By Kevin Kelly
The Cincinnati Enquirer

The Rockies, Padres and Devil Rays tried without success. The Reds, however, hope somehow to persuade pitcher Matt Harrington to choose them after they selected the once-touted right-handed pitcher in the 24th round of the amateur draft Wednesday.

The Reds felt Harrington warranted a gamble. They felt the same about Ohio University pitcher Marc Cornell, who was among the highest-rated pitchers in this year's draft until he suffered an arm injury late in the season, and Notre Dame quarterback Carlyle Holiday.

The Reds took Cornell (7-3, 3.84 ERA) in the fifth round, and in the 44th round chose Holiday, listed as an outfielder, who hasn't played baseball since high school.

"We gambled on Cornell. We gambled on Harrington. We gambled on Holiday," Reds general manager Jim Bowden said. "That's what drafts are for. . . . For where we selected them, they are worthwhile gambles."

A WINDING ROAD: With a fastball that registered in the high 90s, Harrington was rated as the top high school pitcher when the Rockies drafted him seventh overall in 2000.

He opted not to sign for a reported $3.75 million bonus and re-entered the draft in 2001.

The Padres drafted him in the second round that year, but he chose not to take their $1.25 million bonus. Tampa Bay drafted him in the 13th round last year and offered little more than a chance to play.

Harrington chose the independent leagues instead. Represented by agent Scott Boras, he is pitching for the Fort Worth Cats of the Independent Western League.

"The only way you can get an opportunity to pitch in the major leagues is to get into a minor-league system and work at it," said Leland Maddox, Reds assistant general manager/director of scouting. "We felt that if we gave him some love, that we can physically and mentally help him accomplish what he needs to."

THE ODDS BE GREAT OR SMALL: Reds national cross checker Jimmy Gonzales remembered enough about Holiday from his days at Roosevelt High in San Antonio that Cincinnati chose him Wednesday.

"He was an above-average runner with an above-average arm," Maddox said. "At that time, he could swing the bat a little bit.

"(Gonzales) was intrigued by his athletic ability and said he would like to work with him for a couple of weeks and see if he could get his stroke down. If the kid wants to play baseball, we'll let him play and see what happens."

Maddox started negotiations with many of the Reds' 50 draft picks Thursday. Cincinnati, however, cannot negotiate with first-round pick Ryan Wagner until the University of Houston is finished playing.

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John Fay contributed.