High price tag dropped Dyson into 10th round

COLUMBIA — When hard-throwing South Carolina right-hander Sam Dyson went from a possible to first-rounder in this week's Major League Baseball draft to a 10th-round pick, most people scratched their heads.

But his coach understood.

It boiled down to Dyson's high signing bonus price tag and the fact that, well, he wasn't that good this year.

"I knew there were going to be some questions," Ray Tanner said, "but it only takes one team."

That one team emerged, but not until after a lengthy wait for Dyson.

Tanner said he doesn't expect the Oakland A's, who finally did select

Dyson with the 303rd overall pick, to match what the Tampa, Fla., native is looking for in terms of compensation. But he didn't rule it out, either.

It would be a coup for the Gamecocks to get back their ace, who was remarkable at times and wobbled at others for a 9-4 season that included a 5.21 ERA but an opponents' batting average of .237.

Dyson pops the mitt in the mid-to-upper 90s.

"He believes he's good enough to be in the first 15 to 20 picks," Tanner said. "It didn't happen for him. Does he have an opportunity to improve that? He does. Whether he chooses to go that way remains to be seen."

Tanner said Dyson struggled at times because he perhaps wasn't used to the limelight associated with being a Friday starter in the SEC. Dyson returned midway through the 2008 season after serious arm surgery in the offseason.

Even if Dyson does return for his junior year, the Gamecocks received a blow to the pitching staff this week. Freshman left-hander Adam Westmoreland had Tommy John surgery Thursday and will miss the 2010 season.

Westmoreland felt soreness after his final start, but checked out OK after a series of tests. More testing revealed some damage.

Tanner said he doesn't expect any part of the highly selected trio of recruits to make it to campus. Shortstop Chris Owings (first round, Arizona), catcher Wil Myers (third round, Kansas City) and right-hander Brooks Hall (fourth round, Milwaukee) are all expected to receive healthy bonuses.

Players have until Aug. 17 to sign.

Tanner all but waved goodbye to DeAngelo Mack (13th round, New York Yankees), the junior left fielder that led the SEC in hits during the regular season.

Tanner recalled a meeting a couple of years ago with Mack in which he told the Columbia native that he probably would never be an everyday player at South Carolina. But Mack told him that he'd prove him wrong.

"And he did," Tanner said.

Tanner sounded as if he expected catcher Justin Dalles (sixth, Baltimore) to sign. But he said, as of Thursday, it's not "a slam dunk."

Dalles has been drafted several times before, and he surprised Tanner by coming to school a year ago after being selected relatively early as a JUCO player.

First baseman Nick Ebert (32nd round, New York Yankees) isn't expected to sign. But, as Tanner said, if any team can afford it, it's the Yankees. Ebert is still on campus and is taking summer classes, good signs if you're a Gamecocks fan that wants to see Ebert's power bat back in the lineup.

Ebert, emerging in the spring, hit a team-high 23 home runs this year.

Parker Bangs (46th round, Pittsburgh) is expected back. Tanner said he talked Thursday with the right-hander about becoming the Gamecocks' primary arm out of the bullpen.