Robbie Ross had a 5-2 record and 1.51 ERA for LCA this spring
The University of Kentucky’s loss is the Texas Rangers’ gain.
Robbie Ross, rated one of the top high school left-handed pitchers in the nation during his senior season at Lexington Christian Academy, signed with the Texas Rangers Friday night for a $1.575 million bonus.
“I’m really excited. It’s unbelievable to get this opportunity,” said Ross, who was taken by the Rangers in the second round as the 57th overall pick in the June draft.
Before the draft, Ross said it would take $1.575 million to sign him, and that’s what he got.
Ross and his parents, Chuck and Julie, spent the last few days in Texas, and agreed on a contract before Friday’s midnight deadline. He put his name on the dotted line in Arlington just before 10 p.m. EDT.
If Ross and the Rangers hadn’t come to terms, Ross, who signed a letter of intent with UK last fall, would have returned home and enrolled in college.
Instead, Ross is now a professional baseball player.
“It was hard to call UK and tell them I was going pro,” Ross said. “But this is what I’ve always wanted.”
In a last-ditch attempt to sign Ross, the Rangers flew him to Texas on Tuesday night, and put him through a few paces.
The 5-foot-11, 185-pound lefty underwent a physical, and attended a game in Frisco (Tex.) where the Rangers’ Class AA affiliate, the Roughriders, play. He threw in the Frisco bullpen in front of a Texas pitching scout.
On Friday night, Ross was at the Rangers’ game with Tampa Bay and soaked up the big-league atmosphere.
“It was crazy,” he said. “I even got to meet Nolan Ryan.”
Ross said he and his parents were impressed with the Rangers. “From what I’ve seen, it’s a great organization, great people and they have an unbelievable stadium,” he said.
Ross had a 5-2 record with a 1.51 earned run average, 75 strikeouts and nine walks in 51 innings this season. He also had a .473 batting average with 22 RBI and 21 runs.
Ross and Lexington Catholic pitcher Nick Maronde were runners-up in Mr. Baseball voting to winner Zach Cox of Pleasure Ridge Park.
Chuck Ross, Robbie’s dad, was a standout catcher at Tates Creek and was the 27th overall pick (taken by the Milwaukee Brewers) in the 1975 draft. Chuck Ross signed with the Brewers out of high school.
