Mike Drowne Signs Deal with Dodgers

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Drowne Signs Minor-League Deal with Dodgers
Erika Heyer
Contributing Writer

Mike Drowne will not be donning the red and white uniform of Sacred Heart University's baseball team again next year, but he will be wearing Dodger blue after signing a post-draft deal over the weekend with Los Angeles.

The former South Hadley High School pitcher and center fielder decided to forgo his fifth year of eligibility at Sacred Heart in Fairfield, Conn., and instead reported to a Dodgers' mini-camp for rookies during the weekend in Arizona.

The decision means Drowne will not follow through on his original plan to play this summer in the New England Collegiate Baseball League for the new Bristol team in Connecticut.

The decision to sign was not a fast or easy one for Drowne, he said.

"My parents and I talked about it and weighed the pros and cons of either going back to school and signing," said Drowne, who described his contract as a "typical minor-league deal."

"When we were done talking, we realized that there were a lot of benefits to signing and (that) if I didn't sign then, it would have been hard for me to get drafted again next year due to the fact that I would be almost 23 at that point," he said.

Drowne was selected in the 28th round of the Major League Baseball draft on June 8. Because Drowne has chosen to sign this quickly, fans of the Dodgers' minor league teams may see the 22-year-old play this season.

At Sacred Heart, Drowne was the leadoff man and center fielder and started every game for the Pioneers his senior year. Drowne led the team in stolen bases, hits, and runs scored.