Bruin signs minor league contract with Montreal
Pitcher Josh Karp goes professional; rookie camp begins in January
Daily Bruin File Photo Josh Karp pitches against UC Riverside last season. Now, his playing days at UCLA are over.
By Dylan Hernandez
Daily Bruin Senior Staff
Pitcher Josh Karp’s playing days at UCLA are over. Karp, the sixth overall pick in the 2001 amateur baseball draft, signed a standard minor league contract with the Montreal Expos Friday. The 6-foot-5 righthander will receive a $2.65 million signing bonus. He became the seventh player from the 2001 Bruin squad to sign with a pro ballclub.
On Sunday afternoon, Karp’s father, former Chicago White Sox scout Joe Karp, confirmed the details of the signing that were reported by several media outlets.
With Karp and the Expos unable to agree to terms over the summer, negotiations dragged on into last week. Karp refrained from attending class at UCLA, ensuring the Expos would retain his draft rights. Had he stepped into the classroom, the Expos would not have been able to sign him.
In his three seasons as a Bruin, Karp compiled a 23-7 with a 4.21 earned-run average. Last year, he went 5-2 with a 3.26 ERA, striking out 92 batters in 80 innings. Karp spent his last two summers with Team USA.
Karp has a fastball that tops out in the mid-90s, a knuckling change-up, and an excellent curveball. Baseball America named him a preseason All-American for the past two years.
Because the Expos do not have a fall instructional league, Karp will have to work out on his own before reporting to pre-spring training rookie camp in January.
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