CLEVELAND (AP) -The Cleveland Indians on Saturday signed first-round draft choice Lonnie Chisenhall, an infielder who resumed his career after being convicted of burglary and kicked out of college.
Chisenhall hit .410 with eight homers and 66 RBIs this spring after enrolling at Pitt Community College in Greenville, N.C., following his dismissal from the University of South Carolina.
The 19-year-old pleaded guilty to burglary and grand larceny and was sentenced in February to six months’ probation. He and former South Carolina teammate Nick Fuller were arrested in March 2007 for stealing a flat-screen TV, a PlayStation 3 system and other items from a resident advisor’s dorm room.
Chinsenhall, the 29th selection overall in the First-Year Player Draft, and his family attended the Indians’ game against San Diego at Progressive Field Saturday night.
“I’ve learned from that,” he said of the incident. “If you have to say, ‘What am I doing here,’ you probably shouldn’t be there. I watch my steps closely now.”
Chisenhall said his probation ends on Aug. 6.
The Indians, who said they did extensive background checks on Chisenhall, plan to play him at shortstop to begin his pro career, but project him as a third baseman. He will report to Class A Mahoning Valley, which opens its season June 19.
“To be able to get a hitter out at the beginning of the season is really an advantage,” said director of amateur scouting Brad Grant. “It gives him three months of playing every day to see how the professional game works.”
Chisenhall was eager to sign and get his career started.
“I want to go out and play,” he said. “I never understood why people hold out all year.”
Chisenhall, a left-handed hitter, chose to attend college instead of turning pro in 2006, when he was an 11th-round pick by the Pittsburgh Pirates. He was an all-state pick in 2005 and 2006 at West Carteret High School in Morehead City, N.C., batting .574 as a senior.
Cleveland has signed 11 of its 2008 draft picks, including eight of their first 14 selections.
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