WORTH THE WAIT NOT DRAFTED OUT OF HIGH SCHOOL, BRAUN SHOULD GO QUICKLY TODAY.

Byline: Heather Gripp Staff Writer

The scouts made Ryan Braun's decision easy. After agonizing whether he should go to college or directly into a professional baseball career, the choice was made for Braun when he went undrafted out of Granada Hills High.

Three years later, Braun is the one making an easy decision for scouts. Anyone seeking to draft a slugger knows where to turn. An All-American career at Miami has made Braun a hot commodity for today's Major League Baseball's First-Year Player Draft, in which the third baseman is expected to be selected by the middle of the first round.

``It turned out to be a blessing in disguise,'' Joe Braun said of his son not being drafted out of high school. ``He didn't have to make that decision between school or going pro. And I think he's proven he's the player we always thought he could be and he thought he was. I think there was a lot of motivation for him not being drafted.''

Braun, an honor student who plans to continue his education during the offseason, realized the high price he would have commanded to pass up college significantly influenced his not being drafted, but he immediately went to work on making sure he couldn't be ignored again.

A season after leaving Granada Hills as the school's career home run record holder, Braun was named National Freshman of the Year by Baseball America in 2003. He won Miami's team triple crown that year by batting .364 with 17 home runs and 76 RBI, shattering Pat Burrell's school freshman RBI record.

Despite missing 18 games last season because of a rib-cage injury from which he didn't fully recover until winter, Braun hit .335 with 10 home runs, 45 RBI and a team-high 21 stolen bases.

He was selected Atlantic Coast Conference Player of the Year this season and is among five finalists for the Golden Spikes Award, which honors the nation's top college baseball player. Braun enters this weekend's Super Regional series at Nebraska batting .412 with a team-high 18 home runs, 75 RBI and 22 stolen bases. He tripled and hit his second home run of the tournament Sunday against Mississippi State as Miami won the Coral Gables Regional.

``He's one of the best players in the country, there's no doubt about it,'' said Miami pitcher Cesar Carrillo, who has been teammates with Braun since their freshman year and is a top prospect himself. ``I can't really say what his big games have been, there's a lot. He's so consistent it's hard to pick anything out.''

Hurricanes fans enjoy Braun's heroics so much they voted him their favorite player in a team poll. Even as a freshman, Braun would go out to restaurants and be recognized as a local celebrity.

``He ranks among the best players I've ever had,'' said Miami coach Jim Morris, who has helped produce several major leaguers during a 27-year career in which he was also coach at Georgia Tech. ``He hits with power like a Pat Burrell. He also runs like a Nomar Garciaparra. He's got great tools. I don't know who to rate him with, to be honest, because he could lead the league in stolen bases and home runs, and there aren't too many guys like that.''

Braun's athleticism was evident early. His father recalls him hitting off a batting T as a toddler, but having the hand-eye coordination to want to hit underhand tosses by age 3. Like his younger brother, Steve, who plays baseball at Pierce College, Braun grew up playing baseball and soccer. The brothers' love for sports led to them convincing their father to spend his free time at the park playing sports. They spent so much time in the batting cages, the family built a batting cage in the backyard when the brothers were in high school.

Although Ryan, 21, didn't give up soccer until he was in high school, baseball always was clearly his passion.

``Ultimately my goal has always been to be a major-league baseball player,'' Braun said. ``Ever since I could remember. Everybody dreams of being a major leaguer. I didn't want it to be just a dream.''

Braun's already benefited from an inside glimpse at the big leagues. Yankees third baseman Alex Rodriguez lives just a few miles from the Hurricanes' field and frequently works out there during the offseason. Braun took advantage of the opportunity to learn as much as he could from the player he grew up admiring.

``It's been an unbelievable asset,'' Braun said. ``He talks about the importance of being a well-rounded person. And he made the switch from shortstop to third base last year, so when I did it this year I was able to pick his brain about what it's like.''

Braun was moved to third this year because the Hurricanes said they couldn't justify not using the player who did so well there during Braun's absence. Scouts are split on whether Braun's future is as a shortstop or third baseman. They like his arm and his speed, but errors have been a concern at both positions. There is talk he could be converted to outfielder. Braun is open to playing any position as long it gets him to the majors.

``Every pro team sees him as a guy with great tools,'' Morris said. ``There's no question about that part.''

Braun's family is visiting him in Miami, but Braun is trying not to think about the draft too much. More concerned about helping the Hurricanes reach his third consecutive College World Series, he'll likely be working out when his name is called in the draft. He claims the disappointment of the draft three years ago is long behind him, with his time at Miami an experience he wouldn't want to trade.

``Obviously the draft is sort of the pinnacle of your amateur career,'' Braun said. ``It's exciting, but it's a little nerve-wracking as well. It's so unpredictable. We'll see what happens.''

Heather Gripp, [phone]

heather.gripp(at)dailynews.com

CAPTION(S):

photo, 2 boxes

Photo:

Ryan Braun, a junior at Miami, is expected to be an early selection in today's Major League Baseball First-Year Player Draft.

Luis M. Alvarez/Associated Press

Box:

(1) DRAFT ORDER

(2) RECENT AREA FIRST-ROUNDERS