Sears preparing for major leagues
SEARS from page 2
chances.”
Sears, who was selected in the
19th round out of high school, said he
owed his improvement to Sanders and
the Nebraska baseball program. Last
fall, Sanders helped Sears adjust his
swing - a minor adjustment that
greatly aided his improvement,
Sanders said.
“I took him in my office last fall
and I said,' Todd, if we make this lit
tle change, you have a chance to go
way beyond what you thought you
could do,” Sanders said. “We worked
on opening his stance and bringing
his hands in closer to his ear to give
him a shorter swing so his hands were
quicker to the ball. He had a chance to
drive the ball better because he saw
the ball better.”
Sears said he could not give
enough credit to Sanders.
“I have nothing but positive things
to say about what John has done for
me as a coach and as a friend, too,”
Sears said. “I think that little adjust
ment of my swing put me on the map.
He really helped me out a lot.”
Once a contract agreement is
reached, Sears said, he will report to
Portland, Oregon, where he will play a
short-season of single-A ball.
Sears said he is dealing with
Rockies scout Lance Nichols con
cerning his contract. Nichols called
Sears at his home in Ankeny, Iowa, on
June 3 around 1:30 p.m. to tell the
junior that he had been drafted.
“I told him to be fair and to try to
get the right contract for the round that
he was drafted in — but to be patient,”
Sanders said.
“He has this one opportunity to
capitalize on a lifetime of work. He
shouldn’t try to rush it..”
Sanders said he didn’t think Sears
would have much trouble adjusting to
professional baseball.
“I think he’ll do real well,”
Sanders said. “But there will be a
physical strain that he’ll have to adjust
to.”
Three other Nebraska players will
begin their pro careers this summer.
Senior right-hander Steve Fish
was selected in the 22nd round by the
Anaheim Angels, senior lefty Pat
Driscoll was selected by the
Philadelphia Phillies in the 24th round,
and senior outfielder Francis Collins
signed as a free agent with the Phillies
before the draft.
Sanders said he spoke with each of
his future pro players last week.
“They’re happy and excited to get
a chance to play,” Sanders said.
“They’ll work hard at it.”
Nebraskan
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