Pair of Hawkeyes sign pro contracts

A pair of University of Iowa baseball players have signed professional contracts, they said Tuesday on Twitter.

Shortstop Jake Yacinich has signed a deal with the Los Angeles Angels, of whom he was an eighth-round pick last week. Pitcher Sasha Kuebel has signed with the St. Louis Cardinals, who selected him in the 38th round.

Both are juniors and bypassing their final season of college baseball.

Yacinich, a West Des Moines Dowling graduate, hit .365 this season for the Hawkeyes, with 32 RBIs, 45 runs scored and 25 stolen. A St. Louis native, Kuebel went 6-5 in 17 games with a 4.53 earned run average.

He's a left-hander.

'Signed with the Cardinals today!” Kuebel tweeted. 'What an amazing feeling and opportunity to be a part of such a great organization.”