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By FRANK PASTOR
© St. Petersburg Times, published June 15, 2001
TAMPA -- A little more than a week after the draft, two University of Tampa players who were taken and two who were not have signed professional contracts.
Only catcher Mike Rabelo, Detroit's fourth-round pick, remains unsigned.
Pitcher Charlie Manning, the Yankees' ninth-round pick, will report to the team's short-season Class A club in Staten Island, N.Y.
Pitcher Kristopher Sutton, Anaheim's 30th-round selection, was assigned to the team's short-season Class A club in Provo, Utah.
Infielder/outfielder Kenny White and outfielder Dwight Edge agreed to free-agent contracts. White reported Thursday to Baltimore's extended spring training camp in Sarasota. Edge was assigned to Arizona's high Class A team in Lancaster, Calif.
Outfielder Thomas Carrow, Milwaukee's 37th-round pick, is expected to return for his senior season.
UT coach and former player Joe Urso said he cannot remember a year in which so many Spartans had the opportunity to play pro ball.
"It speaks a lot to our recruiting ability that we're able to go out there and find a high caliber of student-athletes each year," Urso said. "The second part is what we've been able to do with those tools once (the players) get here. And I think we do that as well as anyone."
UT will have one player it appeared to have lost just days ago. Tuesday, the Rays announced the signing of Riverview pitcher Eric Beattie, their 47th-round pick.
However, Beattie's father, Randy, said Thursday his son has not signed and intends to enroll at UT.