Logan Darnell; UK Athletics wallpaper

University of Kentucky junior left-handed pitcher Logan Darnell and University of Louisville outfielder Josh Richmond have signed professional contracts with the Minnesota Twins and Texas Rangers respectively. Darnell’s signing with the Twins as the team’s sixth round 2010 draft pick was announced on the team website. Richmond’s signing with the Rangers as the team’s twelfth round pick was first reported by Jeff Wilson of the Fort Worth Star Telegram. Darnell has been assigned to the rookie-level Elizabethton Twins, where he will play alongside former UK teammate Gunner Glad. Richmond will begin his career at short-season Spokane.

Darnell moved to the weekend rotation for UK to start the 2010 season after spending his previous two seasons in the Cats’ bullpen. He experience mixed results as a starter and eventually moved back to the pen after about with left shoulder tendonitis. On the season, Darnell was 5-3 with a 5.62 ERA and 55 strikeouts in 73 and two-third innings pitched. Baseball America reports Darnell signed for a $125,000 bonus.

Richmond appeared in just 23 games for UofL in 2010 after missing much of the season with a wrist injury. He batted .262 with one home run and 10 RBI on the season but is considered a possible “five-tool player.” In Baseball America’s 2010 draft preview Jim Callis wrote Richmond could have gone as high as the third round if he had been healthy throughout 2010. Just 18 of the 47 players with Kentucky connections selected in the 2010 draft have not signed a professional contract.