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USF baseball recruit opts for pros

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By BRETT McMURPHY | The Tampa Tribune

Published: June 16, 2009

TAMPA - University of South Florida recruit Chase Greene decided to sign with the New York Mets, but USF junior pitcher Shawn Sanford and sophomore outfield Ryan Lockwood both have decided to return to USF, Coach Lelo Prado said.

Prado said he wasn't surprised Greene, a 16th round pick of the Mets from West Boca Raton Community College High School, decided to sign professionally.

"He's a great player," Prado said. "He has some great tools. In pro ball, I think they'll make him a centerfielder. He's got every tool to be a great player, he can run, throw, hit."

So far, Greene is the only USF player or recruit that has chosen to sign professionally instead of coming to USF.

Prado said both Sanford and Lockwood told him Monday they were returning to USF. Sanford was a 13th round pick of the San Francisco Giants and Lockwood was a 39th round pick of the Oakland Athletics.

"With those guys back and the great recruiting class we have, it will be a lot of fun to coach these guys," Prado said. "I'm real excited."

Of the other USF recruits that were drafted – Jesuit High shortstop Nick Lockwood (Twins, ninth round), Jefferson High shortstop Chad Taylor (Cubs, 13th round) and Alonso pitcher Ray Delphey (Padres, 42nd round) – Prado said Lockwood, Ryan Lockwood's younger brother, is the most likely to turn professional, but Prado remains optimistic.

"They don't draft a ninth round guy out of high school if they don't think they're going to sign them," Prado said.

Reporter Brett McMurphy can be reached at (813) 259-7928.

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