June 10, 2000

Bob Stephens
The Morning News

Brad Bohannan signed a contract with the Chicago White Sox Friday afternoon and celebrated by playing golf with the scout who drafted him. The heavy rain that halted their round of golf at Springdale Country Club did nothing to dampen Bohannan's excitement.
"I feel great," Bohannan said. "I can't wait to start pitching."
The Springdale native, who was a senior pitcher for the Razorbacks last season, will leave town Monday and report to the White Sox Instructional Camp in Tucson, Ariz. He'll be there seven days before being reassigned, probably to Bristol, Va., in a Class A league.
"We're glad to have him," said White Sox scout Alex Slattery. "Brad's a good acquisition for us."
Although Bohannan wasn't drafted until the 28th round, and had never before been picked in the draft, Slattery said he expects him to have a successful pro career.
"I didn't sign him for (just) two years," Slattery said. "I signed him to help our big league club some day."
The Philadelphia Phillies feel the same way about Matt Riethmaier, the Razorbacks' junior pitcher. The Phillies drafted Riethmaier in the fifth round and expect to sign him to a contract today.
"I'm going to sign (today) and leave Sunday," Riethmaier said Friday night via phone from his parents' home in Arkadelphia.
"I think the average for the fifth round last year was $160,000," Riethmaier said. "Either way, it's a pretty good deal. I'm very happy. I'm pretty excited. I've been pretty antsy the last few days. I'm ready to go to work."
Riethmaier and Cliff Lee, who was picked in the fourth round by the Montreal Expos, were drafted last Monday. Bohannan was selected Tuesday.
Departed Razorback seniors Jack Welsh and Greg Blum were Undrafted but both hope to attract free-agent interest next week when teams look to fill minor league rosters. Bohannan might have been in that same situation had he not excelled in a pre-draft camp.
It didn't hurt that Bohannan showed out by dunking a basketball after a 360-degree spinning jump.
"You always would love to sign good athletes," Slattery said. "That showed me Brad had fast-twitch muscles. He's a good athlete."
Bohannan claimed that he drives the golf ball 325 yards. He did play two years of outfield at Pratt (Kan.) Junior College, but pitched sparingly in relief. At Arkansas, the 6-foot-3, 170-pounder was used only on the mound.
Slattery had a similar experience, playing two years of outfield at Yavapai (Ariz.) Junior College before becoming a pitcher for Arkansas-Little Rock.
"I know there's not many innings on Brad's arm," Slattery said. "We call it a fresh arm. He'll be used in relief, maybe as a starter. He could get the ball three days in a row."
Bohannan, who signed for an undisclosed amount, is Slattery's first signee.
"Brad will be evaluated in Tucson and either go to Bristol or stay in Tucson with our Instructional team," Slattery said. "At either level, I think he'll excel."