Monday, August 17, 2009

KENNESAW, Ga. - The Toronto Blue Jays have come to terms with Kennesaw State's Chad Jenkins, signing the 20th overall pick in the 2009 MLB First-Year Player Draft to a contract with a $1.359 million signing bonus.

The announcement of the signing was made prior to Saturday's game between Toronto and Tampa Bay at Tropicana Field in St. Petersburg, Fla.  According to a report by Baseball America earlier in the week, Jenkins received a $1.359 million signing bonus, the 12th-highest bonus in franchise history. 

Jenkins is coming off perhaps the best season for a KSU pitcher since the Owls joined the ranks of Division I of the NCAA iin 2006.  The righty went 8-1 with a 2.54 ERA.  He walked just 15 batters while striking out 98.  During the season, Jenkins had a streak of 41 consecutive scoreless innings.  He was the Atlantic Sun Conference's Pitcher of the Year and won the A-Sun Pitcher of the Week award three times during 2009.  Jenkins did not lose a conference start in 2009.