With the conclusion of baseball's annual amateur draft, the wait begins for the big question to be answered.

Will the Cincinnati Reds, the parent club of the Billings Mustangs since 1974, send their No. 1 draft pick to their rookie-league affiliate for the player's first professional season?

Unfortunately for Mustangs fans, that question won't be answered for some time. Arizona State pitcher Michael Leake, the Reds' top pick and the eighth overall in the draft, is still playing, and won't be able to sign until his team is eliminated from the College World Series. And even if the 6-foot right-hander comes to terms with the Reds quickly after that, Leake's numbers - a 16-1 record, 1.36 ERA, 150 strikeouts in 132º innings - suggest he might be too advanced for the Pioneer League level.

That being said …

"You just don't really know what the Reds' projections are," Mustangs general manager Gary Roller said on Saturday. "We'll hold out hope."

If Leake doesn't make an appearance in Billings this season, it leaves Drew Stubbs (2006) as the last Reds' No. 1 pick to play for the Mustangs. Stubbs, the outfielder from the University of Texas, is batting .291 in 50 games with the Reds' Triple-A affiliate in Louisville.

What is certain is that Leake won't be among those players who begin arriving in Billings on Tuesday. The on-field staff - including second-year manager Julio Garcia and first-year coaches Delino DeShields (hitting) and Bob Forsch (pitching) - also arrive on Tuesday, and the first official workout is scheduled for Wednesday.

The Mustangs open the season June 23 against Great Falls at Dehler Park.

Though Roller said the Reds had yet to confirm which players, when signed, will be assigned to the Mustangs, other reports have UC Santa Barbara second baseman Matt Valaika coming to Billings. Valaika, selected in the 20th round, is the brother of former Mustangs shortstop Chris Valaika, who set a Pioneer League record in 2006 with a 32-game hitting streak. Matt Valaika batted .343 with 6 home runs and 45 RBIs this season at UC Santa Barbara. Chris Valaika, who also played at UC Santa Barbara, is batting .161 and currently on the Louisville disabled list.

One Reds draft pick that raises eyebrows because of his eye-popping numbers is Will Stramp of Lubbock Christian University. The 6-3 outfielder, whom the Reds drafted as a third baseman in the 33rd round, helped his team to the NAIA national championship with these statistics: In 223 at-bats, Stramp hit .498, scored 93 runs, hit 27 homers and had 99 RBIs. He also finished the season with a 1.009 slugging percentage. He was named the MVP of the national tournament, going 12-for-28 (.429) with three home runs and 10 RBIs.

Banquet circuit

The Meet the Mustangs preseason banquet is returning after a one-year hiatus. As in the past, fans will have the opportunity to greet and visit with the players and coaching staff and the banquet, which will be held next Saturday at the Holiday Inn Grand Montana.

An autograph and photo session with the players starts at 6:05 p.m., while the all-you-can-eat banquet, featuring ballpark foods, starts at 7:05 p.m. Tickets are $14 and can be purchased at the Mustangs office at Dehler Park or by calling 252-1241.

The annual event wasn't held last year because of the construction of Dehler Park. Players made just a quick stop in Billings before starting the season with a long road trip.

Quick pitches

Leake is the scheduled starter for Arizona State's CWS opener today against North Carolina. The Tar Heels feature Dustin Ackley, whom Seattle selected with the No. 2 pick overall in the draft. Ackley is batting .412 with 22 home runs. The game is to be broadcast on ESPN at noon. … The Reds have another high draft pick playing in the CWS. Cal State Fullerton outfielder Joshua Fellhauer was selected by Cincinnati in the seventh round. Fellhauer, who was 1-for-4 in Saturday's 10-6 loss to Arkansas, batted .399 with 6 home runs and 55 RBIs during the regular season.