CROSNOE LEAVES INDIANS

There was a day not so long in the distant past that Rex Crosnoe dreamt of playing professional baseball.

He no longer carries that dream, as evidenced by his presence in Cape Girardeau.

Crosnoe, the OVC player of the year this past season for Southeast Missouri State University, departed two weeks ago for Florida after he was drafted by and signed with the Cleveland Indians.

Crosnoe, a catching prospect, participated in a four-day rookie minicamp in Winterhaven, Fla., but did not wait around for assignment. To many people's surprise, he instead assigned himself back home.

"I decided it wasn't for me so I hung it up," said Crosnoe.

He cited the game as becoming more of a business to him.

"You practice and play all day long," he said of his short experience. "I just got burnt out playing."

After playing ball virtually year round for the last few seasons, Crosnoe said he was somewhat burned out even before he departed for Florida.

He left with the hope his attitude would change when he arrived.

"I got there and it didn't," he said. "There's no use in being miserable. Life is too short for that."

"I decided that for me to be happy meant coming home," said Crosnoe. "I prayed and prayed on the decision. That was my decision and I've been happy with it."

The decision to abandon a professional career might have even surprised a younger Crosnoe.

"Growing up I use to dream about it," said Crosnoe. "To do it I knew I needed to be more excited than I was. I think it made me realize this was something not for me. I had the opportunity and I wasn't as excited about it as I think I should of been."

Crosnoe's brother Cory spent a couple of seasons in the Brave's organization, making the Class AA level, before giving up on a professional baseball career.

Rex, a 46th-round draft pick, said he discovered the Indians, with the best record in baseball, are loaded with talent.

With a lack of enthusiasm for the task, he felt ill equipped to give his best effort and beat the long odds of reaching the major leagues.

"There were people from the Dominican Republic and Cuba," said Crosnoe. "We're talking about a lot of guys competing for not too many jobs. I realized there is a lot more talent out there than what I was used to competing against."

Crosnoe plans to return to Southeast and complete his degree in physical education and mathematics. He hopes to stay around the game in a coaching capacity.

"I wouldn't mind staying in the area at all," he said. "I know a lot of people and the kind of baseball people like around here."