2011 Draft: Brett Graves drafted by the Cardinals

■ Brett Graves, RHP, a Mizzou recruit, was drafted by the St. Louis Cardinals organization as the 800th overall pick in the 26th round of the MLB Draft.

■ High school baseball standouts decide between college and pro (St. Louis Post Dispatch)

At least 26 local graduating seniors have committed to play baseball at Division I schools. A handful of those players may be drafted.

One is Brett Graves, a Francis Howell pitcher and shortstop who was recently named the Gatorade Missouri Player of the Year. He's also bound for the University of Missouri, having signed a letter of intent in November. For his family, the issue of staying true to the scholarship offer or pursuing the pro route is a matter of weighing the options.

"It comes down to opportunity," Scott Graves, Brett's father, said. "Does it seem like a good opportunity? ... Obviously some of it comes down to money and balancing the opportunity against the Mizzou education."