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Wash's Freese headed to college, not White Sox
Aug. 16, 2011 8:40 pm
CEDAR RAPIDS - Dakota Freese was in his dormitory room at LSU-Eunice when he answered his cell phone Monday night. Guess that tells you all you need to know about his baseball future.
The former Cedar Rapids Washington pitcher said he is fully committed to junior college baseball after turning down a recent offer from the Chicago White Sox. Freese was a 34th-round draft pick of the club in June.
Monday night was the deadline for all major league teams to sign their picks.
"There's not really much to say," Freese said. "I don't really want to talk about the (White Sox offer). It wasn't for very much. I'm better off going to school."
Freese, a 6-foot-4 right-hander, left his Washington team part way through the season for a high-level amateur traveling team in the Chicago area to increase his visibility. But in the end, he simply didn't have much, if any, bargaining power.
He originally was expected to go higher in the draft, but may have been hurt by a school-imposed suspension that cost him the early part of Washington's season.
"A little bit," he said, when asked if he was disappointed about not playing pro ball. "But I'm excited about school."
Cedar Rapids Washington pitcher Dakota Freese (left) is congratulated by Chad Christensen after closing the first inning of their Class 4A quarter final game against owa City West at the 2009 IHSAA State Tournament at Principal Park on Wednesday, July 29, 2009, in Des Moines. (Jim Slosiarek/The Gazette)
Cedar Rapids Washington's Dakota Freese delivers a pitch during the third inning of their Class 4A quarter final game against Iowa City West at the 2009 IHSAA State Tournament at Principal Park on Wednesday, July 29, 2009, in Des Moines. (Jim Slosiarek/The Gazette)
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