Wichita State baseball’s 2016 rotation unsettled as draft deadline approaches

With two days remaining before the signing deadline, Wichita State baseball coach Todd Butler is almost as concerned with the Milwaukee Brewers as he is the Shockers.

The Brewers drafted WSU junior Willie Schwanke in the 22nd round in June. He will be at home in Frisco, Texas waiting on a final offer from Milwaukee by Friday’s 4 p.m. deadline. Butler will be in Wichita wondering if Schwanke will return to pitch in his weekend rotation in 2016.

“You just wait for the deadline,” Butler said. “Willie’s been very honest and upfront on everything. If he ends up getting what he’s asking for, he’ll sign.”

Schwanke, who declined to specify his bonus demand, expects to hear from Milwaukee on Thursday, while knowing it could be Friday. He and his family are in regular contact with Brewers representatives. He said he will happily return to WSU if Milwaukee’s offer is low.

“It’s been a long waiting game for me and my family,” Schwanke said. “I’m happy either way.”

On Butler’s computer screen is a list of Milwaukee’s draft choices. Three players picked before Schwanke are unsigned, as of Wednesday, including supplemental-round pick Nathan Kirby, a pitcher from Virginia. The amount those players sign for could affect Schwanke’s bonus. Draft rules limit the bonus money teams can spend in total, meaning that if other players eat into Milwaukee’s pool of money, it could mean less available for Schwanke. According to Baseball America, the Brewers can offer him a bonus between $100,000 and $300,000 with their remaining money, depending on what happens with other draft picks.

Butler is monitoring all this, but he also knows that if the Brewers make Schwanke a priority, it’s a problem. The best he can hope for is that Kirby pushes hard for money above his slot and the picks in the 13th and 17th rounds do the same, taking time and money away from the pursuit of Schwanke. If Schwanke is asking for a bonus near the top of the range — around $300,000 — he is asking for a bonus comparable to what many picks in the top 10 rounds get. Butler regards him as a top-10 talent who dropped because of the back injury.

“If they want to sign a player, they’ll find the money,” Butler said.

Butler said he expects Schwanke to get a medical redshirt after a back injury cut short his 2015 season. That would preserve his draft leverage for the 2016 draft.

Schwanke tore his lat muscle on March 20 against Southern Illinois, just as he moved into WSU’s Friday night role. In seven appearances, he compiled a 3.00 ERA with 25 strikeouts and 11 walks. He is spending the summer rehabbing and throwing bullpens in Wichita — with a fishing vacation mixed in — while he waits.

“It’s feeling normal and feeling good,” he said.

Schwanke’s status takes on added importance after sophomore pitcher Jeb Bargfeldt decided to transfer from WSU to a junior college this summer to play a position and pitch. Bargfeldt went 3-4 with a 4.45 ERA and worked his way into the weekend rotation in late March after shoulder inflammation sidelined Sam Tewes.

“He wants to hit,” Butler said. “He did a fantastic job for us. I hate to see him leave, but that’s what he wants to do.”

Butler is optimistic about junior pitcher Chase Williams, drafted by San Diego in the 25th round, returning to school. WSU is appealing the NCAA’s denial of his request for a redshirt season based on injuries suffered in junior college. Louisiana high school outfielder Dayton Dugas and Maize High pitcher Connor Lungwitz, both drafted in the late rounds by Detroit, are also expected to stick with the Shockers. Dugas had surgery earlier this summer after breaking the hamate bone in his left hand. Butler said he expects Dugas to be healthy in time for fall practice in September.

A rotation of Tewes, Schwanke and Williams looks appealing to Butler. By Saturday, he will know if he can think about writing those names into a 2016 lineup card.

“If we’re fortunate, and Tewes is healthy, and Schwanke comes back and Williams come back, then you have Friday-Saturday-Sunday from last year,” Butler said.

This story was originally published July 15, 2015 at 3:02 PM with the headline "Wichita State baseball’s 2016 rotation unsettled as draft deadline approaches."