Salkeld Goes Just as Fast in Draft : Seattle Makes Saugus High Fireballer Third Pick of First Round

Roger Salkeld of Saugus High, a 6-foot-5 senior right-hander, became the highest Southern California player selected in baseball’s amateur draft since 1983 when the Seattle Mariners made him the No. 3 pick in the nation Monday.

Salkeld, 18, the second high school player selected and first high school pitcher, was notified by telephone at 10:30 a.m. at his parents’ home in Saugus.

“I don’t know if this is the happiest day of my life but it’s a good one,” Salkeld said. “Before the year started, I didn’t think I had a shot at the draft. I didn’t have the confidence.”

Salkeld is the highest first-round choice from Southern California since Kurt Stillwell, now with the Kansas City Royals, was taken six years ago as the No. 2 pick by the Cincinnati Reds while a senior at Thousand Oaks High.

Salkeld, whose fastball has been clocked in excess of 90 m.p.h., was projected throughout the season as a top draft choice by Sports Illustrated and Baseball America. He had a three-year high school record of 30-7 with 404 strikeouts and a 1.31 earned-run average in 266 1/3 innings. This season, he was 13-1 with 177 strikeouts and a 0.59 ERA in 109 1/3 innings.

Salkeld’s high school career ended with a ninth-inning wild pitch Saturday at Dodger Stadium, allowing La Palma Kennedy to defeat Saugus, 1-0, for the Southern Section 3-A Division title.

That did not, however, discourage the Mariners.

“We were looking for pitching help, and he obviously was one of the top pitchers in the country,” Mariner spokesman Dave Oust said. “We liked his size, his arm, his makeup. We’re happy to have him.”

Salkeld said that he had had no preference toward a team.

“I’m just real excited to have a chance to play professional baseball and see if I can hang with it,” he said. “I’m anxious to get out and experience it. I just want to play.”

Oust said that contract negotiations will begin next week.

“Roger’s intent is to sign as soon as possible and play,” said Bill Salkeld, who will act as his son’s agent. “We just expect him to be treated fairly . . . There were only two other players picked before us.”

Three players from City Section schools were taken within the first four rounds Monday.

Rich Aude of Chatsworth High, who has signed a letter of intent with UC Santa Barbara, was taken in the second round by Pittsburgh. Aude, a third baseman, hit a team-high .456 with six home runs and 35 runs batted in.

Gino Tagliaferri, a shortstop from Kennedy, was selected in the third round by Detroit. Tagliaferri (5-11, 190), who led Kennedy to the City 4-A title this year, hit 13 home runs this season and 23 in his career, both school records. He has signed a letter of intent with Fresno State.

Jason Evans, Chatsworth’s starting shortstop, was chosen in the fourth round by the Chicago Cubs. Evans (5-11, 180), who has signed a letter of intent with Cal, stole 24 bases and hit .406.