LITTLE ROCK — Simpson, Cubs agree on $1.6 million bonus
Hayden Simpson made good on his promise to be an easy sign for the Chicago Cubs.
The former Southern Arkansas right-hander, who was taken by the Cubs with the 16th pick in the Major League Baseball draft, officially agreed to a $1.6 million signing bonus Saturday.
Though Simpson was not projected to go in the first round, the bonus is similar to last year’s No. 16 pick, high school infielder Bobby Borchering, went to the Arizona Diamondbacks for $1.8 million.
Simpson’s first official act as a member of the Cubs organization was to throw a bullpen session in front of big league pitching coach Larry Rothschild on Saturday at Chicago’s Wrigley Field.
Simpson will now report to the Cubs’ spring training complex in Mesa, Ariz. After being evaluated, he will join the organization’s Class A team in Boise, Idaho.
Simpson, a graduate of Magnolia High School, was 13-1 with a 1.81 ERA during his junior season at Southern Arkansas.
Simpson told the Chicago Tribune he plans to make good use of former Cubs pitcher and Cy Young Award winner Greg Maddux, who works as an advisor to Chicago General Manager Jim Hendry.
- Doug Crise
FISHING
McClelland 11th in Oklahoma
Mike McClelland of Bella Vista advanced to today’s final round of the Bassmaster Elite Series event on Fort Gibson Lake outside Fort Gibson, Okla. McClelland caught 5 fish Saturday weighing 15 pounds, 7 ounces for a three-day total of 48-4.
Leader Tommy Biffle of Wagoner, Okla., weighed in five fish at 17-4 for a three-day total of 55-8.
Four Arkansas anglers did not make the 12-man cut for the final round. Scott Rook (Little Rock) finished 14th, Mark Davis (Mount Ida) was 15th, Stephen Browning (Hot Springs) was 23rd, and Kevin Short (Mayflower) was 30th. Each earned $10,000.
RUGBY
Stormers fall in final
The Little Rock Stormers men’s team lost in the final of the Austin Bloodfest 7’s tournament, falling 15-7 to the Dallas Harlequins.
The Stormers went 4-0 in pool play.
In the final, the Stormers got a score under the posts by Mark Fulmer and conversion by Charles Ajarrista and took a 7-0 lead into halftime.
The Stormers women’s team went 1-3 at the tournament.
Sports, Pages 35 on 06/20/2010