Trio Of Spartans Sign With MLB Teams

TAMPA, Fla. - Three of the four University of Tampa baseball players drafted in the 2009 Major League Baseball Draft have signed with their respective clubs. Alex Koronis, Danny Keefe and Jose Jimenez have each been assigned to minor league teams.

Selected in the 11th round by the Tampa Bay Rays, Koronis will pitch for the Princeton Rays of the Rookie Appalachian League. Keefe, a 14th round choice of the Chicago Cubs, has already appeared in two games with the Boise Hawks of the Class A Short Season Northwest League.

Jimenez, who was drafted for the second straight year by the Los Angeles Angels, is with the Arizona Rookie League team for the organizations after being chosen in the 49th round. He has played in five games, connecting on one home run with four runs batted in.

Carmine Giardina was selected in the 22nd round by the Pittsburgh Pirates and remains unsigned. The left-handed pitcher has one year of eligibility remaining shall he opt to return to school.