MURFREESBORO, Tenn. - Middle Tennessee seventh-round draft choice Michael McKenry has signed a professional contract with the Colorado Rockies, forfeiting his senior year for the Blue Raiders.
McKenry signed his contract with the Rockies on Thursday and will report to the Tri-City Dust Devils in Pasco, Wash., and the Northwest League. The short-season Class A affiliate begins the season June 19 against the Everett AquaSox.
"I can't wait to go," McKenry said. "Negotiations weren't real fast but they were easy. There were no problems at all. Every request was met by both parties. It worked out perfect and it was worth leaving school for what they offered me."
McKenry said the choice was a tough one because of the people at Middle Tennessee and his goal of reaching Omaha and the College World Series as a Blue Raider.
"It was a real tough choice to leave. All along I wanted to see how important I was to [the Rockies], have them invest money in me and be a high draft choice so I don't get tossed around the minor leagues.
"But it was really hard because of the relationships I've made at Middle Tennessee and not reaching my ultimate goal of playing in Omaha. It took a lot to get me out of school."
McKenry, taken 198th overall by the Rockies in the seventh round, is Middle Tennessee's highest draft selection since Dewon Brazelton in the first round in 2001. He is the first junior taken and signed by the professional ranks since Brett Carroll and Chris Mobley were both selected by the Florida Marlins in 2004.
The Farragut High School product batted .390 with 13 doubles, 13 home runs and 68 RBIs in 2006, earning First Team All-Sun Belt and Third Team All-America honors by Collegiate Baseball and Louisville Slugger. McKenry added 82 hits, 42 runs scored, 38 walks, a .494 on-base percentage and a .676 slugging percentage in 55 games. The junior catcher also threw out 41 percent of potential base stealers.
McKenry began the 2006 campaign on the Wallace Watch List, one of the national player of the year awards, and was later a semifinalist for the Dick Howser Trophy, another national player of the year honor, and the Coleman Company-Johnny Bench Award, given annually to the nation's top catcher.
McKenry was a First Team All-Sun Belt selection in 2005 after belting 13 home runs and 42 RBIs in 49 games as a sophomore. He batted .328 with 11 doubles and 44 runs scored last season as well.
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