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This will focus on non-SR's that were drafted so if you don't see a SR's name mentioned, that's why.

Irvine - Bibona is the only Cardinal drafted between 11 and 20 who hasn't signed yet. Hamilton signed.

Fullerton - Fellhauer and Davis will sign. Morrison is up in the air. He might need to show improved control this summer to get the type of bonus he is looking for. Sounds like Witten will be back because he will be playing summer ball and looking to improve his stock.

Cal Poly - Buschini will sign in the next couple of days. Smith already signed. No word yet on Castner and Gentile. Article in today's SLO Tribune on this.

Long Beach - Wilk and Ruiz signed. Article in the P.T. today on this.

Riverside - See ucr88's post. Good info on the P-E's website on this in blog form and an article last week.

UCSB - Gardner signed. I would think that Hollands would be back unless he gets a big offer from Minn right before the deadline, depending on how he throws this summer. For those with access to the News-Press, there was a good article last Sat.

Northridge - Slover will sign. No word on Pruitt and McCarney.

Davis - Suiter and Kelly already signed.

Contracts hit & miss for locals
Hamilton, Oliver, Northcraft and Jessup join Orloff in pro ranks. Other draftees still could remain Anteaters.

By Barry Faulkner

Updated: Friday, June 26, 2009 10:25 PM PDT

No news is good news, these days, for the UC Irvine baseball program.

The Anteaters, who had nine current or former players chosen in the recent Major League Draft, have seen only one with remaining eligibility sign a professional contract.

Pitcher Cory Hamilton, hardly a top contributor having posted an 0-2 record the last two seasons, signed with the Detroit Tigers organization after being selected in the 23rd round (No. 690 overall). He is with the Oneota Tigers of the Class A New York-Penn League and he earned a relief win in his two-inning debut on Wednesday.

The departure of Ben Orloff, who graduated after completing a record-setting career with the Anteaters, was, of course, expected. The Big West Conference Player of the Year and Brooks Wallace Award winner as the nation's top shortstop does, however, leave an ample hole in a roster that went 45-15 and won the school's first Big West title with a 22-2 conference record.

Danny Bibona, a junior All-American starting pitcher who was the ace of the Anteaters' staff (12-1 with a 2.63 earned-run average and 108 strikeouts in 106 innings), is still negotiating with the St. Louis Cardinals, who drafted him in the 16th round (No. 489 overall).

Casey Stevenson, a junior second baseman for the 'Eaters in 2009, joins junior infielder Brian Hernandez and incoming Orange Coast College transfer Drew Hillman in the draft-and-follow classification. Stevenson (drafted in the 38th round by the Milwaukee Brewers), Hillman (38th round, Tampa Bay Rays) and Hernandez (39th round, Cleveland Indians) will be evaluated as they compete during the summer. Teams will then decide if they wish to offer them contracts.

Incoming pitching recruits Paul Strong (17th round, Texas Rangers), Kyle Hooper (28th round, Pittsburgh Pirates) and Beau Wright (29th round, Minnesota Twins), are also those awaiting contract offers. The longer the wait, the less likely it is they will trade their UCI jerseys for a professional uniform.

UCI Coach Mike Gillespie said Christian Bergman, a standout junior pitcher who was not drafted, remains hopeful of being offered a free-agent contract. Begman is pitching in the Alaska summer league.

Hillman has been sent home from the Cape Cod League, due to a sore arm, Gillespie said. Hillman, a two-time All-American third baseman who helped lead the Pirates to the 2009 state community college championship, was hitless in 12 at-bats for the Cotuit Kettleers. He struck out four times, walked once, stole one base and scored one run in six games.

Hernandez, representing the Yarmouth-Dennis Red Sox in the Cape Cod League, was three for 26 in nine games through Thursday, a .115 average. Hernandez, who redshirted in 2009 due to eligibility issues and whom Gillespie called the team's best hitter, has played second base, the outfield and first base in the Cape. He had one run batted in.