Kotsay Signs With Marlins for $1.1 Million

Mark Kotsay joined baseball’s millionaire club Thursday when he signed with the Florida Marlins, but he said the most important thing is the opportunity that awaits him.

“I’m thrilled to finally begin my professional baseball career,” Kotsay said.

Kotsay, who led Cal State Fullerton to the College World Series championship and was player of the year in 1995, received a $1.125-million signing bonus. It was the biggest given a player from Fullerton, a school that has produced 23 major leaguers and six other first-round draft choices.

Kotsay’s attorney, Jeff Moorad, said Kotsay will donate $15,000 to his high school in Santa Fe Springs, the city’s Little League baseball program and his church there.

“I’m showing that I want to give something back,” Kotsay said. “I don’t think this [bonus money] will change the kind of person I am.”

Kotsay has reported to the Marlins’ Class-A Midwest League team, Kane County in Geneva, Ill., and is expected to play in his first game in the outfield there tonight. “I’m also really glad that both my parents were able to be here for this, and to see me start my pro career,” he said.

Kotsay joins three other top Marlin prospects at Kane County. Third baseman Josh Booty and outfielder Jaime Jones, the Marlins’ top draft choices in 1994 and 1995, are on the team, although Jones is currently on the disabled list. First baseman Nate Rolison, the team’s second pick last year, also is there.

Booty and Jones each signed contracts for more than $1 million and Rolison’s bonus approached that figure.

The Marlins are planning on Kotsay, Booty and Jones playing on the same team in the Hawaiian winter league later this year. Kotsay said he also plans to play in the Florida instructional league beginning in mid-September.

He said he isn’t concerned about burnout as he moves ahead after a college season of 61 games and 40 more this summer with Team USA in international exhibitions and the Atlanta Olympics.

“I was a little tired after those two weeks in Atlanta,” Kotsay said. “I really needed that week or so I had off, but I love baseball. Just watching the team taking batting practice today made me eager to get back out there. I don’t know if I’ll in the lineup Friday or not, but I’m ready to play.”

Moorad said he believes the contract was in keeping with Kotsay’s amateur success and his position in the draft. Kotsay was the ninth player picked in the first round and was a pre-draft favorite of the Marlins. Kotsay batted .402 with 20 home runs and 91 runs batted last season at Fullerton and hit .404 over three seasons, a record at the school. He also hit .351 this summer for the U.S. team that won the bronze medal in Atlanta.

Moorad said Kotsay’s contract contains normal incentives, with the Marlins also agreeing to pay Kotsay’s future college costs.

Kotsay said he has no specific timetable in mind in his hopes to reach the major leagues, although scouts have predicted that he will move rapidly through the minors.

“We feel he’s a great prospect,” said Marlin scouting director Orrin Freeman, who made the trip to Illinois and signed Kotsay there. “But timetables are set by performances.

“I’ll say this, though: I marvel at the way he comes to the ballpark to play every day. We just hope he keeps moving up until he gets up to a league he can’t move up from. It would be great if that was the Hall of Fame.”