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0 of 3 Premium Clicks used this month SUBSCRIBE Print + Online Subscriber Activation | Register x Forgot Password | Need an Account? e-edition | subscribe | newsletter | deals Classifieds Jobs Autos Real Estate FEATURED » NEWS NOW A question of intent ... New police chief named in Talent ... New wine festival planned for Ashland in October ... A question of intent ... New police chief named in Talent ... New wine festival planned for Ashland in October ... O's give Bechler signing bonus of $257,000 By DAVID PRESZLER MailTribune.com By DAVID PRESZLER Posted Jun. 10, 1998 at 2:00 AM Updated Dec 16, 2010 at 4:20 PM By DAVID PRESZLER Posted Jun. 10, 1998 at 2:00 AM Updated Dec 16, 2010 at 4:20 PM » Social News He'll make pro debut in Florida later this month Steve Bechler wasted little time in getting his pro baseball career going. Three days after being drafted in the third round -- and the night before graduating South Medford High -- Bechler signed with the Baltimore Orioles. The 18-year-old right-hander will make his pro debut later this month with the Sarasota (Fla.) Orioles, Baltimore's team in the rookie-level Gulf Coast League. The contract gives Bechler a $257,000 signing bonus and money for college tuition in the fall. He has not decided which school he'll attend. While Bechler's Friday night signing followed soon after his selection last Tuesday, the process wasn't particularly quick. Scout John Gillette negotiated the deal for Baltimore. The first night he was here for about four hours, Bechler said. The next night he came over for another three and half hours and we finally came to an agreement. It was pretty complicated. Bechler -- who doesn't have an agent but is advised by Tracy Codd, Bob Wolcott and Andy Larkin's agent -- said the early offers from Baltimore weren't quite what he was looking for, so he kept negotiating. We were going off last year's numbers for third-round picks, he said. We finally came to an above average deal. Bechler said he plans to invest the bulk of the bonus but has a few things to get first. The first thing I'm going to do is go buy a car and do something nice for my family, he said. While he didn't feel rushed into signing, Bechler did want things taken care of quickly. I wanted to get it done because I was so stressed, he said. I didn't want to risk me holding out and waiting until the season started. Bechler is the highest of Baltimore's picks to sign thus far and he said getting his money before the higher selections made deals was an added consideration. The Orioles first five picks -- and six of the first seven -- were high school prospects. The only other local player selected in the draft, Phoenix catcher Knute Parent, has yet to sign. Parent, picked in the 34th round by Oakland, said Tuesday that he hasn't spent too much time negotiating with the A's and may play at Sacramento City College next year before going pro. Bechler did find a downside to signing a pro contract: He won't be able to pitch at all for the Medford Mustangs American Legion squad or in Saturday's State-Metro All-Star game. He said Baltimore initially told him he could pitch elsewhere until the season started but recanted permission once he signed. That means Bechler won't get the last hoorah he wanted with friend and sometimes rival K.C. Rumrey, who will play in the State-Metro game before undergoing knee surgery. That's his last game, Bechler said. We were pretty bummed. We wanted to play the last game together. Bechler said the Orioles have promised to pay for his parents to fly back to Sarasota and watch him pitch his first pro game. Just when that debut will be remains to be seen. Bechler said he has been told he will be on the mound when Sarasota opens the season on June 19. However, Matt Slater, Baltimore's administrator of scouting, says Bechler will be in the starting rotation but may or may not start the opener. When Bechler meets his new teammates, at least one member will be familiar: Tim Raines, Jr. Raines, picked in the sixth round this year, played for the Sanford (Fla.) team that beat the Mustangs in the American Legion World Series. The guy hit two bombs off me and now I have to play with him, Bechler said, laughing. It'll be nice to have him hitting home runs for me. In eight at-bats, Bechler said Raines -- who has yet to sign -- struck out four times but hit two monster home runs. Bechler is hoping to have a short stint in Sarasota before moving up to Bluefield (W. Va.) of the Appalachian League. They tell me that with the stuff I have that I'll be there about two weeks, Bechler said. I could be there like four days. But, according to Slater, keeping his bags packed may not be necessary. We have had some high school guys move up but for the most part they stay there the whole year, he said of Sarasota. We like to have them at least get started down there. If he goes down there and excels, then it's definitely a possibility. Bechler is scheduled to leave for Sarasota on June 18. Until then, he's working out with the Mustangs, pitching in practice every other day or so. He said he's not nervous about getting his career started. I'm more worried about going all the way across the country and being on my own for the first time, he said. By DAVID PRESZLER MailTribune.com By DAVID PRESZLER Posted Jun. 10, 1998 at 2:00 AM Updated Dec 16, 2010 at 4:20 PM » STAY INFORMED Email NewsLetter Sign Up Today Sign up for our newsletter and have the top headlines from your community delivered right to your inbox. Southern Oregon Directory Featured Businesses Loading... 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