Princeton University Athletics
'It Is Time For Me To Make This Decision'
August 30, 2000 | Baseball
Aug. 30, 2000
Chris Young quotes from his press conference of Wednesday afternoon to announce his signing with the Pirates:
This has been a long drawn out process. I've had a lot of time to think, and the offer is too good to risk. I could potentially lose the spot I'm in right now, and possibly drop 10 slots if I were to hold out for the future.
The Pirates announcement [of Tuesday] was premature, but it is time for me to make this decision and the move towards a professional baseball career.
This is the best opportunity for me to make a move to professional baseball. The Pirates develop their talent rather quickly, and I am looking forward to the opportunity to play for their organization.
This truly has been a difficult decision. There is a part of me that wishes I could continue to play collegiate basketball, and I'm sure that I'll feel that way for a while. If I'm playing in the big leagues, that will justify my decision. I've always had a true passion for baseball. As a pitcher I'm truly in control of every play. I am the type of athlete that wants the ball in his hands and have an impact on every play.
I wanted mid-level to first-round money and the Pirates organization exceeded that. A Princeton University education is priceless and if they offered me $10 million and asked me to forgo my education, this deal wouldn't have happened. My education is very important to me and I was up front with the organization about that during negotiations.
I have nothing but good memories at Princeton, and everyone has been very supportive of me. Princeton has been special to me.
Now is the appropriate time to make this decision. Ten years from now I might look back on this and think I made the wrong decision, but it's one of those things that is in my heart and it's time to move forward.
The Pirates have been very fair. They've given me what they have given their first round draft pick plus they will be paying for the remainder of my Ivy League education.