June 16, 2005
MESA, Ariz. - University of Rhode Island senior closer Mick Lefort (Lincoln, R.I./Lincoln HS) became the third native Rhode Islander from this year's Atlantic 10 Championship team to sign a professional contract when he inked with the Chicago Cubs organization.
Lefort is the sixth URI player in the last three years to earn a spot in a Major League organization. He will report to the team's spring training home in Mesa, Ariz. and then will be assigned to a minor league affiliate of the Cubs.
Lefort, who was named second-team All-Atlantic 10 and was an Atlantic 10 Academic All-Conference selection, served as the Rams' closer for the past two seasons. He set the school's career record with 17 saves in 18 opportunities and was a semifinalist for the National Collegiate Baseball Writer's Association Stopper of the Year award after setting the school record with nine saves in nine chances this spring. He was the recipient of the Elizabeth Holmes Award which is presented to the URI senior athlete who has maintained the highest level of outstanding academic achievement combined with outstanding athletic talent.
"After two years of being an automatic stopper for us, it is exciting to see Mick get the opportunity to pitch at the next level," Rhode Island head coach Frank Leoni said. "He is quite capable of taking his professional career to the highest level."
The 6-2, 205-pound right-hander was 2-0 in 2005 with nine saves in 19 appearances. He struck out 22 batters in 22 1/3 innings and opponents batted just .235 against him. Lefort saved two of the Rams' victories in the Atlantic 10 Tournament, including striking out the last batter in the championship game. Lefort posted eight saves in nine opportunities as a junior in 2004, posting a team-low 2.27 ERA and a 3-1 record. In a school-record 24 appearances, he struck out 32 in 31 1/3 innings and opponents batted just .209 against him.
Lefort becomes the third Rhode Island native off URI's 2005 Atlantic 10 Championship and NCAA Tournament team to earn a shot with a Major League organization. Zack Zuercher (Warwick, R.I./Pilgrim HS), who finished his junior season, is in Jupiter, Fla. waiting to be assigned to a minor league affiliate of the St. Louis Cardinals. Senior Mike Rainville (Pawtucket, R.I.) signed a free agent contract with the Tampa Bay Devil Rays on Wednesday and is in Fishkill, N.Y. with the Hudson Valley Renegades of the Class A-New York Penn League.
"We have worked long and hard to build the program with a solid Rhode Island foundation," Leoni said. "It is fulfilling to help Rhode Island born players get an opportunity at the next level."
Lefort will be the sixth Rhody player to sign a professional contract in the last three years, coinciding with the Rams' three-straight Atlantic 10 East Division titles, three-consecutive A-10 Tournament appearances and Rhody's stretch of going 54-18 in conference play. The Rams have had seven players sign with Major League organizations in the last five years and two other graduating seniors from the 2005 team have drawn interest from scouts and could sign free agent contracts in the coming weeks.
"Having six players sign professional contracts in the past three years shows how far our program has grown," Leoni said. "We're truly proud of the level that the URI baseball program has reached."
In 2003, juniors Reid Willett (21st round, Chicago Cubs) and Jared Trout (28th round, Oakland Athletics) were drafted. Dan Batz was picked in sixth round of the 2004 draft by the Los Angeles Dodgers and Zuercher was taken in the ninth round of this year's draft by the St. Louis Cardinals. Rainville and Lefort were both free agent signees and there is still a chance other players of the 2005 squad could sign free agent contracts.
Rhode Island finished 34-21 in 2005 winning its first-ever Atlantic 10 Championship, its second-straight A-10 regular-season crown and third-consecutive East Division title. The Rams made their first-ever NCAA Tournament appearance, but were eliminated by nationally ranked Pepperdine 2-1 in the Long Beach Regional. Rhode Island had a school-record seven players earn All-Atlantic 10 honors.
