Citadel's Jones to sign with Chicago Cubs

The Citadel has lost a second standout junior to the Major League Baseball draft, as All-America catcher Richard Jones has agreed to terms with the Chicago Cubs.

Jones, picked in the ninth round of the MLB draft two weeks ago, will depart from his hometown of Sumter on Thursday for the Cubs' rookie league team in the Arizona League.

"It's a good opportunity, and I'm excited about it," Jones said Tuesday. "It something everybody grows up dreaming about, and I'm excited I actually get to do it."

Jones, 6-0 and 210 pounds, hit 43 homers in three season with the Bulldogs, good for No. 2 on The Citadel's career list. He batted .378 last season, with 17 homers and 69 RBIs.

"It's a great honor for Richard, and well-deserved," Citadel coach Fred Jordan said.

"He had a tremendous career at The Citadel, and he's a very powerful hitter. I know the Cubs really like him a great deal."

Jones did not disclose the amount of his signing bonus. He was the 290th player taken in the draft, and players taken near that slot last year earned bonuses ranging from $80,000 to $200,000, according to Baseball America.

Despite the money, Jones said it was a difficult decision to leave The Citadel early.

"It's a great place to be, a great school and a great degree to earn," he said. "And I will be able to get my degree from The Citadel someday. But not being able to graduate with my friends and to leave early, that's a tough decision. But it's one that is in my best interests right now."

Jones is the second junior this summer to leave The Citadel early. First baseman Chris McGuiness of James Island High School was a 13th-round pick of the Red Sox and signed his contract last week.

"They'll both come back to get their degrees," Jordan predicted. "And Major League Baseball will pay for it."

McGuiness hit .367 with 15 homers and 59 RBIs last season, leaving Jordan with two very big holes in his lineup. And that's not including senior outfielder Sonny Meade, who went undrafted despite batting .397 last season and is seeking a free-agent contract.

"It will be very difficult to replace those guys," Jordan said. "I'm sure we have some guys in our clubhouse that are anxious for opportunities they might not have received if those guys did not sign. We hope we can replace some of those numbers, but we're not going to replace all of them."

Incoming freshman Ben Carr will likely get a shot to replace Jones at catcher. Carr, a 6-3, 190-pounder from Atlanta, hit .396 as a junior at Stockbridge High School, where he also played football and basketball. Sophomore Kirk Sims is the only catcher on the Bulldogs' current roster.

At first base, freshman Damon Ardis (6-3, 205) redshirted last season. He played baseball and football at Stratford High School and was on the Knights' team that won a state title in 2005.

As for Jones, he will start his pro career with the AZL Cubs of Mesa, Ariz., in the Arizona League. The AZL Cubs are 1-1 in the short season and have three catchers — Jose Guevara, Juan Medina and Matt Williams, a four-year starter at Duke — on the roster.

Notes

--Jordan said the independent Frontier League could be a possible destination for Meade, the all-SoCon outfielder who hit .397 with five homers and 67 RBIs last season.

--College of Charleston also could have a couple of players in the Frontier League, coach Monte Lee said, in first baseman Joash Brodin and outfielder Clay McCord. Neither were drafted, though Brodin hit .362 with 12 homers and 64 RBIs, and McCord batted .382 with 28 stolen bases.