tk13
05-18-2003, 03:10 AM
http://www.kansascity.com/mld/kansascity/sports/5885345.htm
Royals Report: Crosby's baseball future in doubt after leaving camp
By BOB DUTTON
The Kansas City Star
The saga of two-sport prospect Roscoe Crosby took an odd turn earlier this week when he left extended spring training in Arizona with the intention to return to Clemson.
The Royals regard Crosby's departure as a decision to quit baseball, but his mother and agent indicated he merely wants to keep his options open.
"I think he lost direction with football and baseball," said Crosby's mother, Freda Hill. "That's the issue. He almost talks like he doesn't even want to face the football/baseball question."
Crosby, 20, was viewed as the top athlete in the 2001 draft but slipped to the second round because of his announced intention to simultaneously pursue a football career at Clemson.
The Royals shelled out a $1.75 million signing bonus for Crosby, an outfielder, but structured the payments over five years. He will forfeit the remainder of the bonus if he quits baseball.
"What he told us is that he wanted to go back to school," general manager Allard Baird said. "Were we disappointed? Of course."
Crosby announced in March that he was surrendering his two-sport dream in order to concentrate on baseball. He spent the last two months in extended spring training.
"We thought he was coming," Baird said. "We were pleased with his progress."
Then came this week's reversal.
Brian Peters, who serves as Crosby's agent, indicated his client merely wanted to clarify his football eligibility. He had sought a hardship exemption from the NCAA because of his elbow surgery.
Crosby has yet to play professional baseball.
He reported to Spokane after signing in 2001 but didn't play because of an injured right elbow that limited him to designated-hitter duties as a senior in high school.
He caught 27 passes as a freshman tight end at Clemson but underwent elbow surgery the following spring. He didn't play football last fall because of the recovery process.
Royals Report: Crosby's baseball future in doubt after leaving camp
By BOB DUTTON
The Kansas City Star
The saga of two-sport prospect Roscoe Crosby took an odd turn earlier this week when he left extended spring training in Arizona with the intention to return to Clemson.
The Royals regard Crosby's departure as a decision to quit baseball, but his mother and agent indicated he merely wants to keep his options open.
"I think he lost direction with football and baseball," said Crosby's mother, Freda Hill. "That's the issue. He almost talks like he doesn't even want to face the football/baseball question."
Crosby, 20, was viewed as the top athlete in the 2001 draft but slipped to the second round because of his announced intention to simultaneously pursue a football career at Clemson.
The Royals shelled out a $1.75 million signing bonus for Crosby, an outfielder, but structured the payments over five years. He will forfeit the remainder of the bonus if he quits baseball.
"What he told us is that he wanted to go back to school," general manager Allard Baird said. "Were we disappointed? Of course."
Crosby announced in March that he was surrendering his two-sport dream in order to concentrate on baseball. He spent the last two months in extended spring training.
"We thought he was coming," Baird said. "We were pleased with his progress."
Then came this week's reversal.
Brian Peters, who serves as Crosby's agent, indicated his client merely wanted to clarify his football eligibility. He had sought a hardship exemption from the NCAA because of his elbow surgery.
Crosby has yet to play professional baseball.
He reported to Spokane after signing in 2001 but didn't play because of an injured right elbow that limited him to designated-hitter duties as a senior in high school.
He caught 27 passes as a freshman tight end at Clemson but underwent elbow surgery the following spring. He didn't play football last fall because of the recovery process.