Jimenez weighing his options

First and foremost, Danny Jimenez is a Chicago Cubs fan.

When it comes time to getting drafted, however, is it OK to like one the Cubs' rival teams, the St. Louis Cardinals, who decided you are worth a pick? Can you still be a Cubs fan? Do you have to switch over?

No way, according to Jimenez, a left-handed pitcher and recent grad of St. Charles North. He was taken in the 37th round (1,115th overall) by the Cardinals in last week's Major League Draft.

Jimenez is just happy he was selected by any team, rival to the Cubs or not.

"It's an honor," Jimenez said. "Getting drafted by any team is great. I don't see it as a rival or anything like that."

Jimenez is the second player in St. Charles North's baseball program to get drafted. Kenny Smalley was the first.

Hopes were high for Jimenez getting drafted after he went 9-1 with an ERA of 1.70 and 80 strikeouts his senior season with the North Stars. Most times he pitched, there were several scouts on hand, clocking his throws, which reached speeds in the 90s.

"Overall, I thought it went well," Jimenez said of his season on St. Charles North.

Jimenez had a feeling he'd get drafted, but honestly, he thought he'd get drafted sooner than the 37th round.

Another surprise was the team who drafted him. He had been in contact with the Pittsburgh Pirates, Tampa Bay Devil Rays and San Diego Padres the most, but not so much with St. Louis.

"I'm not mad," Jimenez said. "It doesn't matter. It's a chance for me to get to the Major Leagues."

"I'm surprised," St. Charles North coach Todd Genke added. "I thought he'd go somewhere in the mid 20s, but it's just a number. Still, getting drafted is a great thing. I'm real proud of him. He worked hard and developed into a top-notch pitcher."

Jimenez is currently deciding what to do next. He has until mid-August to sign with the Cardinals. If he doesn't, he will play baseball at John A. Logan Junior College in southern Illinois.

If he chooses to sign, he will be on a plane to Jupiter, Fla., where he will play rookie ball.

"Either way, it'll be fun," Jimenez said. "I mean, (baseball) is my job, but it wouldn't seem that way for me. It's a win-win situation."

"It's a big decision for an 18-year-old," Dan Jimenez, Sr., added. "It's all happening so fast."

If Danny, who has been playing baseball since he was 6, decides not to sign, he can play college ball and get drafted again next year. After the draft was completed, he admitted he thought the whole process was tough.

"It's really overwhelming," Danny Jimenez said. "You really can't predict. It's the weirdest process. You really have no clue when you are going to get drafted, you can't say where you are going."

Genke was of some help to the Jimenez family, as the fourth-year coach has been there and done that.

Genke was drafted by Philadelphia and spent 10 years as a professional baseball player in the Phillies and Colorado Rockies organizations as well as Schaumburg Flyers in the Northern League before retiring in 2003 and becoming the head coach at St. Charles North.

"I had some experiences and I had several conversations (with the family) and it went well," Genke said.

Genke may have to have another conversation like that with another North Star next year at this time -- Zach Hirsch, another talented left-handed pitcher who has the potential to be drafted as he enters his senior season.