UofL photo

The first Kentucky draftee to sign a professional contract is University of Louisville junior right-handed pitcher Thomas Royse, right. The Big East Conference pitcher of the year was the third-supplemental round pick of the Chicago White Sox. Royse, named BluGrass Baseball‘s Kentucky pitcher of the year, led UofL to its second consecutive Big East regular season championship by going 9-1 with a 2.85 ERA as the Cards’ Friday night starting pitcher. Royse will report to short-season Great Falls to begin his professional career, Mark Gonzalez of the Chicago Tribune reports. (Read more)