ɪn nˈaɪntiːnhˈʌndɹɪd nˈaɪnti tˈuː, ðə jˈɪɹ hiː dᵻsˈaɪdᵻd tə sˈaɪn wɪð ɐ tˈiːm, hiː wʌz dɹˈæftᵻd baɪ ðə kˌɑːlɚɹˈɑːdoʊ ɹˈɑːkiz ɪnðə fˈɜːst ɹˈaʊnd, twˈɛnti sˈɛvənθ ˌoʊvɚɹˈɔːl.
In 1992, the year he decided to sign with a team, he was drafted by the Colorado Rockies in the first round, 27th overall.