Tigers#1
03-17-2003, 06:04 PM
• Royals outfielder Roscoe Crosby decided to end his college football career at Clemson and will report to Royals camp this week. Crosby, who has no professional a-bats since signing for a $1.75 million bonus as a second-round pick in 2001, reported to short-season Spokane after signing but never played because of a right elbow injury. The same injury limited him to DH in spring training last year before he had Tommy John surgery in June, forcing him to miss the baseball and football seasons in 2002.
Crosby's mother Freda told The State newspaper of Columbia, S.C., that he withdrew from school because the pressure of college football, professional baseball and schoolwork had become too much for him.
"It was just hard to do both (sports) and then focus on school," Freda Crosby said. "And then going to college and jumping on the plane, going to baseball and then jumping off and going to school. And a lot more went on in his life, and he just decided he wanted to go into baseball, 100 percent.
"He'll still have his schooling to go back to, but as far as football, I really can't say about that. I think he'd be pretty much finished if he stayed out another year."
Crosby, one of the top prospects in the 2001 draft on pure ability, slipped because of his NFL potential and elbow problems. He's an exceptional but raw athlete with a blend of power and speed. The two-year layoff and inferior his high school competition leave Crosby with a ways to go if he is to reach his high ceiling.
Crosby's mother Freda told The State newspaper of Columbia, S.C., that he withdrew from school because the pressure of college football, professional baseball and schoolwork had become too much for him.
"It was just hard to do both (sports) and then focus on school," Freda Crosby said. "And then going to college and jumping on the plane, going to baseball and then jumping off and going to school. And a lot more went on in his life, and he just decided he wanted to go into baseball, 100 percent.
"He'll still have his schooling to go back to, but as far as football, I really can't say about that. I think he'd be pretty much finished if he stayed out another year."
Crosby, one of the top prospects in the 2001 draft on pure ability, slipped because of his NFL potential and elbow problems. He's an exceptional but raw athlete with a blend of power and speed. The two-year layoff and inferior his high school competition leave Crosby with a ways to go if he is to reach his high ceiling.