Third-rounder Verbitsky among 20 to sign with Padres
Hofstra righty celebrates 21st birthday with first professional contract
SAN DIEGO -- Chances are good that Padres Draft pick Bryan Verbitsky will never forget his 21st birthday.
"I got to spend my birthday signing my first professional contract," Verbitsky said by phone late Tuesday from Arizona.
Verbitsky, a right-handed pitcher and the team's third-round pick out of Hofstra University, was one just of 20 players from the recent First-Year Player Draft to sign with San Diego on Tuesday.
On Wednesday, Verbitsky and a handful of his new teammates flew from Phoenix to Eugene, Ore., to prepare to play for the Eugene Emeralds, the Padres' short-season Class A affiliate.
Verbitsky spent Monday in San Diego taking his physical and having fish tacos downtown. He then went to Arizona, where the team is temporarily training in Surprise while construction is being done on a new Spring Training facility in nearby Peoria.
"I'm extremely excited to see what this next chapter of my life brings," Verbitsky said.
The Emeralds open their season at home on Friday against Boise. Verbitsky figures to be in the team's starting rotation.
Other players who signed contracts Tuesday were: OF Mason Smith (fourth round), RHP Adam Cimber (ninth), RHP Justin Livengood (10th), LHP Erik Schoenrock (11th), OF Rod Boykin (12th), C Ryan Miler (14th), C Tyler Dial (15th), LHP Payton Baskette (16th), 1B Trae Santos (17th), LHP Brandon Fry (18th), C Michael Miller (20th), INF Chase Jensen (22nd), RHP Chris Long (23rd), RHP Josh Richardson (26th), INF Michael Bass (27th), RHP Kyle Lloyd (29th), RHP Max Beatty (32nd), LHP Jeffery Enloe (37th) and RHP Pete Kelich (38th).