As a pitcher, Bishop is a hit

Matt Bishop was considered a sleeper prospect last season playing at Endicott College. So it was only fitting that he was about to take a nap when he got the news that he'd become the first player in the history of the Division 3 school to be selected in the Major League Baseball Draft.

The Houston Astros selected Bishop, a 6-foot-1, 210-pound righthander, in the 37th round last spring. ''It was unbelievable. I was kind of speechless when it happened," said Bishop. ''It's one of those things you always hope for, and when it does happen you don't know what to do."

This June, Bishop will be quite a bit more attuned to the draft than last year. After deciding not to sign with the Astros and return to Endicott for his senior season, Bishop, 21, is expected to be drafted again and could go even higher, as more scouts have awakened to his potential. The question is not whether Bishop is worthy of being drafted again -- Baseball America listed him as the No. 3 prospect in Division 3 baseball before the season -- but what will he be drafted as, a position player or a pitcher?

The Woburn native, who plays first base or serves as the designated hitter when he's not pitching, caught the attention of pro scouts with his arm last year. Bishop went 5-0 with a 2.42 earned-run average and 68 strikeouts in 52 innings. He then went on to a brief stint in the Cape Cod League, earning a spot on the Harwich Mariners after a tryout. In his short time on the Cape, Bishop proved he could pitch with the big boys of college baseball, going unscored upon in all four of his appearances. His final Cape Cod League line was 7 1/3 innings, 4 hits, 5 strikeouts, and 5 walks. Bishop, who must pay to attend Endicott, which as a Division 3 school doesn't have athletic scholarships, left the team to make some money at his summer landscaping job.

Bishop's excellence on the mound has overshadowed his prowess at the plate. After transferring from Bryant College to Endicott before the 2004 season, Bishop batted .408 with a team-best seven home runs. Last season, when he helped pitch Endicott to the Eastern College Athletic Conference's Division 3 championship for New England, he hit .360 and led the team in both homers (eight) and RBIs (30). This season, he's batting .308 and leading the Commonwealth Coast Conference with six home runs.

''He has such good timing and strong upper body rotation. He develops more bat-head speed than any player I've ever coached," said Endicott coach Larry Hiser, who has been with the team since its inception in 1995.

Endicott catcher Mark Vaughan of North Reading said that it didn't take teammates long to realize Bishop could hit.

''He went in for batting practice the first time and started hitting home runs," said Vaughan. ''He's the type of guy who takes a full-cut swing and you can hear it from the dugout. We were definitely impressed with his hitting the first time he went up there, and it was not long before he was in the lineup hitting."

Bishop's bat has come into greater focus this season, as a shoulder injury -- he was diagnosed with torn cartilage in his throwing shoulder -- precluded him from pitching during the early going.

He made his season debut on the mound March 22 against Lynchburg College, tossing an inning of relief, and made his first start against Saint Joseph's College of Maine on March 26, but was only allowed to go three innings. Hiser said that no matter the situation, Bishop won't throw more than 90 to 100 pitches in a start.

''We've got him on a short leash," said Hiser, who is also the Endicott athletic director.

In six appearances this season, Bishop is 4-1 with a 1.20 ERA and 34 strikeouts in 30 innings.

''I think I'm close. I definitely don't feel confident that the velocity is there as it was last year," said Bishop, who said he's about 90 percent. ''I'm throwing the ball well, but I'm not where I want to be."

''Matt is the type of guy that even if he doesn't have everything going, he'll still go out and compete against other teams," said Vaughan, Bishop's catcher.

Less than his best stuff might be OK against college opponents, but Bishop knows the scouts are watching. Bishop felt no pressure to perform for the stopwatches and radar guns last season. Now, he knows his professional future could be riding on each pitch, but must tune those thoughts out when he's on the mound.

''I like to think that it doesn't bother me," said Bishop. ''To me, I accomplished my goals with baseball. Now that I have another chance" to get drafted, he said, ''I just need to make sure every time out it's my best and hope someone will see it and someone will pick me up."

There is some debate at Endicott as to what position scouts would envision for Bishop.

His college pitching coach, former Swampscott High coach Frank DeFelice, raves about him -- as a position player.

''He's a prospect, not just as a pitcher. He's an everyday player," said DeFelice. ''He has pro hands. He's very quick and the ball jumps off his bat. He has the tools. He can run, he can hit, and he can throw."

For the record, Bishop, a criminal justice major at Endicott, said he doesn't care where his shot in organized baseball might take him.

''To me baseball is baseball," said Bishop. ''I love it and that's why I play. I've always seen myself, if I did anything beyond college, as a pitcher, but I'm not the one that's going to judge my talent. I'll just go with whatever comes my way."

But when pressed, Bishop did admit that if it were up to him, he'd stay on the mound.

''I'm not knocking any hitters or position players, but I think it's more of a challenge to work at that level and establish yourself as a good pitcher."

Spoken like a true pitcher -- at least for now.