Douglas Signs Professional Contract With Cleveland Indians
6/24/2002 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
Douglas Signs Professional Contract With Cleveland Indians
"They offered me more than average money for a 32nd-round draft choice and gave me the financial backing to finish my education," Douglas said. "I'm excited to have the opportunity to play professional baseball. It has always been a dream of mine, and now I have to take the advantage of it. If I perform, I have as good of a chance as anyone else to move up within the organization and hopefully one day play in the big leagues."
Douglas was one of the dominant pitchers on the Golden Eagles staff in 2002, totaling career numbers in wins (10), strikeouts (108) and innings pitched (100.1). A three-year starter from Warren Central High School in Vicksburg, Miss., Douglas finished with a 10-3 record with a 3.14 ERA, collecting 108 strikeouts, walking 44 and opponents only hit .245 off of him. He pitched two complete games and had two shutouts.
Douglas was among the top pitchers in Conference USA this season and was selected to the all-conference first team. He became the first Southern Miss pitcher since 1991 to win 10 games in a season, and also ranks in the top five in a number of school career pitching categories, including starts, wins, innings pitched and strikeouts.
"Shea had a great career at Southern Miss and will definitely be missed," Southern Miss Head Coach Corky Palmer said. "Anytime a junior signs a professional contract, it is a bonus for the program, because it shows you have good players at your school. I thought we might be able to keep him, but Cleveland gave him more money than they would for players drafted in that round, which is good for him. I only wish him the best in his professional career."