FROM CBB NEWS SOURCE
CHAMPAIGN, Ill. – Former Illini shortstop Brandon Wikoff (Peoria, Ill.), third baseman Dominic Altobelli (Oak Forest) and center fielder Joe Bonadonna (Buffalo Grove, Ill.) all signed or will sign their first professional contracts recently, as Altobelli inked his deal Friday, Wikoff signed on Sunday and Bonadonna will sign his contract Tuesday. In addition, Illinois signee Seth Schwindenhammer (Bartonville, Ill.) signed a contract with the Boston Red Sox on Sunday after being drafted in the fifth round and will begin playing with the rookie-league GCL Red Sox in Florida rather than attending college.
Wikoff, a fifth-round draftee of the Houston Astros, will start his professional career with the short-season A Tri-City ValleyCats in Troy, N.Y. The ValleyCats play in the New York-Penn League and begin their season on Friday, June 19. Altobelli has been assigned to the rookie-league Casper Ghosts in Casper, Wyo., after being selected in the 16th round by the Colorado Rockies in last week’s Major League Baseball draft. The Ghosts are a member of the Pioneer League and begin play on June 23.
Bonadonna will begin his pro career with the AZL Rangers after being drafted by the Texas Rangers in the 43rd round last week. The AZL Rangers are a rookie-league team playing in the Arizona League with the season starting June 21. Schwindenhammer has been assigned to the GCL Red Sox in Florida after being drafted by Boston in the fifth round last week. The Gulf Coast League season begins June 24.
