Dominguez, Landers and Zych Turn Down Pro Ball
August 19, 2008 | Baseball
Aug. 19, 2008
LOUISVILLE, Ky. - University of Louisville junior 3B Chris Dominguez and signees Keith Landers and Tony Zych have all decided to retain their NCAA eligibility by not signing pro contracts before Major League Baseball's August 15 deadline.
"This is truly a win for the Cardinal baseball program, because of what Chris can do for the program now and the impact that Keith and Tony will have during the next three years," said Head Coach Dan McDonnell.
Dominguez, the 2008 BIG EAST Co-Player of the Year and BIG EAST Tournament MVP, was drafted by the Colorado Rockies in the 5th round of the 2008 MLB Draft.
"Chris has the complete resume," McDonnell noted.
"He has produced at the collegiate level during a regular season, excelled in the postseason during two different seasons and has put together a dominant summer in the top summer league in baseball. He has put himself into a position to be the face of college baseball in 2009."
Named to three All-America teams, he batted .365 with 68 runs, 13 doubles, a BIG EAST-leading 21 home runs and 75 RBI, stealing 11 bases while starting all 62 games at third on the BIG EAST Champions. He made just six errors at the hot corner, leading the team to their first conference title in school history.
Dominguez is 10th on the career home run list with 36 in just two seasons in The Ville, and placed himself tied for 7th in single season home runs, tied for 8th in runs and tied for 6th with his 2008 total in RBI.
He was a semifinalist for the Golden Spikes Award, was on the Wallace Award watch list, both given annually to the national player of the year.
While playing for Hyannis in the prestigious Cape Cod League this past summer, he lead the league with 10 home runs, three of which came in one game.
"Keith an Tony excite you because they have a chance to be superstars at the collegiate level," McDonnell said.
Landers, a 6-7 left handed pitcher, was selected in the 18th round by the Baltimore Orioles.
He was 7-2 with a 0.31 ERA, striking out 66 in 66.0 innings this past season, and was named a Third Team All-American by the National High School Baseball Coaches Association.
He played for the 2002 Little League World Series U.S. Runner Up that lost to Valley Station (Louisville) Ky. in the championship game.
Zych, a two-way player from the Chicago area who was rated as the top infielder and the fourth-best prep baseball player in the state of Illinois by Prep Baseball Report, was tabbed in the 46th round by the Chicago Cubs.
He batted .412 with 30 runs, five doubles, four triples, six home runs, 28 RBI and was 9-3 on the hill his senior season.
USA Today National Player of the Year Jake Odorizzi, who was taken 32nd overall in the 2008 MLB June Draft, was signed by Louisville but elected to play pro ball.
Odorizzi, who hit .412 with 15 homers, 41 RBI and 33 stolen bases in 39 games, helped lead team to state title. As a pitcher, he was 14-0 with nine shutouts in 15 games, with a 0.08 ERA, striking out 146 and walking six.
The first day of class at UofL is August 25.
The Cardinals won the 2008 BIG EAST Championship and advanced to the NCAA Regionals for the second consecutive season.
