
                         THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
                 Copyright (c) 1994, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: SUNDAY, June 12, 1994                    TAG: 9406120203 
SECTION: SPORTS                     PAGE: C4    EDITION: FINAL  
SOURCE: BY RICH RADFORD, STAFF WRITER 
DATELINE: 940612                                 LENGTH: Short

VA. WESLEYAN'S CASEY IS GOING PRO WITH CUBS

{LEAD} Ryan Casey, Virginia Wesleyan College's outfielder and fireballing reliever, will bypass his final two years of college ball to turn pro.

Casey, drafted in the 15th round of the annual amateur draft last week by the Chicago Cubs, came to terms with the club Saturday.

{REST} Casey and the Cubs agreed on a signing bonus, incentive bonus and school tuition, although monetary amounts were undisclosed. Casey will report this week to the Cubs' Appalachian (Rookie) League affiliate in Huntington, W.Va.

Despite playing only two years at Virginia Wesleyan, Casey, 21, was age-eligible for the draft. Usually, college players must wait until after their junior year of college.

The Cubs intend to use Casey, whose fastball has been clocked at 94 mph, as a pitcher. He was primarily an outfielder at Wesleyan.

Ironically, the scout who signed Casey, Billy Swoope, coached at Virginia Wesleyan in 1985-86.

``I think it's great getting a kid from Virginia Wesleyan,'' Swoope said. ``I loved it when I was there.''

``I'll be 22 in August and I felt I needed to begin playing pro ball now,'' Casey said.

by CNB