KU pitcher Shaeffer Hall signs with Yankees / LJWorld.com

Archive for Friday, June 12, 2009

Left-hander will forgo senior season at KU

Kansas’ Shaeffer Hall delivers a pitch against Oklahoma State in this April 10 file photo. Hall signed a contract with the New York Yankees on Friday.

J-W Staff Reports

June 12, 2009

KU's Hall signs with Yankees

Kansas pitcher Shaeffer Hall has signed a professional contract with the New York Yankees and will not return for his senior season at KU. Enlarge video

Two days after being selected in the 25th round (765 overall) of baseball’s amateur draft, Kansas University pitcher Shaeffer Hall signed a professional contract with the New York Yankees organization.

Hall will forgo his senior campaign at KU to join the Yankees. Next week, he will fly to Staten Island, N.Y., and after he clears a physical, he will begin his pro career with the Staten Island Yankees (New York’s Single-A affiliate).

Wednesday marked the third time in his career that Hall was drafted. He was previously drafted by the Texas Rangers’ organization in 2006 and the Cleveland Indians in 2007.

“I am excited to get the opportunity of playing professional baseball,” Hall said. “The Yankees have a great organization, and I’m excited that I get to start out my professional career in a franchise with such a storied past. I feel lucky to be a Yankee.”

Hall, a left-handed pitcher from Lee’s Summit, Mo., tossed the fifth no-hitter in Jayhawk history on Feb. 20 against Air Force. He was KU’s Friday-night starter last season, going 5-6 with a 4.18 ERA. He was the first Jayhawk to tally multiple complete-game shutouts in a season since Pete Smart in 2000. Hall’s three complete games were a team high, while his walks-per-nine innings (0.97) led the Big 12. Hall was an All-Big 12 honorable mention pick, as well as an academic all-conference selection.

The junior transferred to KU from Jefferson College (Mo.) prior to the 2008 season, going 9-8 in his Jayhawk career with a 4.55 ERA in 25 starts.

“I’m thrilled for the opportunity that Shaeffer Hall is getting of chasing his dream of playing professional baseball,” KU baseball coach Ritch Price. “It has been an honor and a privilege to coach him the last two seasons. He is an outstanding young man that has a very bright future in this game, and I wish him the best.”