Former White Rock Tritons' pitcher Jeff Degano is officially a New York Yankee.
Degano, 22, was drafted by the Yankees in the second round of the Major League Baseball draft in early June, and officially signed with the club last week. According to the YES broadcast network, which is owned by the Yankees, Degano's contract included a $650,000 signing bonus.
When he was drafted, he told Peace Arch News being selected by the Yankees was "a dream come true."
"There's a lot of history with that team, and everyone's a Yankees fan growing up, so it's pretty special," he said.
Since being drafted – and while details of his contract were being negotiated – Degano has been at the team's training facilities in Tampa, Florida.
Degano, whose BC Premier Baseball League career was spent with the Tritons as well as the Whalley Chiefs, is a left-handed pitcher who spent his college career with the Indiana State University Sycamores.
The Semiahmoo Peninsula's other Major League Baseball draft pick, UBC pitcher Alex Webb – who, like Degano, is a former White Rock Triton – has not yet signed with the San Diego Padres, who selected him in the 36th round.
Webb still has college eligibility left and can eschew a pro contract and return to UBC for one more season, then re-enter the draft next year.
After being picked by the Padres on June 10, Webb told PAN he was undecided about whether or not he'd turn pro, but there is "a strong possibility that I'll ahead back to school."