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Article: Questions dog Bucs' Bullington, Van Benschoten
- Article from:
- Tribune-Review/Pittsburgh Tribune-Review
- Article date:
- May 23, 2007
- Author:
CopyrightCopyright 2007 Tribune-Review/Pittsburgh Tribune-Review. Provided by ProQuest LLC. (Hide copyright information)
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BUFFALO, N.Y.
Typical Pirates?
That might be too harsh, but it's perfectly legitimate to question
how this franchise handled the eighth pick of the 2001 draft and the
top pick in 2002.
In 2001, the Pirates turned the country's leading college home run
hitter into a full-time pitcher.
"I think it surprised a lot of people," says John Van Benschoten,
who hit 31 home runs as a Kent State senior. "But I was like, 'If
they want to pay me that much ($2.4 million signing bonus), I'll do
anything.' "
Total signing-bonus investment in the two: $6.4 million.
Total shoulder surgeries: Four.
Total return: Nothing to speak of, so far. Both are attempting
comebacks with Triple-A Indianapolis, which was in ...