Thomas heads list of UMaine draft hopefuls

Larry Thomas said playing professional baseball has been a “dream since I was a little kid.”

On Monday, after pitching in the New England Intercollegiate Baseball Coaches Association All-Star game at Fenway Park, the University of Maine’s junior southpaw will probably learn of his status in the amateur draft.

Thomas is expected to go in the top two rounds after putting together an outstanding junior year at Maine. Thomas finished 9-4 with a 2.54 earned run average for the Black Bears. He set a single-season school record by striking out 108 hitters in 99 1/3 innings. The Winthrop, Mass., native walked only 36 and surrendered 83 hits. Thomas gave up only 5 homers and had 7 complete games among his 15 starts.

“I’m kind of leaning towards signing right now,” said Thomas. “I want to move on and start my pro career. I want to play in the major league ranks some day. But I’m open-minded. I’ll have to see what round I go in and how much money I get (to sign).”

He hasn’t settled on a monetary figure yet.

“It’s hard to say,” said Thomas. “I’ll have to wait and see what round I go in and what some of the other kids get to sign.”

Thomas has been invited to the tryouts for the U.S. Pan American Games team, which will begin in Middleton, Tenn., on Thursday. He said he is going to see what happens with the draft first.

Thomas is just one of several Black Bears or future Black Bears who are eligible for the draft. The other half of Maine’s left-right ace tandem, righty Ben Burlingame (10-3, 3.40 ERA, 100 2/3 innings, 89 hits, 84 strikeouts, 28 walks, 8 complete games in 14 starts), is a good bet to be drafted within the top 10 rounds.

“I’m just going to wait and hear what they have to say,” said Burlingame, a Newton, Mass., native. “I’ll be interested to hear what they think about me. I’m pretty sure I’ll sign if I get a reasonable offer. I’d like to make a career out of baseball.

“But I’ve got to make sure it is right,” added Burlingame, who will also pitch in the Monday all-star game at Fenway. “It’s good knowing I have Maine to go back to (if the offer isn’t right).”

Two incoming pitchers, lefty Mark O’Brien and righty Frank Barresi, are also expected to be selected along with Bear All-American center fielder Mark Sweeney and junior shortstop Brian Seguin.

Sweeney, who was drafted by the Los Angeles Dodgers in the 39th round last year but decided to return for his senior year, hit .384 and set school single-season records for homers (23), runs batted in (80), runs (77) and total bases (178). Seguin hit .319 with 5 homers and 46 RBIs.

Junior second baseman Tim Scott (.272-8-45) and junior pitcher Mike D’Andrea (6-2, 5.30) are also eligible and have outside chances at being drafted along with outgoing seniors Gary Taylor (.289-14-54), catcher Paul Kelliher (.346-5-23), Ed Therrien (8-2, 4.50) and Rob Higgins (6-1, 5 saves, 2.28). Taylor is being considered as a pitcher.