Jenkins Signs with Blue Jays
20th overall pick comes to terms with Toronto
by Jason Hanes
8/16/2009 11:03:24 AM
KENNESAW, Ga. - The Toronto Blue Jays have come to terms with Kennesaw State's Chad Jenkins, signing the 20th overall pick in the 2009 MLB First-Year Player Draft to a contract with a $1.359 million signing bonus.
The announcement of the signing was made prior to Saturday's game between Toronto and Tampa Bay at Tropicana Field in St. Petersburg, Fla. According to a report by Baseball America earlier in the week, Jenkins received a $1.359 million signing bonus, the 12th-highest bonus in franchise history.
Jenkins is coming off perhaps the best season for a KSU pitcher since the Owls joined the ranks of Division I of the NCAA iin 2006. The righty went 8-1 with a 2.54 ERA. He walked just 15 batters while striking out 98. During the season, Jenkins had a streak of 41 consecutive scoreless innings. He was the Atlantic Sun Conference's Pitcher of the Year and won the A-Sun Pitcher of the Week award three times during 2009. Jenkins did not lose a conference start in 2009.
Kennesaw State had two pitchers selected within the top 50 picks of the MLB Draft. Kyle Heckathorn came to terms with the Milwaukee Brewers in late July. He will make his first appearance in a game for the Brewers organization today as he pitches for the Helena Brewers against the Orem Owlz in a rookie level game. Heckathorn signed a contract that included a $776,000 signing bonus.