Two More Jayhawks Sign Pro Deals
June 18, 2010
LAWRENCE, Kan. –
Two more former Kansas baseball players – senior second baseman Robby Price and junior outfielder Brian Heere – have signed professional contracts with major league organizations and will likely make their pro debuts this weekend.
Both players have been assigned to teams in the New York-Penn League. The short-season Class A league opens its 2010 season Friday evening.
Price, a senior second baseman from Lawrence, Kan., was taken with the 401st overall pick by the Tampa Bay Rays in this year’s MLB First-Year Player Draft. He enjoyed a career year in 2010, batting .351 with highs in doubles (19), homers (six), runs (67), RBIs (49) and slugging percentage (.557). He became the first Jayhawk to be named Big 12 Player of the Week three times in the same season. Price will begin his pro career with the Hudson Valley Renegades.
Heere, a junior from Lawrence, Kan., was selected with the 1,230th overall pick by the Cleveland Indians in this year’s draft. He led the Jayhawks with a .393 batting average this season with 13 doubles, six homers and 52 RBIs in 59 games. Heere finished the season ranked fourth in the Big 12 in batting average (.393), fourth in base hits (92), eighth in runs scored (59), ninth in total bases (128) and seventh in on-base percentage (.470). He will begin his pro career with the Mahoning Valley Scrappers.
Two more Jayhawks – junior pitchers Brett Bochy (San Francisco) and T.J. Walz (Oakland) remain unsigned. Both players have the option of returning to KU for their senior seasons should they not reach an agreement before Aug. 15.
