Townsend's layoff near an end
The Rays succeed where the Orioles failed, signing the pitcher days after drafting him.
By TOM JONES
Published June 11, 2005
ST. PETERSBURG - Pitcher Wade Townsend, the Devil Rays' No. 1 pick in this week's amateur draft out of Rice, spent the past year throwing on empty fields with no fans, no fielders and, worst of all, no batters.
"Unbearable," Townsend said when asked to describe the year he spent after refusing to sign with the Orioles, the team that drafted him in 2004. "Boring. It was tough to watch baseball games knowing I wanted to play."
Starting today, he gets to play. Townsend signed a minor-league contract Friday with the Rays worth about $1.5-million and will report to extended spring training. The right-hander, 22, joins the organization with best friend and former college roommate Jeff Niemann, the Rays' top pick in 2004.
"We drafted and signed two of the three best college pitchers in the country coming out in 2004," Rays general manager Chuck LaMar said.
After going 25-3 with Rice from 2002-04, Townsend was chosen eighth by Baltimore but did not sign. Chosen eighth again by the Rays on Tuesday, Townsend signed for less than the $1.85-million offered by the Orioles. But he said he had no regrets.
"Not at all," he said. "The organization I'm with right now is one that I know I really like. It's one with an opportunity to move (up). I'd much rather be with an organization that really likes me than one that doesn't appreciate my pitching talents the way they should. I know this is the place I want to be, so I really don't care about the money."
While LaMar smiled and said the Rays started negotiating with Townsend after drafting him Tuesday afternoon, it appears the Rays were well on their way to reaching an agreement with Townsend before Tuesday.
"There was no question ... that he wanted to be a Devil Ray, and I had those discussions with (his representatives) and we knew going in (to the draft)," LaMar said. "You're always glad to not only draft someone of Wade's ability, but get him signed and get him out there. After what he went through with the draft last year, there was no question he wanted to sign, sign quickly and get out playing. He didn't want to waste any more developmental time, and we're pleased to get it done."
The immediate plan for Townsend is no plan at all.
"He has not pitched in a competitive situation in a year, so we're going to make sure he is in extremely good physical condition," LaMar said. "First and foremost, (he has to be) completely healthy. We've just got to get him in pitching shape and then make a determination on where to send him."
Later this summer, Townsend likely will head to either rookie ball in Princeton of the Appalachian League or short-season Class A in Hudson Valley of the New York-Penn League.
It doesn't matter to Townsend. He just wants to pitch.
"I'm definitely ready to start working out and get back into consistent baseball shape," Townsend said. "You can't substitute for baseball games."