Sweeney continues to wait for Jays

CEDAR RAPIDS -

Kellen Sweeney rode the bus to the

Quad Cities with his

Cedar Rapids Jefferson baseball teammates Wednesday afternoon. The J-Hawks got about half way to

Eldridge for their scheduled game against

North Scott, only to learn it was being postponed by rain.Kind of sums up the way things are going right now, eh Kellen?“Yeah, basically,” Sweeney replied.

The shortstop was drafted a month ago by the

Toronto Blue Jays in the second round of the 2010

Major League Baseball First-Year Player Draft but still hasn't signed a professional contract.The Sweeney family and adviser

Larry Reynolds - who also represents older brother,

Ryan, of the

Oakland Athletics - decided it was best for Kellen not to play for Jefferson while the negotiating process is going on. So he practices with the J-Hawks and gets some extra side work in with his father, Gary.That's it.“The waiting game,” Gary Sweeney said.High draft picks are signing at a slower pace this season, as advisers/agents wait for other players to sign so they know the range where their clients' bonuses will fall. It's like a domino effect.Only 12 of the 32 first-round picks have signed, as well as 10 of 18 first-round sandwich picks. Fifteen of the 32 second-rounders have begun their pro careers, including

Long Beach State pitcher

Jake Thompson (

Rays) and

Western Oklahoma State junior college shortstop

Andrelton Simmons (

Braves).Thompson, taken 16th in the second round, got a signing bonus of $550,000. Simmons, the No. 20 pick in the second round, received a bonus of $490,000.Sweeney was drafted 19th in the second round, so his bonus will likely fall somewhere in between. But the two guys picked directly ahead of him haven't signed, yet, which is helping hold up his possible deal.MLB clubs have until Aug. 15 to sign draft picks. Sweeney has a scholarship to the University of

San Diego, though he wants to turn pro.“I just thought it'd get done quicker than it has,” he said. “It's tough being with my team and not getting to play. Especially when we lose, knowing I might be able to help.”

Cedar Rapids Xavier pitcher

Jon Keller continues to pitch for his team during negotiations with the

Seattle Mariners. Keller, who has a scholarship to

Nebraska, was taken by Seattle in the 11th round.If he doesn't sign, there is the possibility Keller could end up at a junior college for a year so he would be 2011 draft eligible. Players who end up at four-year schools aren't eligible for the draft until their junior years or until they turn 21.