Mira Mesa’s Hause Signs With Athletics

Major league baseball teams ignored Mira Mesa’s Brendan Hause for 36 rounds in the June free agent draft because they believed his scholarship offer to Cal made him an unsignable player.

The Oakland Athletics drafted him in the 37th round and signed him Friday.

Terms of his bonus were not disclosed, but Hause said, “It’s better than (normal) 37th-round money.”

In addition to the bonus, the A’s will pay for his education.

A four-year starter at Mira Mesa, Hause was instrumental in the Marauders winning three consecutive San Diego Section 3-A titles. This year as a pitcher, he was 13-1 with a 0.85 earned run average and a county-leading 130 strikeouts.

In a limited role offensively--Mira Mesa Coach Mike Prosser does not allow his starting pitchers to bat when they’re pitching--Hause hit .405 with four home runs and 16 RBIs.

Hause, who bats and throws left-handed, also disclosed his desire to play first base or outfield in the professional ranks. He said many teams felt he would be a better prospect as a pitcher.

Oakland drafted him as a first baseman.

“I was lucky there,” he said. “Oakland’s a great organization, and I wanted to try playing every day. If that doesn’t work out, I can always go back to pitching.”