Navy hurler seeks unique (MLB) draft resolution

Like the rest of Mitch Harris' 6-foot-4, 220-pound frame, his gifted right arm belongs to the Navy. Ensign Harris graduated from the Naval Academy last month and is scheduled to report to the Norfolk-based amphibious transport ship Ponce on June 16.

After today's Major League Baseball Draft, Harris and his 94 mph fastball also could be property of a big league club. Scouts say he has the talent to be taken in the third or fourth round.

Therein lies the conflict. Were he a civilian, Harris, 22, simply would sign a contract and report to a minor league club. As a naval officer facing a five-year commitment, his situation is more complicated and is shaping up as a test case for a branch of the service historically reluctant to grant special privileges to aspiring pro athletes.

"I have no idea what's going to happen, to be completely honest," Harris said Monday from his parents' home in Maryland. "I plan on signing."

But will he be able to play?

No one has been able to answer that question so far.

Unlike the Army, which has an Alternative Service Option that enabled a pair of 2008 West Point graduates to sign with NFL teams, the Navy has no policy allowing midshipmen to complete an education valued at $200,000 and immediately begin pursuing professional sports careers.

Still, Harris is going full-steam ahead, hoping for the best. Over the past week, he worked out for the Mets and Yankees in New York, the Reds and Cardinals in New Jersey and the Phillies in Philadelphia. He threw Tuesday for the Orioles at Camden Yards in Baltimore.

During a phone interview Monday with The Virginian-Pilot, Harris excused himself to take a call on his other line. It was the Cardinals. They wanted to know the same thing other clubs are asking: If we risk a pick on you, when can you play?

Harris can't give them an answer.

"Some teams don't seem too worried about it," Harris said. "Some are saying this is a huge glitch. Others are saying it's too big an obstacle to get around, and they'll find another right-handed pitcher."

Harris has few options. In peace time, graduates can serve two years, then apply for early release from active duty. That was the path taken by former NBA star David Robinson, a 1987 Naval Academy graduate who joined the San Antonio Spurs in 1989.

Robinson was the rare case, the beneficiary of a policy intended for "exceptional personnel with unique talents" who can provide the Navy with favorable publicity that can enhance recruiting.

With the nation at war, the policy was suspended in November by Secretary of the Navy Donald C. Winter.

Harris isn't asking for an exemption from that policy. Rather, he's hoping that when he gets to Norfolk, his commanding officer will give him an assignment that will allow him to fulfill his obligation and still play professional baseball.

"I think there's different ways you could work it out to do something like that," Harris said.

The Navy declined to comment directly on Harris' case. In general, a commanding officer would not have the authority to assign someone to a different command, said Lt. Candice Tresch, a Navy spokeswoman in Washington. A detailer would have to make the assignment, which would need to be approved by someone higher up the chain of command, she said.

Depending on which team selects Harris, serving in the Navy while playing minor league baseball could present some logistical challenges, especially with his assignment to the Ponce. Class A minor league clubs, where most players typically begin their professional careers, are scattered all over the country, often in remote locations.

Could Harris work as a recruiter somewhere near his club and return to his ship in the offseason? That's one scenario. But what about deployments? Harris' agent, Rick Oliver, also suggested that because starting pitchers only work every five days, his client could use his 30 days of annual leave to make his starts.

"Some teams have asked for something in writing, and we can't give that to them," Oliver said. "Right now, it's hard for me to tell, hard for me to project, how much this is going to affect his draft status."

A late bloomer, Harris didn't expect to be in this situation when he signed with Navy four years ago. Recruited as a position player out of Mount Holly, N.C., he played outfield as a freshman and served as the team's closer out of the bullpen. A new coaching staff arrived the next year and was impressed by his arm strength. They made him a starter, and Harris blossomed into one of the top pitchers in the nation.

The Atlanta Braves selected Harris with a 24th-round pick last year (players at four-year colleges are eligible to be drafted after their junior year). Navy coach Paul Kostacopoulos said it was a low-risk gesture on their part. This year, he won't be surprised if a team selects Harris much higher, even with the uncertainty of his Navy commitment hanging over him.

"There are bigger risks out there than Mitch Harris," Kostacopoulos said. "He's definitely a prospect. He's got great ability, great potential, and he's got such a young arm."

Young, yes, but Harris still feels a sense of urgency. Taking five - or even two - years off from baseball would kill his career, he said. Staying sharp without facing professional-caliber hitters would be all but impossible, he contends. Plus, after serving even a two-year commitment, at age 24 he'd be at the point where many prospects are being released, not beginning an often multiyear journey to the major leagues.

Should he be allowed to play immediately and eventually reach the majors, it would be a win-win for Harris and the Navy, he said. His blazing fastball could be an effective recruiting and publicity tool for the Navy, in the same way the popular Robinson, nicknamed "The Admiral," was an ambassador for the service.

"I'm not trying get out of anything," Harris said. "I want to fulfill my obligation. Hopefully, we can find a compromise that will work for everybody."

He has made his pitch. The Navy will make the call.

Ed Miller, 446-2372, ed.miller@pilotonline.com