Astros Add Landaker to Infield of Future

Royal High shortstop Dave Landaker was equal parts excited and exhausted Tuesday morning when he signed a professional baseball contract with the Houston Astros.

“I’m excited because I want to get going and see what it’s like out there and relieved because this (negotiation process) has been going on every night,” he said.

Landaker, The Times’ Ventura County player of the year, was taken by the Astros as the first selection of the second round in the amateur draft June 1. Landaker was the second high school player chosen from the Southland.

Terms of the contract were not revealed. He will report Sunday to Houston’s rookie team in Kissimmee, Fla. Details of the agreement were ironed out by telephone late Monday night, Landaker said.

The contract also includes a provision in which Landaker’s tuition will be paid by the club if he chooses to attend college.

Landaker, an All-Southern Section 5-A Division selection, batted .526 last spring at Royal and was the first high school player from the region chosen in the draft.

Landaker said he welcomes the opportunity to prove himself against his professional peers.

“I don’t mind the pressure (of being a bonus baby),” he said. “I just try to go out and have fun, and God willing, everything will work out from there.”

Houston has signed its top two draft selections, who represent the club’s possible infield of the future. Landaker was told that he will play with Houston’s top pick, third baseman Phil Nevin of Cal State Fullerton, during the team’s instructional league in the fall.

Nevin, now playing with Team USA, was the first pick overall on June 1.