PENNINGTON TO LAUNCH PRO CAREER

Nearly three weeks after his selection in baseball's amateur draft, Todd Pennington has decided to turn professional.

Pennington, a right-handed pitcher who led the nation in earned-run average as a junior at Southeast Missouri State University this year, said Monday that he has agreed to terms with the Cleveland Indians, who drafted him in the 46th round earlier this month.

Pennington, who is currently playing with a summer team in Topeka, Kan., that competes in the prestigious Jayhawk League, is scheduled to sign with Cleveland Thursday in Topeka. He will be assigned to the Indians' Mahoning Valley (Ohio) team in the short-season New York-Penn Rookie League and will likely get his first professional start next week.

"I'm really fired up," said Pennington from Topeka. "It's pretty hard to stomach, actually, that I'll be pitching in the pros next week, but the teams we've been playing here (in the Jayhawk League) are not far from it, so I think I'll be fine."

Pennington did not disclose his signing bonus. Besides the money, he said a major attraction was the two years of future college education that will be paid for by the Indians.

"I got a real good deal, and the two years of school guaranteed was big," said Pennington, who has a little more than a year remaining to graduate. "I really wanted to get my school paid for. I really need school and I plan to graduate."

A Shawnee (Ill.) High School product, Pennington had one of the best seasons in Ohio Valley Conference history this year, going 12-2 with a 1.33 ERA. In 95 innings, he allowed just 51 hits while striking out 121 and walking 36. In addition to being named OVC Pitcher of the Year, Pennington was also selected to a pair of All-American teams.

Pennington could have returned to Southeast for his senior season next year, after which he would have been eligible to be drafted again. He acknowledged that the decision on turning pro was not easy.

"It was really tough, actually," he said. "I like going to SEMO. That's what got me here. But I felt like this was the right thing to do.

"If you work hard to go to college and play ball, one of the dreams you have to have is playing pro ball. That's what I've wanted to do for a long time."

Southeast coach Mark Hogan said he was happy for Pennington, even though Hogan's team is suffering a major loss.

"I am absolutely thrilled for Todd, ecstatic," Hogan said. "Being picked in the 46th round was disappointing, but Cleveland has been fantastic. They gave him a real nice signing bonus, a lot more than the round called for, and two years of schooling guaranteed, which was important. It's a nice deal for him.

"I think, based on the season Todd had for us, he deserves a shot at professional baseball. I would love to have him back, but looking at it realistically, how in the world could this young man have done more than he did this year? A lot of things could happen next year. Say he hurts his arm, or breaks an ankle. He may not get another chance."