Colleges

SPC star ready for next challenge: a pro career

Todd Redmond will go pro after leading St. Petersburg College to its first national tourney.

By RODNEY PAGE
Published May 28, 2005

No matter what happens to St. Petersburg College during the National Junior College World Series in Grand Junction, Colo., this will be the last time Todd Redmond pitches for free.

Redmond has been a standout right-handed pitcher in St. Petersburg since his eighth-grade year at Northside Christian School.

As the Titans' ace this season, he led his team to its first junior college state baseball championship. He pitched 18 scoreless innings in two wins during the state tournament, including 3-0 over Chipola College in the final.

But Redmond said he will not accept the scholarship offered by the University of Tampa. It is time to become a professional.

"I want to go play," he said. "Forget school. I'm done with school. I'll sign. I just want to play baseball."

Redmond thought he'd say that two years ago. After a productive career at Northside Christian, including the Class A state final in 2002, he expected to be taken high in the major-league draft.

But he waited until the 40th round, where Kansas City took him. The Royals suggested Redmond become a "draft and follow" player at St. Petersburg College, meaning they had the option of signing him before the next draft. Junior college players may leave school after one year, whereas players at four-year schools must stay at least three.

SPC offers four-year degrees but athletes are only eligible for two years and the school, formerly known as St. Petersburg Junior College, continues to compete on the juco level. Redmond decided not to sign, so he went back in the draft. Pittsburgh selected him in the 39th round. He was again told to play another year of juco before the Pirates made an offer.

When this season ends, Redmond will either sign with the Pirates or go back in the draft for a third time.

"It's weird right now," Redmond, 20, said. "I can't talk to (the Pirates) until the season is over here. That could be a day or two before the draft, so I don't know what's going to happen right now. I wanted to do as well as I could this year so my draft slot will be higher."

The 6-foot-3, 185-pound pitcher couldn't do much better. He is 12-2 with a 2.10 ERA. He was the Suncoast Conference's pitcher of the year and was named first-team All-State.

When the Titans needed a win, Redmond got the ball. He is scheduled to start in the national tournament opener Sunday against Potomac State College of West Virginia.

"He has so much guts," SPC coach Dave Pano said. "The kid just pitches his butt off."

Redmond relies on a fastball that can reach the mid 90s. He also has a good changeup and curveball that keeps batters off balance. He recorded 124 strikeouts this season in 102 innings.

Leftfielder and fellow sophomore Steve Paddock said Redmond is the perfect pitcher to play behind.

"We're extremely confident when he's in there," Paddock said. "He's got a good head on his shoulders, so even if he's not throwing hard and getting people out we know he's going to throw strikes and make them hit the ball. We have a good defense so we'll get our outs that way."

The Titans (44-14) are on an unprecedented roll. After finishing third in the conference, SPC defeated Hillsborough CC 2-1 in a one-game playoff, then beat Polk Community College in a best-of-three playoff for the conference's second state tournament spot.

Then came five straight wins at the state tournament, in which Redmond capped a 4-0 postseason.

After a three-week break between the state and national tournaments, the Titans can only hope their streak continues. For Redmond, this is the end of his college career and he hopes he can leave on a high note.

"A lot of us haven't even won a state tournament at any level before," Redmond said. "So to do well in the national tournament would be awesome. We're all looking forward to getting out there and playing."

[Last modified May 28, 2005, 00:09:12]