Crespo, Walker Sign Pro Contracts

June 20, 2000

Coral Gables, FL (www.hurricanesports.com) – Junior right-fielder Manny Crespo, a 14th round selection (No. 416 overall) by the Seattle Mariners in the recent 2000 Major League Baseball First-Year Player Draft, has signed a professional contract with the organization. Crespo was assigned to the Single A (Short Season) Everett (WA) Aquasox of the Northwest League.

A 12th round selection by the Atlanta Braves following his high school career, Crespo ranks sixth all-time at UM with 37 career home runs, including 11 in 2000. Baseball America tabbed Crespo the No. 27 prospect in Florida prior to the 2000 draft.

Crespo has played in three College World Series for the Hurricanes and was a member of the 1999 USA National Team and 1993 USA Junior National Team. After being selected to the 1999 College World Series All-Tournament Team, Crespo was named to the All-America Second Team by the National Collegiate Baseball Writers’ Association.

Also signing a professional contract was senior Mark Walker, the third Hurricane drafted. Walker was chosen by the San Francisco Giants in the 40th round with the 1200th pick. He was assigned to play with the Salem-Keizer (OR) Volcanoes of the Short Season Class A Northwest League.

Walker, who had started in all three outfield positions at UM, made 12 starts in 34 games as a senior and led the team with a .485 on-base percentage. Additionally, the Miami Westminster graduate had three game winning hits on the season in games over Dartmouth (twice) and Florida International.

This past year Walker took part in the Tucker Anthony BIG EAST Stock Challenge. The UM team, made up of Hurricane student-athletes, placed third nationally and finished the fiscal season with a portfolio that advanced 40.48 percent, besting the gains of the S&P 500. The team’s efforts landed the University Scholarship Fund with a $10,000 gift.

Crespo’s Aquasox open the 2000 summer season, ironically, at Walker’s Salem-Keizer in Oregon on Tuesday, June 20.