Root, Hiljus Sign to Play Pro Baseball

Two area high school players who were at opposite ends of the honors spectrum each signed contracts to play professional baseball.

Chatsworth High shortstop-outfielder Mitch Root, a member of Cal-Hi Sports magazine’s all-state team, signed Wednesday with the Chicago Cubs, who selected him in the 17th round of the amateur draft last week.

Erik Hiljus of Canyon failed to earn even All-Golden League honorable mention status this spring. But he was good enough to sign a professional baseball contract with the New York Mets on Tuesday.

Root, a two-time All-City Section 4-A Division and Times All-Valley selection, batted .506, hit seven home runs and drove in 30 last season.

He will report June 19 to the Cubs’ rookie-league team in Huntington, W. Va., a member of the Appalachian League.

Root will play third base. Terms of the signing bonus were not disclosed.

“It’s the chance of a lifetime,” said Root, 17. “I’ll never know if I could have made it unless I tried.”

Hiljus, who was drafted by the Mets in the fourth round of last week’s amateur draft, signed for an undisclosed amount and will report June 22 to the team’s rookie league club in Sarasota, Fla.

Billed as one of the top pitching prospects in the area at the start of the year, Hiljus (6-foot-5, 225 pounds) had a disappointing senior season, finishing with a 3-4 record and a 2.91 earned-run average.

He gave up 45 hits, walked 53 and struck out 83 in 57 2/3 innings.

“I’m very happy with what I got,” Hiljus said. “My senior season didn’t go how I had hoped it would, but I knew I had it in me to go high in the draft.”

In other developments, Mike Borzello of Cal Lutheran signed with the St. Louis Cardinals on Saturday night, and will report Sunday to the team’s rookie-league team in Peoria, Ariz..