MINOR LEAGUE BASEBALL: Dodgers sign CVCC’s Smith; Cougars’ Hammer inks with Mets

Julian Smith, who won eight games and struck out 130 this season for Catawba Valley Community College, is not going to play baseball at N.C. State. He’s signed with the Los Angeles Dodgers, who picked him in the 15th round of the recent draft./CVCC PHOTO

HobbsDailyReport.com

Catawba Valley Community College (CVCC) pitching star Julian Smith and Zach Hammer, who starred at Alexander Central High, have signed pro baseball contracts instead of staying in the college game.

Smith, a left-hander from Concord who tied a CVCC single-season record for wins last season (8) and had 130 strikeouts and 181 career strikeouts, has signed with the Los Angeles Dodgers.

The Dodgers drafted Smith, a left-hander, in the 15^th round.

HAMMER

Hammer, 8-2 over the past two seasons at Alexander Central with 100 strikeouts in 74 1/3 innings, has signed with the New York Mets. They drafted him in the 21^st round.

Smith decided on turning pro rather than going to N.C. State to continue his college baseball career. Reports indicate he received a signing bonus of $152,500.

He is not yet listed on a roster of a Dodgers affiliate. L.A. has its Rookie League team in Phoenix, Ariz., its Class A team in Midland, Mich. (the Great Lake Loons) and its Class A advanced team in Rancho Cucamongo, Calif.

Hammer had committed to CVCC but reports say he received a $285,000 bonus to sign with the Mets. He’s not yet on a Mets minor league roster; their teams are Rookie League (Kingsport, Tenn.), Short Season A (Brooklyn) and Class A (Columbia, S.C.).

DEAN

Other local players who have signed since being drafted and are now playing in the minor leagues include Lenoir-Rhyne University’s Justin Dean (17^th round by Atlanta) and Bears reliever Landon Whitson (25^th round by Arizona).

Dean, an outfielder, is playing for the Danville (Va.) Braves, hitting .263 with no home runs and one RBI through Tuesday.

WHITSON

Whitson, a right-handed reliever for Missoula Uspry in the Pioneer League, is 0-0 through Tuesday, appearing in five games (8.2 innings pitched, three walks, seven strikeouts).

An additional LRU player with local ties, shortstop Garrison Burress, was drafted by Arizona in the 40^th round. He played prep baseball at South Caldwell, and he has announced he’ll return to play another season for the Red Hawks.