Draft Signing Deadline

Heading up to the draft signing deadline, the Tigers had three players/recruits: Nick Tepesch, Jason Adam and Matt Stites.

Tespesch signed with the Rangers and Adam signed with the Royals.

Matt Stites, however, did not sign with the Cubs and will presumably begin classes at Mizzou next week.

Matt Stites (photo at right)

■ Chicago Cubs final 2010 draft signing results

■ From ChicagoBreakingSports.com, Monday morning:

The Cubs are hoping to sign multiple high-round picks, and paying special attention to Matt Stites, a 33rd-round pick from Jefferson (Mo.) Community College, Mark Buehrle's alma mater. He opened eyes in the Cape Cod League and the Cubs would love to keep him from honoring his commitment to Missouri.

Jason Adam

■ Royals sign two draft picks (Kansas City Star)

Second-round pick Brett Eibner and fifth-round pick Jason Adam — a Blue Valley Northwest product — signed Monday in advance of the midnight Eastern time deadline for players selected in the first-year player draft. Eibner received $1.25 million, and Adam received $800,000, which was more than four times above slot.
. . .
Adam, a right-handed pitcher, went to Surprise, Ariz., earlier this summer and worked with the Rookie League team there. His agreement has been under review by the commissioner's office since at least last Tuesday.

"I'll be in Surprise for the rest of their season and stay there through spring training," Adam said.

Nick Tepesch

■ A dream come true (Blue Springs Examiner)

Nick Tepesch, the former Blue Springs High School all-state pitcher who was The Examiner’s High School Player of the Year and American Legion Player of Year in 2007, has signed a professional contract with the Texas Rangers.
. . .
“I’m not much for celebrating,” said Tepesch, 21, who leaves early Wednesday morning for the Rangers’ spring training facility in Surprise, Ariz.

If his destination sounds familiar, it’s because the Royals share that facility with the Rangers.

“I haven’t thrown a baseball in a long time,” said Tepesch, who was drafted by Texas in the 14th round out of the University of Missouri. “I’m going to go down there and start throwing and working my way into shape.

“I’ll be there until September, then I’ll come home for a while then leave for the Instructional League.”
. . .
“It’s kind of weird to think that I’m a professional baseball player,” Tepesch said. “It’s something I dreamed about for a long time, and now it’s really happened.”