South Carolina left-handed starter Arik Hempy has agreed to a contract with the Chicago Cubs, the school said today. Hempy, a junior, was taken in the 17th round by the Cubs in the Major League Baseball draft earlier this month. Hempy spent the first few weeks of the season recovering from reconstructive “Tommy John” surgery he had on his left elbow in April 2006.
He made 13 starts for the Gamecocks, going 7-3 with a 3.58 earned-run average.
Hempy joins two other South Carolina juniors who gave up their final year with the Gamecocks to go pro. Travis Jones joined the Atlanta Braves’ organization, while starting pitcher Harris Honeycutt went to the Cincinnati Reds. Jones was taken in the draft’s seventh round by Atlanta, while Honeycutt was selected by the Reds in the 10th round. The junior college transfer hit 18 home runs and led the Gamecocks with 83 hits. Jones also hit .318 with 14 doubles, two triples and 68 runs batted in. He also had a team-leading 13 stolen bases.
South Carolina coach Ray Tanner also expects junior reliever Wynn Pelzer to forgo his final year. Pelzer was taken in the ninth round by San Diego.
Kyle Greenwalt, a University of South Carolina baseball signee, has decided instead to play professional baseball in the Houston Astros organization. The right-handed pitcher from Harleysville, Pa., was a 20th-round draft pick of the Astros in the Major League draft two weeks ago. Greenwalt is the third USC recruit for next season to sign a pro contract, joining infielder Austin Gallagher (Dodgers) and outfielder L.V. Ware (Braves).
Losing all of these guys above hurts! I hate to see Jones go the most, I think he could have been a big time star next year. Also losing our pitchers hurts we need those guys badly….Tanner has some work to do next year.
What are your thoughts? Team Outlook for 08?
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