Rio Mesa’s Young to Play for Miami

Rio Mesa High baseball standout Dmitri Young said Thursday that he will accept a scholarship offer from the University of Miami and sign a letter of intent with the Hurricanes on April 11.

Young, the top high school prospect in the nation according to Baseball America magazine, visited the University of Texas in November and Miami earlier this month. Young said he decided to sign with the Hurricanes because his family is moving to Pensacola, Fla., after his father Larry retires from the Navy in September.

“Miami would be closer to home than Texas would be,” said Young, who has met the NCAA’s minimum academic standards.

Young, who is expected to be a first-round selection in June’s amateur draft, said the offer of a large signing bonus with a major league team will not necessarily lure him away from Miami.

“I’m keeping my options open,” he said. “I’d like to get an education and play for the Olympic team.”

And Miami Coach Ron Frazier happens to be the coach of the 1992 Olympic team.

“I’d just like a shot at it,” he said. “I’m not saying that I’d make the team, but I’d like an opportunity.”

Young, a 6-foot-2, 215-pound shortstop, said Miami, which won the College World Series in 1985, recruited him as a third baseman and outfielder. Young was the state freshman, sophomore and junior player of the year and is 125 for 246 (.508) in his high school career.

He needs 22 hits to break the Southern Section career record (147) and is eight doubles shy of the Southern Section record (36).

Young also is 43 runs shy of the section record (142), but he scored 46 last season and Coach Rich Duran said Young may bat in the leadoff spot this season.

Young, who hit .588 last season, has stolen 41 bases in 44 attempts and needs three home runs to reach 21--which would put him in the top 10 in the section.