July 16, 2008

Bristol, Tenn. - Eric Allen became what may have been the first King (Tenn.) College baseball player to sign a professional contract when he signed with the Chicago Cubs.   However, Allen will not be the only Tornado living out his professional dream, teammate Jace Smith will join him as he signed Monday (July 14) with the Kansas City Royals.

Eric Allen, a 6-3 195 pound pitcher graduated in May and signed with the Cubs on Saturday (July 12) in the King College Student Center Complex. Chicago Cubs scout Keith Ryman of Jefferson City, Tenn. signed Allen, who throws an average of 88-91 mph and has reached 93. The Cubs feel he has good potential as a mid-reliever or a closer. Allen will leave next week for the Cubs training facility in Mesa, Ariz.

Jace Smith, the team's ace this season with a 7-1 record, a 2.59 ERA and 95 strikeouts in 87 innings, signed just two days later on Monday with the Kansas City Royals.

"I don't know that any other King College players have signed," said Tornado coach Mark Conkin, "but I can't say they haven't; we are researching it.

"But this is definitely big for us that we are having kids from our program signing with professional baseball teams."

Smith said Monday night that he thought he had a chance to be drafted.

"But I knew if it didn't," said Smith, who has returned to his home in Dripping Springs, Texas, near Austin, "that I would have a chance to sign with somebody anyway."

"We had scouts come watch him, Eric and another player on our team, who I think still has a chance to sign," said Conkin.

"Jace was the cornerstone of our baseball team. He has been our ace since the day he came. He was one of the first players I signed when I got the job."

Smith, an all-Appalachian Athletic Conference and an all-Region XII pick, has a chance to be assigned to the Burlington Royals of the Appalachian League.

"I'm not sure where they will send me," said Smith. "All I know if I have to be in Arizona by Wednesday and I'll find out there where I go. I will likely be assigned to rookie ball somewhere."

"Jace throws 88 or 89 mph," said Conkin. "But he had only 14 walks in 87 innings and teams hit just .234 against him."

Allen is a different type of pitcher than Smith, but also has the tools to succeed, said Conkin.

"He is a prototypical pitcher. He has the body size at 6-3 and 195 and throws 90 to 93,'' said Conkin. "He has a big arm. I could see him being a closer or a set-up guy. Some of his best outings for us were as a reliever."

Allen was 4-2 with a 4.65 ERA, serving as both a starter and a reliever.

Allen has been assigned to Boise Hawks of the short-season Northwest League.

Smith could stay in Arizona and play for the Surprise Royals, be sent to the Pioneer League and play for the Idaho Falls Chukars (in the advanced rookie Pioneer League) or be sent to Burlington of the Appalachian League. If he is assigned to Burlington, he would have a chance to come back and pitch in the area which has five Appalachian League affiliates in Bristol, Kingsport, Johnson City, Elizabethton and Greeneville.