OKLAHOMA CITY, Okla. — LSU junior lefthander Brian Tallet, who was drafted in the second round of the Major League Baseball first-year draft early in June, told LSUsports.net Friday that he expects to sign with the Cleveland Indians sometime next week.
“We just began negotiations with Cleveland (on Thursday),” Tallet said from his home in Oklahoma City, Okla. “I expect to go up to Cleveland sometime next week to sign.”
Tallet, the Indians’ third pick in the draft and the 55th overall, pitched for the first time since the June 17 College World Series Championship game on Friday, July 7.
After throwing the third-most inning in school history (143 1/3) en route to the 2000 National Championship, Tallet was asked to take it easy on his arm before signing.
Due to Tallet’s need for rest, and to allow time for the Indians’ new Director of Scouting, John Mirabelli, to move from North Carolina to Cleveland, Tallet’s signing has been put off more than five weeks.
According to Tallet’s father, John, he may get the opportunity to bypass the Class A and Rookie Leagues in favor of the Indians’ Class AA affiliate in Akron, Ohio.
However, Tallet believes that due to the long layoff, he may wind up beginning his career in High A (Advanced Class A affiliate in Kinston, N.C.
“Brian’s just ready to get up there and start his career, Tallet’s father said. Where he begins is a little up in the air right now.”
Should Tallet’s signing bonus fall in line with other second round picks, he would earn between $400,000 and $700,00. First -round and sandwich picks received bonuses between $600,000 and $3 million after the June 2-5 draft.
Cleveland’s minor league system includes: the Burlington (N.C.) Indians in the Rookie League, Mahoning Valley (Ohio) Scrappers, the Columbus (Ga.) Redstixx and the Kinston (N.C.) Indians in Class A, the Akron Aeros of Class AA and the Buffalo (N.Y.) Bisons of Class AAA.