University of California, Los Angeles, Athletics
Yankees Sign Green as Free Agent
June 8, 1999
Senior catcher and co-captain Jason Green was signed to a free agent contract by the New York Yankees Monday morning. The Yankees will post Green at their short-season A affiliate in Staten Island, NY to begin with. Green went undrafted in the Major League Baseball Amateur Draft, June 2-3.
The fifth-year senior from La Jolla, CA, led the Bruins on and off the field, as he always provided steady guidance and consistent performance for a young UCLA squad. Green stepped up against the toughest opponents, hitting .392 in 24 Pac-10 games and knocking a school-record tying 15 doubles in conference play. He finished the year as one of five Bruins to hit over .300, recording a .309 clip. Recognized as one of the best defensive catchers in the Pac-10, Green committed just six passed balls in 58 games behind the plate. UCLA tied for the league lead in fewest passed balls with a total of eight for the season.
Green joins fellow senior SS Jack Santora and redshirt sophomore LHP Rob Henkel as the Bruin signees this spring. Santora, who was selected by the Arizona Diamondbacks in the 19th round, signed with the club on Friday to play for the Missoula, MT Osprey of the Pioneer League. Henkel was drafted in the 20th round by the New York Mets. Henkel, who has yet to sign with the Mets, will make his decision on whether to return to UCLA or go pro after the summer is over. He will pitch in the prestigious Cape Cod League for the Yarmouth-Dennis Red Sox this summer.