Technicality Stops Radinsky : Professional Contract Knocks Pitcher Out of the Box

Scott Radinsky, who pitched more than 100 innings for Simi Valley High this season in a remarkable display of endurance, was knocked out of action over the weekend not by an elbow or shoulder injury, but by a newspaper article.

Radinsky had planned to play in the state’s annual North-South All-Star tournament in Stockton last weekend. But he signed a professional contract with the Chicago White Sox on Thursday night. When he reported to the South team’s bus in Anaheim on Friday morning for the drive to Stockton, several high school baseball officials were there waiting for him, copies of The Times tucked under their arms.

They learned of Radinsky’s signing through the article and told Radinsky of the rule barring any player who had signed a contract from playing in the tournament.

“We were under the impression that if the Chicago White Sox gave their permission for Scott to play in the North-South game, even after he had signed his contract, then it was OK,” said Mike Scyphers, Radinsky’s coach at Simi Valley who also served as his agent in negotiations with the White Sox.

“Scott went down to Anaheim, and the story was in The Times and several of the officials had it with them. They told Scott, ‘You’re signed to a pro contract, you can’t play.’

“Actually, it’s a good rule. The purpose of the North-South game is to showcase players who are still eligible for a college scholarship or some kind of free agent pro contract. If a kid like Scott, who has already signed a pro contract, is allowed to play, he’s taking a roster spot from some kid who might still have a chance to get signed based on being seen in the tournament.”

Radinsky, a 6-3, 190-pound left-hander, was drafted in the third round by the White Sox and will report to their rookie team in the Gulf Coast League in Sarasota, Fla., on June 21, the day after he graduates from Simi Valley High. He took the weekend setback without much of a complaint.

“It was pretty disappointing at first,” he said Tuesday. “I really wanted to play in the tournament. But I wouldn’t trade places with any one of the guys who did get to play in the tournament.”

Radinsky had a 14-1 record and a 1.18 earned-run average this year.