Wolfe Reports to Farm Team of Oakland Athletics

Former Chatsworth High standout Joel Wolfe, a junior outfielder from UCLA, has signed a contract with the Oakland Athletics.

Wolfe, a third-round selection of the Athletics in the recent amateur baseball draft, signed a contract earlier this week and reported to the team’s short-season Class-A affiliate in Medford, Ore., a member of the Northwest League.

Once Wolfe made up his mind to accept the offer, it wasn’t long before he was in uniform. Wolfe took his last final exam at UCLA last Friday, signed with the Athletics on Monday and was in the Medford lineup Tuesday night, according to Wolfe’s grandfather, John Schlesinger.

Terms of the signing were not disclosed.

Wolfe batted .345 this season for the Bruins and stole 35 bases to lead the Pacific 10 Conference. He led UCLA in triples (four), was second in hits (81) and third in runs batted in (47).

After playing at first and third base his first two seasons, he was moved to the outfield this year.

“He did a great job for us,” UCLA Coach Gary Adams said. “This year, he showed everybody that he can play a definite position. I think that’s why he went so high.”

In his senior year in 1988, Wolfe helped lead Chatsworth to a No. 1 national ranking and was named the City Section 4-A Division player of the year and to the all-state team.

He is a two-time All-Pac-10 selection at UCLA. He recorded team highs in batting average (.376) and stolen bases (30) in 1990 as a sophomore.

Wolfe’s 35 and 30 stolen bases over the past two seasons rank third and fifth, on the school’s single-season list.