PHILADELPHIA - Handling themselves like pros, the Floyd brothers, Gavin and Michael, met the media in Philadelphia yesterday.
The Mount St. Joseph graduates from Severna Park were formally introduced as the newest Phillies.
It was a relaxed atmosphere mainly because of the exuberance displayed by the Floyds, especially Gavin's wit and "their genuineness," according to Philadelphia scouting director Mike Arbuckle.
"We use to fight a lot, like all brothers," Gavin said jokingly. "But we never had any serious problems. Did we, Michael?"
The closeness of the two showed through and left observers impressed.
"We even have the same haircut," said Michael.
Gavin Floyd, a 6-foot-6, 215-pound right-handed pitcher, was the Phillies' No. 1 draft pick in June and the fourth overall. A two-time Sun Metro Player of the Year and three-time All-Metro selection, Gavin Floyd, 18, officially signed yesterday for $4.2 million and a college scholarship.
It is the largest signing bonus given to a drafted high school player.
His brother Michael, a 6-foot-3, 190-pound 21-year-old outfielder, was taken in the 22nd round and signed for approximately $65,000-$70,000 and his final year of education, according to agent Ira Rainess.
Michael was a Sun All-Metro outfielder his senior year at Mount St. Joseph's in 1998 and then played two years at Virginia. He transferred to the University of South Carolina, where he led the Gamecocks in batting (.350, 28 RBIs) as the No. 3 hitter in the order.
The Floyds have been assigned to the Phillies' fall instructional team in Clearwater, Fla., starting next month. They are in Philadelphia this weekend with their family, including 13-year-old brother Brendan, who is already 5 feet 11.
Rodney and Elaine Floyd were beaming yesterday as their sons fielded questions from approving reporters.
"We are so happy about all of this because we wanted the boys to stand on their own and they did," said Rodney Floyd. "This wasn't just one deal. It was two, and they get to play together as icing on the cake."
Before the news conference, the brothers were down on the field meeting some players and manager Larry Bowa, who told Gavin, "I hope you are going to get us a couple hundred wins."
Bowa also told the Floyds he would see them in Clearwater in a couple of months.
After taking their physicals and signing their contracts, the Floyds had dinner and sat in the club's family box to watch the home team play the Arizona Diamondbacks. During the game, the Floyd brothers were interviewed on the Phillies' radio network.
"It is all kind of overwhelming but exciting, and they are handling it very well," said Rainess.
Watching the game, the brothers visualized themselves down on the field in the Phillies' red, white and blue. And that might not be to far off in the future.
"Gavin's progress should be steady," said Arbuckle. "Most high school pitchers coming out at his stage are probably a four-year project, sometimes it is five, sometimes it is three depending on the individual.
"From what I have seen in Gavin, four years is a reasonable assumption. He has the physical weapons, the body, plus the fastball and curve. It is just a matter of getting the experience and coming up with a third pitch in a changeup."
Floyd's fastball is in the mid-90s and runs down and in; his curve is, according to Arbuckle, "a punch-out pitch," meaning strikeout pitch.
Floyd has never thrown a slider and because of the sharp breaking pitch he has, it is not going to be necessary at the pro level.
"Oh no, not with that kind of curveball," said Arbuckle.
"The tendency is when you give a kid a slider to go with an already outstanding curve, they start getting them inter-mixed and you lose a little bit on the curveball. If we add a third pitch in the changeup, he will be ready to roll."
Floyd didn't need a changeup in high school, but he is aware that improving it is important.
As for Michael, a left-handed hitter who runs well, Arbuckle said, "I think because of Gavin being a first-rounder we haven't talked as much about Michael.
"Michael had a great year at South Carolina. He can swing the bat and our reports are he is a solid defensive player. And he is another kid with a great mental makeup and I think he will maximize his physical ability. He has a chance to surprise some people."
