Marauders ace opens new chapter with Cubs

Former Clearwater Central Catholic star Ryan Acosta signs with Chicago over the weekend after being taken in the 12th round in the June draft.

By BOB PUTNAM, Times Staff Writer
Published August 17, 2007

It took awhile, but Ryan Acosta put his future in motion by signing with the Chicago Cubs.

Acosta, a former Clearwater Central Catholic star who was taken in the 12th round in June's amateur draft, agreed to terms with the Cubs last weekend.

The signing brought a positive conclusion to a difficult time in which Acosta lost his father, Oscar, who was killed in a car accident outside of Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic, on April 19, 2006.

Oscar was a former pitching coach for the Chicago Cubs and Texas Rangers and was a manager in the New York Yankees minor-league system.

"It is big for me, especially to be taken by the Cubs, one of my dad's former teams," Acosta said earlier this year. "We worked a lot toward this goal and thought about him a lot after I was picked."

The Acosta legacy may have started with Oscar, but it is now knee-deep in its second chapter as Ryan improved dramatically through the years. This past season, Ryan put it all together. The right-handed pitcher led the Marauders to the Class 3A state title. He also signed with the University of Georgia.

But college will have to wait.

Bob Putnam can be reached at putnam@sptimes.com or 727 445-4169.

[Last modified August 17, 2007, 01:05:08]