Posted on: Tuesday, July 13, 2004

Catcher Suzuki signs deal with A's

Advertiser Staff

Baldwin High alum Kurt Suzuki signed a three-year contract that includes a bonus of $500,000 with the Oakland Athletics yesterday.

"I'm pretty excited, it's something I wanted to do, so I'm just happy," said Suzuki, who was selected in the second round of the Major League Baseball draft, 67th overall, last month.

He was named to six All-America teams, and received the Johnny Bench Award as the nation's top college catcher after helping lead Cal State Fullerton to the national title.

A clause in his contract guarantees he will go to the A's major league spring training camp in 2006.

"To the high picks, it is pretty common," he said of the clause.

Suzuki, who is in Fullerton, will go Thursday to Vancouver, British Columbia, home of Oakland's short-season Class A team.