Decision time: CAC baseball players who were drafted mull over their options
By RODNEY HAAS Staff Writer Casa Grande Pinal Central

SIGNAL PEAK

There was no handshake from the commissioner or a big draft party at Nick Trogrlic-Iverson's and RJ Dabovich's homes when this past week's Major League Baseball draft took place.

Instead the two Central Arizona College pitchers were going about their normal days. Trogrlic-Iverson was watching the Family Guy while Dabovich was sitting in the kitchen at his home in Denver — eating a bowl of cereal when news broke that would change both of their lives and leave some big decisions to make in its wake.

"It felt like I was dreaming and then to see my name appear, it was a surreal moment for me. It was hard to believe," said Dabovich who was taken in the 18th round (542nd pick) by the Kansas City Royals. "(Teammate) Clayton Keyes texted me saying congratulations, and then I went on Twitter and there it was — you were drafted."

Fellow Vaquero Trogrlic-Iverson, the right-handed pitcher from Oakville, Ontario, said he was watching TV when news broke that he was drafted in the 15th round (455th pick) by the Milwaukee Brewers.

"It feels awesome!" Trogrlic-Iverson said. "I didn't know I got drafted until I got a bunch of texts saying congratulations on being drafted."

The two current Vaqueros joined five former CAC players and two incoming players to be drafted this past week.

Trogrlic-Iverson and Dabovich both have some big decisions to make in the coming weeks before July 6, which is the day for teams to have signed their drafted players.

For Trogrlic-Iverson, who just completed his sophomore season at Central Arizona, it's a decision of signing with the Brewers or continuing to play college baseball at Gonzaga.

"I haven't decided yet," he said. "I've just been hanging out and letting it settle in for a bit. But then I'll start to talk with my parents and coaches and start weighing the pros and cons and see where I go from here."

Dabovich, a freshman from Pueblo, Colorado, said it's a decision about financials and if the Royals are to meet them. The right-handed pitcher said he is looking for a $500,000 signing bonus from the team. However, that might be too much of an asking price.

According to MLB.com's draft tracker, players taken in the late third round and early fourth round are projected to receive a signing bonus of between $600,000 and $500,000. Meanwhile for players taken in the 10th round such as University of Arizona center fielder Cal Stevenson, their projected signing bonus is around $140,000, while the draft tracker doesn't provide signing bonus projections for players taken after the 10th round.

Dabovich could return for his sophomore season at CAC, where he posted a 9-3 record while starting in 13 games and appearing in 15 games. He had a 1.81 ERA in 69 2/3 innings pitched while recording 63 strikeouts for the Vaqueros, who finished the season at 45-11 and were swept by Arizona Western in the playoffs.

"We had a good year. We didn't accomplish our goals," Dabovich said. "We just played bad baseball at the wrong time."