 |
||
 |
||
 |
||
|
Home
Sports columnists Hubert Mizell Gary Shelton Darrell Fry Buccaneers College Football Devil Rays Lightning Outdoors News Sections Action Arts & Entertainment Business Citrus County Columnists Floridian Hernando County Obituaries Opinion Pasco County State Tampa Bay World & Nation Featured areas AP The Wire Alive! Area Guide Auto A-Z Index Classifieds Comics & Games Employment Health Forums Lottery Movies Police Report Real Estate Sports Stocks Weather What's New Wheelfinder Weekly Sections Home & Garden Perspective Taste Tech Times Travel Weekend Other Sections Ongoing Stories Photo Reprints Photo Review Seniority Web Specials Ybor City
Market Info Advertise with the Times Contact Us All Departments
|
 |
Land O'Lakes pitcher signs with PittsburghBy JOHN C. COTEY © St. Petersburg Times, published June 9, 2000 Land O'Lakes' Kurt Shafer, who wasn't even being recruited by colleges when the year began, has signed with the Pittsburgh Pirates. Shafer, an eighth-round draft pick, became the first of the Pirate picks to sign when he agreed to a $125,000 signing bonus and another $40,000 in scholarship money. A 6-foot-4, 195-pound right- hander, Shafer came into his own this year, going 6-2 with a 0.72 ERA in 48 1/3 innings. Shafer, who throws 90 mph and has a devastating split-fingered pitch, struck out 72 and saved three games for the Gators. "It's crazy," Shafer said. "I didn't expect this at the beginning of the year. It just blows my mind." Shafer will report to the Pirates' rookie camp in Bradenton on Tuesday. He signed a college scholarship last month with South Florida but will forfeit it, dealing a blow to the Bulls. Another is expected to be dealt by Shafer's teammate, Derek Thompson, who was drafted by Cleveland 37th overall and is expected to sign. Thompson's father, Bob, said Thursday the two sides are still far apart but reports that Thompson was seeking a $1-million signing bonus were incorrect. Bob Thompson did, however, said he heard the 34th pick, Dustin Moseley, had signed with Cincinnati for $950,000 and that they were seeking something close to that. "Somewhere in that area," Bob Thompson said. "They are already way ahead of what the 37th pick got last year ($660,000), so we really hope by the next couple of days we can get something signed. "If they look around, I think they can see that we're not being unreasonable." Thompson said the Indians want to fly Derek to Cleveland for the signing at Jacobs Field and hope to have him at the team's rookie camp in Winter Haven by Monday. The Indians made an offer to Thompson, who was 9-0 last year and set a school record with 111 strikeouts, Wednesday night and Thursday morning but were turned down both times. A third Land O'Lakes pitcher, Cory Doyne, met with Houston Astros officials Thursday night. The Hillsborough Community College signee was picked in the eighth round.
 © St. Petersburg Times. All rights reserved. 
|
|
Headlines
|
