Prep shortstop No. 1

NEW YORK – The San Diego Padres’ decision to make California high school shortstop Matt Bush the No. 1 pick in Monday’s draft came down to overall talent – and more importantly, money.

Leading up to the draft, the Padres said they narrowed their choices to three college players, including Florida State shortstop Stephen Drew and Long Beach State right-hander Jered Weaver.

Instead, they selected the strong-armed Bush from San Diego’s Mission Bay High School.

Padres general manager Kevin Towers acknowledged that signability played a major role, as agent Scott Boras represents both Drew and Weaver, whose brothers already are high-paid big leaguers.

The Padres were said to be close to signing Bush to a bonus worth around $3 million. Both Drew and Weaver were believed to be asking for significantly more than Bush.

“We just didn’t feel that Stephen Drew and Jered Weaver were worth the amount that Scott Boras was going to ask for them,” Towers told XPRS, the team’s flagship radio station. “We felt there was better value in taking a kid like Matt Bush. Hopefully it’ll prove that we’re right.”

Weaver, brother of Dodgers pitcher Jeff Weaver, fell to Anaheim at No. 12 – two picks higher than his brother went in 1999 to Detroit.

Drew went to Arizona with the 15th pick and joined brothers J.D. and Tim as the first trio of sibling first-rounders in draft history.

Rice University was puffed up about its three pitchers taken in the opening round: Philip Humber, Jeff Niemann and Wade Townsend. Never before had a school produced three of the first eight picks.

Bush, who also pitched, was the first high school shortstop selected with the top pick since Seattle took Alex Rodriguez in 1993. His defensive abilities and strong arm put him at the top of the draft.

On the mound, the 5-foot-11 Bush throws a 94 mph fastball with a solid curve, but he’ll likely be a middle infielder in the pros. He hit .450 with 11 homers and 35 RBIs.

The pick was even more curious because Khalil Greene, the team’s top pick in 2002, is settling in as the Padres’ shortstop, meaning Bush would likely have to move elsewhere on the field.

“Bush has one of the best arms I’ve ever scouted,” Padres scouting director Bill Gayton said. “He’s a player who’s a local talent that you rarely get an opportunity to bring into your system.”

Weaver leads the country in wins (15-1) and strikeouts (201) and has walked just 19 in 136 1/3 innings. A finalist for the Golden Spikes Award, the 6-foot-7 Weaver struck out 17 earlier this season, and also holds the Team USA record with a 0.38 ERA.

Drew is hitting .353 with 17 home runs and 55 RBIs for the Seminoles.

With the second pick, Detroit selected Old Dominion right-hander Justin Verlander.

Arguably the best pure pitcher in draft, Verlander went 7-6 with 3.49 ERA this season, but had 151 strikeouts in 105 2/3 innings. He has a smooth delivery and three major league-quality pitches.

The New York Mets took the right-handed Humber with the third pick.

Humber joined his fellow Owls as the first trio of college pitchers to be drafted in the first round. Niemann went No. 4 to Tampa Bay and Townsend was picked eighth by Baltimore.

Humber pitched the Owls to the College World Series title last year, and went 13-4 with a 2.27 ERA this season – which ended Sunday with a loss to Texas A&M in the NCAA regionals.

Niemann is a 6-foot-9 power pitcher with great mechanics who went 17-0 last year, but was bothered by a strained groin for most of the season.

Townsend, the WAC pitcher of year and a Golden Spikes finalist, went 12-0 with a 1.80 ERA and 148 strikeouts in 120 1/3 innings for Rice.

“I guess I’m the worst one,” Townsend said with a chuckle.