Tigers#1
05-18-2003, 11:30 AM
By Josh Boyd
May 16, 2003
The strange career of Royals outfield prospect Roscoe Crosby has taken another turn. Less than two months after leaving Clemson and saying he was dropping his football career to concentrate on baseball, Crosby decided to leave baseball to return to college. He left Royals extended spring training camp about a week ago.
"Roscoe has decided to leave baseball to pursue academics at Clemson," Royals assistant general manager and farm director Muzzy Jackson said. "He has enrolled in summer school to concentrate on his grades."
Jackson said Crosby received an academic hardship waiver to return to Clemson, where he will be academically ineligible to play football this fall because he has not completed enough course hours, according to Clemson sports information director Tim Bourret.
Crosby decided in March to leave Clemson to pursue his baseball career, leaving classes in mid-semester. The waiver will allow Crosby to avoid receiving failing grades for the classes he was previously enrolled in. At the time, his mother was quoted as saying that playing football and baseball while maintaining his academic schedule had become too arduous.
Crosby reported to spring training with the Royals and was playing in their extended spring camp this year. He was set to make his professional debut in the Rookie-level Arizona League when it opened play on June 23. Crosby didn't leave camp because he was frustrated with a poor performance, Jackson said.
"He was doing well, making progress in our conditioning program and getting his arm strength back," Jackson said. "He was about a week or two away from playing in (extended spring training) games. We were encouraged."
Drafted in the second round out of Union (S.C.) High in 2001, Crosby signed for a $1.75 million bonus but has not had a professional at-bat for the Royals.
Jackson said Crosby, who received $1 million of his bonus up front, would receive his 2003 payment of $250,000 on June 1 because he reported to camp, but would not collect the remaining two payments of the same amount if he does not return to baseball.
"Obviously we are disappointed he chose not to play," Jackson said. "He definitely had the talent to play baseball. We're disappointed he left during the season and didn't stay through the summer. Hopefully he hasn't given up on baseball. Maybe he can get his academics straightened out and come back and play."
Crosby has endured a difficult year. He had Tommy John surgery last June and missed the 2002 baseball and football seasons. After the surgery, four of Crosby's friends were injured in a wreck while driving his car to visit him in Baseball City, Fla. Three died. One of Crosby's friends from Clemson also passed away this spring when he was in Arizona.
Crosby reported to short-season Spokane in 2001 and took batting practice with the team, but left shortly thereafter to begin his freshman year at Clemson, where he caught 27 passes for four touchdowns as a wide receiver.
Crosby was rated as the best athlete in the 2001 draft, but slipped to the second round because of concerns about his signability and desire to play football. He drew comparisons to Ken Griffey Jr. and ranked as the organization's No. 5 prospect heading into the 2002 season, but fell to 20th prior to this season largely because he had yet to step on the field.
May 16, 2003
The strange career of Royals outfield prospect Roscoe Crosby has taken another turn. Less than two months after leaving Clemson and saying he was dropping his football career to concentrate on baseball, Crosby decided to leave baseball to return to college. He left Royals extended spring training camp about a week ago.
"Roscoe has decided to leave baseball to pursue academics at Clemson," Royals assistant general manager and farm director Muzzy Jackson said. "He has enrolled in summer school to concentrate on his grades."
Jackson said Crosby received an academic hardship waiver to return to Clemson, where he will be academically ineligible to play football this fall because he has not completed enough course hours, according to Clemson sports information director Tim Bourret.
Crosby decided in March to leave Clemson to pursue his baseball career, leaving classes in mid-semester. The waiver will allow Crosby to avoid receiving failing grades for the classes he was previously enrolled in. At the time, his mother was quoted as saying that playing football and baseball while maintaining his academic schedule had become too arduous.
Crosby reported to spring training with the Royals and was playing in their extended spring camp this year. He was set to make his professional debut in the Rookie-level Arizona League when it opened play on June 23. Crosby didn't leave camp because he was frustrated with a poor performance, Jackson said.
"He was doing well, making progress in our conditioning program and getting his arm strength back," Jackson said. "He was about a week or two away from playing in (extended spring training) games. We were encouraged."
Drafted in the second round out of Union (S.C.) High in 2001, Crosby signed for a $1.75 million bonus but has not had a professional at-bat for the Royals.
Jackson said Crosby, who received $1 million of his bonus up front, would receive his 2003 payment of $250,000 on June 1 because he reported to camp, but would not collect the remaining two payments of the same amount if he does not return to baseball.
"Obviously we are disappointed he chose not to play," Jackson said. "He definitely had the talent to play baseball. We're disappointed he left during the season and didn't stay through the summer. Hopefully he hasn't given up on baseball. Maybe he can get his academics straightened out and come back and play."
Crosby has endured a difficult year. He had Tommy John surgery last June and missed the 2002 baseball and football seasons. After the surgery, four of Crosby's friends were injured in a wreck while driving his car to visit him in Baseball City, Fla. Three died. One of Crosby's friends from Clemson also passed away this spring when he was in Arizona.
Crosby reported to short-season Spokane in 2001 and took batting practice with the team, but left shortly thereafter to begin his freshman year at Clemson, where he caught 27 passes for four touchdowns as a wide receiver.
Crosby was rated as the best athlete in the 2001 draft, but slipped to the second round because of concerns about his signability and desire to play football. He drew comparisons to Ken Griffey Jr. and ranked as the organization's No. 5 prospect heading into the 2002 season, but fell to 20th prior to this season largely because he had yet to step on the field.