Recently in Griffin Murphy Category

Redlands East Valley pitcher Griffin Murphy, the 61st pick in this week's Major League Baseball draft, has agreed in principle to a contract with the Toronto Blue Jays. The second-round pick said that he agreed to a signing bonus worth $800,000, which is the value that he was looking for prior to the draft.

"I'm really excited right now," said Murphy, who will forgo a scholarship to the University of San Diego to sign. "This is a dream come true and I can't believe that I'm about to play professional baseball. They came up from the number that the pick was slotted to get and met the number we wanted."

Murphy indicated that the bonus number slotted for the 61st pick was $600,000. There is plenty to be done before he joins the Blue Jays' organization though. The paperwork for signing the contract will be delayed some due to exchange rate and other issues that come from the Blue Jays' location in Canada.

"I probably won't start with the organization until early July," Murphy said. "I just can't wait to go and play ball."

Six county players were honored as top 100 high school prospects in the latest issue of Baseball America. Barstow pitcher Aaron Sanchez tops the list at No. 25. Sanchez, a 6-foot-3 righthander who has verbally committed to Oregon, was also listed on the magazine's third-team Preseason High School All-America Team.

Other county players in the top 100 include Yucaipa pitcher Taijuan Walker (No. 37), former REV pitcher Tyler Shreve (No. 60), REV lefthanded pitcher Griffin Murphy (No. 61), Los Osos catcher Jake Hernandez (No. 77) and Upland pitcher Scott Frazier (No. 98).

Just got a call from Redlands East Valley athletic director Rhonda Fouch notifying me of three REV athletes signing during the early signing period. Volleyball player Johnna Fouch will sign with San Diego State Friday at 7 p.m. in the REV ASB room, while softball player Amy Nece will sign with North Carolina early next week, as will baseball player Griffin Murphy with San Diego. Nece is going on an official visit to North Carolina this upcoming weekend according to Fouch.