Sweeney to sign with Blue Jays on Monday

Considering the circumstances, this was a pretty good consolation prize.

Minutes after Cedar Rapids Jefferson's baseball team lost to Mason City in the final inning of their Class 4A substate final Wednesday night, Gary Sweeney pulled aside his son, J-Hawk shortstop Kellen.

"Son, you're a Blue Jay," he told him.

A month and a half of contract negotiations between the team and its second-round draft pick have ended. Kellen Sweeney will leave Sunday for the Toronto Blue Jays' minor-league complex in Dunedin, Fla., take a Monday physical, then sign a contract that includes a $600,000 bonus and college tuition.

"It's all over," Kellen said Thursday. "It's on to the next step in my life."

Just last weekend, Sweeney began playing again with Jefferson after sitting out since he was drafted in early June. The family originally anticipated a quick negotiation process and didn't want to risk Kellen getting injured in a game.

However, the word last week from adviser/agent Larry Reynolds was that a contract wouldn't be finalized until very close to the Aug. 15 deadline, so Sweeney suited up for Jefferson's first-round game against Waterloo West, hitting a three-run home run on the first pitch of his first at-bat. He also played Monday night in a substate semifinal win against Marshalltown.

As Gary Sweeney and his wife, Lori, were on their way Wednesday night to Mason City, Blue Jays area scout Wes Penick called and told them Kellen's above-slot deal had been approved by Major League Baseball. Penick also told them that Kellen was not to play.

"Two hours before the game," Gary Sweeney said.

Gary Sweeney said he told Penick he would have a difficult time telling Kellen - and Jefferson - he couldn't play. Penick responded "Well, the risk is yours."

"Lori and I talked about it," Gary Sweeney said. "We just finally said 'We can't do this to Kellen, his teammates and his coaches.' We decided we weren't going to tell Kellen until after the game."

Once they got to Mason City, Gary Sweeney told Jefferson Coach Mike Kuba and assistant Gordy Nordgren what was going on, asking them not to take any unecessary risks with Kellen. As it turned out, he was intentionally walked all four times he came to the plate.

"Yeah, my parents made the right decision," Kellen said. "I think it would have been really weird for the team (not to be allowed to play). It would have been like, 'Hey, guys. I'm not playing tonight. Sorry.'"

Everything worked out, with the exception of Jefferson's tough 3-2 loss. The J-Hawks were looking for their first state tournament berth since 1998.

"I was happy (when he was told)," Kellen said. "But it was really not a great time. Kind of an awkward situation."

He will be assigned to the Blue Jays' Rookie-level club in the

Gulf Coast League and said he'll likely get invited to participate in instructional league following the season.