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PRO BASEBALL DRAFT

As the youngest of six children from a middle-class family in Cedar City, Canyon View High's Mitch Talbot has had to do his share of bargaining with his older siblings.

His biggest negotiating challenge begins this week.

Talbot, a 6-foot-1 right-handed pitcher, was picked in the second round of Tuesday's pro baseball draft -- No. 70 overall -- by the Houston Astros. That makes him one of the earliest draft choices in state history, and launches his career as a sports agent.

Talbot said he will represent himself when he begins talks today with the Astros regarding a signing bonus. Research has shown him that previous second-round draft picks have signed for around $850,000, so he will use that as a starting point.

"I am just ecstatic," he said Tuesday, shortly after learning via the Internet that Houston had chosen him. "The last couple of weeks, as I began to look at my competition, I was thinking there was no way I would be picked early. This is unbelievable."

Bryan Bullington, a hard-throwing right-hander from Ball State, was taken by the Pittsburgh Pirates with the No. 1 pick.

Bullington, the Mid-American Conference career strikeouts leader with 370, is the first pitcher drafted with the top pick since Detroit took Rice right-hander Matt Anderson in 1997.

Stanford pitcher Jeremy Guthrie, who transferred from Brigham Young, was Cleveland's first-round pick, No. 22 overall.

Talbot was told by Doug Deutsch, an area scout for the Astros, that he would likely be sent to a Rookie League team in Martinsville, Va.

He was selected early because his fastball has been clocked in the 88-94-mph range and he has what scouts call a "live" arm. Cincinnati Reds scout Don Gust, a former Hillcrest High coach, said before the draft that Talbot has one of the best high school arms he has ever seen in Utah.

Talbot threw for the Angels in Anaheim on Monday and showed great control, but was unable to hit 90 mph on radar guns. But the Astros wasted little time in taking the Dixie State College signee, who was named only to The Salt Lake Tribune's all-state second team in Class 3-A, as voted by coaches.

Tuesday, about 15 people gathered at Talbot's home to monitor the draft.

"It was crazy," Talbot said. "Everyone started screaming. I did not know what to think. I am still in shock."

Brigham Young first baseman Dave Jensen, who was drafted out of high school and during his LDS Church mission, was rewarded for delaying his pro career. He went to Kansas City in the third round, far higher than he was previously drafted.

The only other Utah high schooler expected to be drafted Tuesday is still on the board. Provo pitcher Clay Barnes, a BYU signee, did not go in the first 22 rounds. The draft continues today.