Trevor, a 6'4", 180-pound first baseman out of Oaks Christian High School in California, committed last year to playing college baseball at San Diego State University, a team managed by Tony Gwynn. Most have expected him to go through with that commitment, and play a couple seasons of college ball before re-entering the draft.
But in an interview with ESPN Radio 1000's "The Waddle and Silvy Show" today, Wayne made it sound like there's a decent chance that Trevor could sign with the Cubs rather than go to college:
"I think for every child it's different," Gretzky said. "For some kids the college route is the right way to go, and for other kids, turning professional is the right way to go.
"We'll sit down here as a family, talk about the pros and cons of each direction. But it's pretty tough for two parents, one [Janet Jones] who turned pro as a 17-year-old dancer, and started her professional career, and a father who turned pro at 17 to pursue a hockey career ... pretty tough for us to talk about how great college would be when we both turned pro at such a young age. But he's a little bit different than we are, and he's a good student."
Trevor's friendship with Christian Yelich, who was the Florida Marlins' first pick last season, also could influence his decision. Yelich is playing Class A ball for Carolina.
"I know Christian talked highly about how much fun he's having and how much he's enjoying playing 'A' ball," Gretzky said. "So I think he's going to weigh his options, and I don't think he's leaning either way. I think he likes both scenarios right now and is excited about both possibilities.
"But the Cubs organization is one of the best organizations in baseball. They've been really good to him the last couple of days, and I know he's excited to sit down and talk to the Cubs next week."
That doesn't mean Trevor Gretzky has ruled out attending college.
"Right now he's more excited about the Cubs scenario, because that's a little bit more fresh in his mind, and he's a typical 18-year-old," he said. "But San Diego State and Tony Gwynn have been great to him all season long, and I know he likes their school and organization."Source: ESPN Chicago
And the Cubs really seem to like Trevor, as you can tell by scouting director Tim Wilken's comments to the Toronto Sun:
“He’s really talented, a good low ball hitter,” said Wilken, the former Jays scouting director. “He’s a lot taller than Wayne, about 6-foot-4 1/2, 180. He’ll probably wind up being 210 pounds.”
Wilken said Gretzky was a “step above an average runner” and while Gretzky was a DH and played first base in high school, he took ground balls at third during the workout.
“I wouldn’t hold him to a position, he could play third, first or right, we’ll let him tell us with his actions where he’s best suited.”
Gretzky hit “five or six balls out” of the minor league complex which is “not a 330 cookie-cutter field, it’s 370 down the line, he hit a couple over a 20-foot screen atop the fence,” Wilken said.
For most amateur baseball players in Trevor's situation, money is going to play a big factor in whether or not to sign. But you'd think that's not the priority for the son of the greatest hockey player of all-time, as their family is surely in damn good shape financially. So even if the Cubs offer him "over slot" money, it's possible that won't make the difference.
The deadline for MLB draft picks to sign is August 15th.
