But hearing all of that and letting the reality take shape still led to anxious moments for Osborn, a 21-year-old third baseman at the University of Florida.

"I heard before the draft that the Indians wanted some college position players," Osborn said Wednesday in a telephone interview. "They really liked me, so I kinda figured it would be a good fit."

On paper, he does seem like a good fit, because the Indians did want to restock their farm system with position players, General Manager Mark Shapiro had said before the draft.

In plotting the 2002 draft, scouting director John Mirabelli did look at mature position players like Osborn, a sandwich pick, as prospects who might have Major League potential.

"That's a good thing for me, knowing they need position players," Osborn said. "Hopefully, I can fill that void for 'em. I look forward to the challenge."

		JUNE 4-5 | NEW YORK CITY Draft order | Rules | FAQ FULL COVERAGE: • Bullington goes first • Drafttracker • Complete Draft coverage Round-by-round audio Round 1 Rounds 2-5 Rounds 6-10 Rounds 11-15 Rounds 16-20 Rounds 21-22 Rounds 23-27 Rounds 28-32 Rounds 33-37 Rounds 38-42 Rounds 43-50

He does know that he will find plenty of challenges along the way to wearing a big leaguer's uniform.

In his senior season, Osborn, who bats right-handed, put up some flashy numbers. He had a .414 average with 17 home runs and 76 RBIs for the Gators. But he was swinging an aluminum bat, not Major League lumber.

"I've swung wood bats ever since I was in high school, but never for a long period of time like I'll have to be doin' now," he said. "It'll be an adjustment."

The big adjustment, he said, will be in his swing mechanics and in his mental approach to hitting. But Osborn also knows he'll have to get stronger, adding a little muscle to his wiry, 6-foot-3, 210-pound body.

The thought of making adjustments doesn't worry Osborn at all, because he understood that part of baseball.

Besides, he had been making adjustments all of his life as he prepared for a career in the Majors. His selection in the June draft was his next step there.

"That's every ballplayers dream to get to the Majors," he said. "As far as a timetable, it's hard to gauge, you know. Some people make it quick; others take a couple more years.

"For me, hopefully it'll be as quick as it can."

The holes that the Indians have in their farm system might even quicken the pace for Osborn rise to the Majors. He will, however, have competition in his way at third base, perhaps even the Tribe's No. 31 pick -- 18-year-old Matt Whitney.

First, though, Osborn has a contract he and his advisers will need to hammer out. He doesn't see that as a problem.

"I've thought about that," he said. "We'll just wait and see. I'd like to do it without any trouble -- and just get it done. But I have no clue how long it'll take to get it done.

"But I'm the type person that I wanna get out there and play, so my goal is to get (a contract) as soon as I can."

	INDIANS 2002 DRAFT PICKS
	22	JEREMY S GUTHRIE	RHP	STANFORD U
	33	MATTHEW J WHITNEY	1B	PALM BEACH GARDENS HS
	41	MICAH C SCHILLING	2B	SILLIMAN INSTITUTE
	63	BRIAN J SLOCUM	RHP	VILLANOVA U
	72	PATRICK B OSBORN	SS	U FLORIDA
	82	JASON M COOPER	RF	STANFORD U
	94	DANIEL E CEVETTE	LHP	ELKLAND AREA HS
	124	FERNANDO PACHECO	1B	MONTGOMERY HS
	154	LOUIS B FRANCISCO	OF	U CALIFORNIA
	184	MICHAEL K HERNANDEZ	LHP	FRESNO ST U
	214	BRIAN G WRIGHT	OF	NORTH CAROLINA ST U
	244	BLAKE T ALLEN	LHP	UNION U
	274	SHAUN M LARKIN	2B	CALIFORNIA ST U
	304	KEITH RAMSEY	LHP	U FLORIDA
	334	WILLIAM PEAVEY	1B	U SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA
	364	RANDALL C LONGWORTH	LF	JJ KELLY HS
	394	REID G SANTOS	LHP	SADDLEBACK CC
	424	MICHAEL D MITCHELL	RHP	ST CHARLES JC
	454	NATHAN E PANTHER	OF CF	MUSCATINE CC
	484	OMAR CASILLAS	C	ANA J CANDELAS
	514	JEFFERY W OSTRANDER	LHP	PATRICK HENRY HS
	544	JAHSEAM GEORGE	LHP	SAN JOSE ST U
	574	CURT T MENDOZA	OF	REDLANDS HS
	604	CHRIS WHITE	LHP	KENT ST U
	634	EZEKIEL A PARRAZ	SS	CC SOUTHERN NEVADA
	664	CLAYTON A MCCULLOUGH	C	EAST CAROLINA U
	694	AARON TENNYSON	LHP	MILAN HS
	724	DANIEL N DONALDSON	LHP	MEMORIAL HS
	754	NICHOLAS J PESCO	RHP	COSUMNES RIVER COL
	784	JOSE CARDONA	LHP	AMERICAN MILITARY ACADEMY
	814	DEREK A DUNNE	RHP	SULLIVAN HS
	844	TIM R SABO	RHP	DON BOSCO PREP
	874	RUBEN FLORES	RHP	RIVERSIDE HS
	904	DANIEL EISENTRAGER	RHP SS	CALIFORNIA ST U
	934	JEFFREY B DAVIS	RHP	U KANSAS
	964	ROBERT S DOUGLAS	LHP	U SOUTHERN MISSISSIPPI
	994	JENSEN D LEWIS	RHP	ANDERSON HS
	1024	CHRISTOPHER WILLIAMS	C	MARCUS HS
	1054	KEVIN D HAWKINS	RHP	EMBRY-RIDDLE AERONAUTICAL
	1084	AARON J BRAITHWAITE	OF	INDIAN RIVER CC
	1114	LUIS A DEJESUS	SS	NEW MEXICO CC
	1144	JOHN E MORAN	SS	SOUTHAVEN HS
	1174	BLAKE G TAYLOR	RHP	U SOUTH CAROLINA
	1204	SHEA S MCFEELY	SS	FEDERAL WAY HS
	1234	ANDREW J KNIGHT	LHP	MAIZE HS
	1264	CHRISTOPHER A ROSARIO	CF	PINE RIDGE HS
	1293	MATTHEW D PAZ	RHP	CALIFORNIA ST U
	1321	RICHARD F WELLS	3B	GLENDALE COL
	1348	TRUAN J MEHL	CF	HUTCHINSON CC
	1375	AARON C DAVIDSON	2B	U FLORIDA
	1401	JAMES M MAYER	SS	SOMERSET SR HS
	1427	BRYCE Z KARTLER	LHP	ARIZONA ST U
	1452	DANIEL S LINDNER	RHP	POTOMAC ST COL
	1476	RICARDO CONCEPCION	RF	PETRA CORRETSER HS

Justice B. Hill covers the Indians for MLB.com. He can be reached at jbernardh@aol.com.