With the University of Virginia making its first run at the College World Series, a handful of recruits will be watching, wondering if they could be in Omaha this time next year – or if they could be millionaire minor-leaguers.

Two Virginia signees, Reed Gragnani (Mills Godwin) and Branden Kline (Frederick, Md.), were both drafted by the Boston Red Sox (Kline in the sixth round and Gragnani in the 27th) despite expressing interest in going to college. Both Gragnani and Kline said it would take serious signing bonuses to sway them from becoming Cavaliers – and they might get just that.

Godwin’s Reed Gragnani was drafted by the Red Sox in the 27th round. But that doesn’t mean he won’t get a big signing bonus.

The fact that the Red Sox drafted these two players is not a good sign for Virginia. The Red Sox are one of several teams that often draft a handful of players who have solid commitments to colleges in the late rounds. Their scouts watch them over the summer and then decide who they want to make a big offer to, hoping to sign only one or two. The club, then, is able to get an extra top-round draft pick.

“This is a growing philosophy that a number of clubs are utilizing to better manage their draft spend,” said Chris Marinak, Director of Labor Economics for Major League Baseball. Marinak was also a coach at Godwin from 2003-2005.

Last year, Pete Hissey told pro teams he was going to U.Va. no matter what. But the Red Sox drafted him in the fourth round and gave him a signing bonus of a million dollars, a figure usually reserved for first round players only. Hissey signed and started in the minors in August.

Kline was even offered a rare full scholarship from Virginia. Because of a limited scholarship allowance, most baseball players only receive partial scholarships. Kline’s mother Linda said in the end, she thinks he’ll choose Virginia.

While the money makes a big impact on players, so does the glory of Omaha.

“It kind of makes you just want to go to Omaha,” Gragnani said about his following the College World Series. He thinks Virginia’s success this season has had a small impact on his think and only has a small impact on recruiting, in general.

“The team’s already been pretty good for a long time,” he said. “Kids know what they’re going to get when the commit to U.Va. In reality, they haven’t changed.”

Gragnani said he plans to attend summer school at Virginia in July, but could still sign with the Red Sox up until the Aug. 15 deadline.

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Virginia has two big recruits in Reed Gragnani and Branden Kline. Both were drafted after giving the old “I’m only going pro if I get a great offer” speech. But since the Red Sox drafted them both, that great offer might be on its way.