but
was going to be happy with either one. I chimed in with a "Costo" after having watched
the video and listened to the reports. Sitting back in his chair and looking at the board
with a pen in hand acting as a pacifier, Mock said he wanted Wilson.
Sure enough, the draft unfolded as planned, as Jones went No. 1 to Atlanta, followed by
the athletic Tony Clark being selected by the Tigers. The Phillies took a relatively
controversial pick at the time in high school catcher Mike Lieberthal, who was talented,
but traditionally high school catchers are a gamble. Alex Fernandez went to the White
Sox out of Miami-Dade JC, preceded by two California high schoolers, RHP Kurt Miller to
the Pirates and the raw power bat of Marc Newfield to Seattle. The Reds selected
Mock's boy, Dan Wilson at No. 7, while Costo went to the Indians with the next pick.
Wilson would reach Cincinnati by 1992, catching well and swinging a weak bat, though
in a reserve roll to veteran receiver Joe Oliver. Following the 1993 season, Wilson was
shipped off to Seattle (along with Bobby Ayala) in a deal that netted the Reds Brett
Boone and Erik Hanson. Boone would have a short run at second base for Cincinnati
before finding an All-Star stroke for Seattle in later years. Hansen would go 5-5 in 22
games in his lone season with the Reds.
On the other hand, Wilson spent 10 seasons behind the dish for the Mariners and
grabbed All-Star honors in 1996, when he hit .285 with 18 homers for what would be his
finest offensive season.
As for Costo, well, he lasted one season in the Indians organization before being traded
to the Reds (for first baseman Reggie Jefferson), where he struggled through seasons
of inconsistency with the bat and injuries. He did log 43 games during the '92-'93
seasons, hitting a combined .224 with three long balls.
One Reds official later told me that Costo was the player held back by Reds GM Jim
Bowden in the 1992 Expansion Draft for the Marlins and Rockies, which exposed Trevor
Hoffman to Florida. Oopps.
In the end, it looks like Mock made the right choice... after all, it was his pick.
year, that was marred by the Pete Rose Scandal. Following the '89 season, Bob Quinn
took over for Murray Cook as General Manager and he partially cleaned house in the
Baseball Operations Department. One change saw Julian Mock being elevated from
cross-checker to Scouting Director.
Mock had long been an area scout for the Reds and had worked his way up the ranks.
Courtesy of a 75-87 mark the previous season, the Redlegs were slotted to pick
seventh in the 1990 Draft.
The buzz that spring was humming from Florida and Texas, as the debate raged over
who was the best high school player; Chipper Jones (The Bolles School. Jacksonville,
FL) or Todd Van Poppell (Martin High School, Arlington, TX).
Jones' talent kept him out of reach for the Reds, but Van Poppell placed a premium
price tag on his services. However, under the Marge Schott regime, the Reds were not
going to buy out the right-hander from the Lone Star State.
As the preparation for the Draft entered the final day, Cincinnati had narrowed the field
down to two Big 10 players, Iowa shortstop Tim Costo and Minnesota catcher Dan
Wilson. Szymkowski was the Reds area scout for both players. The consensus was that
both were solid college players at premium positions. Costo wielded the stronger bat
that had power potential. Standing 6-5, he evoked comparisons to Cal Ripken, Jr.
though it was most likely that the rangy kid would eventually move to third base. Wilson,
on the other hand, was a strong defensive catcher with a good arm, whose bat was
suspect, but clearly not an out as he hit .370 for the Golden Gophers during his junior
year. Remembering back to the draft room and watching video of the players, all in
attendance were impressed with the athletic ability of Costo and the catching ability of
Wilson.
Come draft day, it was apparent that both players would be available to the Reds, while
the loser of the sweepstakes would be selected next by the Cleveland Indians.
Gathered in the draft "war room," Mock surveyed his lieutenants one-by-one as he took
a roll call. Renown scouts as Larry Barton, Jr. (Eric Davis), Tony Robello (Johnny
Bench), Gene Bennett (Larkin, Sabo, O'Neill), Jackie Bowen, etc. which also included
myself and future GM Jim Bowden were polled. "Costo, Costo, Costo, Costo..." the
name rolled off each scouts tongue. Szymkowski had placed Costo above Wilson, but
was going to be happy with either one. I chimed in with a "Costo" after having watched
the video and listened to the reports. Sitting back in his chair and looking at the board
with a pen in hand acting as a pacifier, Mock said he wanted Wilson.
Sure enough, the draft unfolded as planned, as Jones went No. 1 to Atlanta, followed by
the athletic Tony Clark being selected by the Tigers. The Phillies took a relatively
controversial pick at the time in high school catcher Mike Lieberthal, who was talented,
but traditionally high school catchers are a gamble. Alex Fernandez went to the White
Sox out of Miami-Dade JC, preceded by two California high schoolers, RHP Kurt Miller to
the Pirates and the raw power bat of Marc Newfield to Seattle. The Reds selected
Mock's boy, Dan Wilson at No. 7, while Costo went to the Indians with the next pick.
Wilson would reach Cincinnati by 1992, catching well and swinging a weak bat, though
in a reserve roll to veteran receiver Joe Oliver. Following the 1993 season, Wilson was
shipped off to Seattle (along with Bobby Ayala) in a deal that netted the Reds Brett
Boone and Erik Hanson. Boone would have a short run at second base for Cincinnati
before finding an All-Star stroke for Seattle in later years. Hansen would go 5-5 in 22
games in his lone season with the Reds.
On the other hand, Wilson spent 10 seasons behind the dish for the Mariners and
grabbed All-Star honors in 1996, when he hit .285 with 18 homers for what would be his
finest offensive season.
As for Costo, well, he lasted one season in the Indians organization before being traded
to the Reds (for first baseman Reggie Jefferson), where he struggled through seasons
of inconsistency with the bat and injuries. He did log 43 games during the '92-'93
seasons, hitting a combined .224 with three long balls.
One Reds official later told me that Costo was the player held back by Reds GM Jim
Bowden in the 1992 Expansion Draft for the Marlins and Rockies, which exposed Trevor
Hoffman to Florida. Oopps.
In the end, it looks like Mock made the right choice... after all, it was his pick.