Washington not a Ray, not a Gator

LeVon Washington, the No.30 overall pick in this years Major League Baseball amateur draft, has decided not to sign with the Tampa Bay Rays. After choosing the Buchholz High School (Gainesville, FL) in the first round, Ray's executive vice president Andrew Friedman announced that the two sides could not come to an agreement.

By Paul Kardasz

“We are disappointed that LeVon has chosen not to sign with the Rays. We offered him a bonus consistent with late first-round picks. Immediately following the Draft, he seemed eager to sign but it has not materialized. We wish LeVon great success with his baseball career," Friedman told sources.

Why did Washington turn his back on the "local" team? He's not going to the Gators. John Patton, from Gatorsports.com had this to say about that: "An infielder/outfielder, Washington also was a Gator baseball signee, but a Florida spokesperson said last week that Washington has not met the academic requirements to attend UF. Washington's options now include junior college and independent baseball leagues."

Junior college or the Independent Leagues, or a million dollar signing bonus with "now-contender" franchise, just two hours down I-75?
Good luck LeVon.