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02-29-2008, 07:05 PM
By DAVID O'BRIEN
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Published on: 02/28/08
Lake Buena Vista, Fla. — University of Georgia senior Joshua Fields pitched a hitless inning Wednesday against the Braves, and manager Bobby Cox would've preferred that he pitched it for the Braves.
The Braves took the hard-throwing right-hander in the second round of the June draft, the 69th pick. His adviser? Agent Scott Boras.
Fields didn't sign, becoming the highest-drafted college player that year to return to school.
"Why didn't he sign?" Cox said. "He's a senior."
Top college players rarely stay for their senior seasons, particularly those as talented as Fields. As a sophomore in 2006, he had a 1.80 ERA with 15 saves and 56 strikeouts in 50 innings, and Georgia reached the College World Series.
In declining to sign, he cited his desire to finish his education and improve upon a junior season that fell short of expectations.
However, it was believed Fields simply wanted a bigger signing bonus than the Braves offered.
"He only throws 97 [mph] with a good breaking ball," Cox said. "It comes down, sometimes, to you want to play or you don't want to play.
"It's too bad."
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Published on: 02/28/08
Lake Buena Vista, Fla. — University of Georgia senior Joshua Fields pitched a hitless inning Wednesday against the Braves, and manager Bobby Cox would've preferred that he pitched it for the Braves.
The Braves took the hard-throwing right-hander in the second round of the June draft, the 69th pick. His adviser? Agent Scott Boras.
Fields didn't sign, becoming the highest-drafted college player that year to return to school.
"Why didn't he sign?" Cox said. "He's a senior."
Top college players rarely stay for their senior seasons, particularly those as talented as Fields. As a sophomore in 2006, he had a 1.80 ERA with 15 saves and 56 strikeouts in 50 innings, and Georgia reached the College World Series.
In declining to sign, he cited his desire to finish his education and improve upon a junior season that fell short of expectations.
However, it was believed Fields simply wanted a bigger signing bonus than the Braves offered.
"He only throws 97 [mph] with a good breaking ball," Cox said. "It comes down, sometimes, to you want to play or you don't want to play.
"It's too bad."