Rancho Santiago Players Sign Contracts

Kraig Washington and Nick Santa Cruz of the Rancho Santiago College baseball team have signed contracts to play professional baseball, the college announced Friday.

Washington, a sophomore center fielder, was drafted in the 21st round by the Chicago Cubs.

Santa Cruz, a sophomore shortstop, was drafted in the 14th round by the Philadelphia Phillies.

Washington will report to the Cubs’ Appalachian Rookie League team at Wytheville, Va. He hit .369 with 1 home run and 34 RBIs for Rancho Santiago this season.

Santa Cruz, who hit .335 with a home run and 10 RBIs for Rancho Santiago, is being sent to Martinsville, Va., in the Appalachian Rookie League.

Major league baseball has released an alphabetical list of the players drafted last week. Orange County players drafted included:

Atlanta Braves: Tom Adams, OF, Capistrano Valley HS; Marty Neff, OF, Magnolia HS.

California Angels: Todd Marinovich, LHP, Capistrano Valley HS; Jeff Oberdank, 2B, UC Irvine; Mike Robertson, OF, Servite HS.

Chicago Cubs: Andy Croghan, RHP, Servite HS; Kraig Washington, OF, Rancho Santiago CC.

Cincinnati Reds: Jerry Spradlin, RHP, Fullerton CC.

Detroit Tigers: Tony Muser, 2B, Los Alamitos HS.

Houston Astros: Ben Gonzales, RHP, Cypress CC; Matt Lackie, RHP, Rancho Santiago CC; Kevin Schula, C, El Dorado.

Kansas City Royals: James Austin, OF, Mater Dei HS; Richard Gonzales, OF/1B/DH, Rancho Santiago CC; Bobby Hamelin, 1B, Rancho Santiago CC; Brad Hopper, RHP, Fullerton CC.

Los Angeles Dodgers: Bryan Beals, 2B/OF, Chapman College.

Milwaukee Brewers: Ken Hokuf, RHP, Golden West.

Minnesota Twins: Steve Gill, LHP/OF, Cypress CC; Alan Newman, LHP, Fullerton CC.

Montreal Expos: Keith Kaub, 1B, Cal State Fullerton.

New York Mets: Michael Kelly, OF, Los Alamitos HS; Doug Saunders, 2B, Esperanza HS.

New York Yankees: Craig Brink, RHP, UC Irvine; John Cummings, LHP, Canyon HS; John Seeburger, 1B, UC Irvine.

Oakland Athletics: James Buccheri, OF, Golden West CC; James Foley, RHP, Cal State Fullerton; Bobby Jones, OF, Cal State Fullerton.

Philadelphia Phillies: Sam Calarusso, RHP, Orange Coast CC; Timothy Churchill, 1B/OF, Cypress CC; Joe Ciccarella, 1B, Mater Dei HS; Rod Klopfer, 1B, Fullerton CC; Willie Navarrette, LHP, Rancho Santiago CC; Jeff Patterson, RHP, Cypress CC; Nick Santa Cruz, SS, Rancho Santiago CC; James Short, 1B, Esperanza HS; Brian Walker, LHP, Capistrano Valley HS.

Pittsburgh Pirates: Deryk Hudson, 3B, Fullerton CC; Mike Huyler, 2B, Golden West CC; Jon Martin, OF, Golden West; Dave Staton, 1B, Orange Coast CC.

St. Louis Cardinals: Lee Plemel, RHP, Stanford, Michael Ross, 2B; Cal State Fullerton.

San Diego Padres: Mike Basse, OF, Mater Dei HS.

San Francisco Giants: David Cantrell, RHP, Chapman; Longo Garcia, RHP, Cal State Fullerton; Danny Lane, IF, Laguna Beach HS.

Seattle Mariners: James Campanis, Jr., C, Southern California; Greg Pirkl, C, Los Alamitos HS; Mark Razook, 2B, Cal State Fullerton; Mike Smedes, RHP, Laguna Hills HS.

Texas Rangers: Tim MacNeil, RHP, Rancho Santiago CC; Brett Snyder, RHP, Rancho Santiago CC.

Toronto Blue Jays: Jeff Kidwiler, SS, Chapman College; Jeff Mooney, RHP, Chapman College; Greg O’Halloran, C, Orange Coast CC.