Jeff Austin Joins Kansas City
The Kansas City Royals finally have signed pitcher Jeff Austin, the fourth overall pick in the 1998 draft.
Austin, named college player of the year last season by Baseball America magazine, was signed to a minor-league contract at undisclosed terms Wednesday and invited to major-league spring training.
The 21-year-old Austin is represented by Scott Boras, the same agent who kept another client -- J.D. Drew -- from signing with the Philadelphia Phillies before landing a deal with the St. Louis Cardinals.
The Royals, who have six of the top 60 picks in the upcoming draft, are in the process of being sold to a group headed by Miles Prentice. They hope the signing of Austin demonstrates the team will make a serious effort to be competitive.
"We feel with the signing of Jeff Austin that we are making a very strong statement in the direction of our club and our board of directors' commitment to the future of professional baseball in Kansas City," Royals general manager Herk Robinson said.
The Royals finished thrid in the American League Central last season with a 72-89 record.
Austin was 12-4 with a 3.11 ERA in 18 outings as a junior last season, tossing eight complete games with one shutout. He walked 32 batters and fanned 136.
"I've always said that the Kansas City organization and I were on the same page, and I still think that's the case," Austin said.
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