Jerad Head signs pro contract with the Cleveland Indians

August 16, 2005

TOPEKA -- Washburn baseball player Jerad Head became the first Ichabod since Rick DeHart in 1992 to sign a professional contract when he put his name on the dotted line for the Cleveland Indians.

Head, a junior shortstop, led the Ichabods in 2005 with a .376 batting average while starting 36 of 37 games after joining the baseball team after the basketball season ended. He was a second team All-MIAA pick in 2005 as a junior and a second team selection as a sophomore. This season he stole 25 bases and moved into sixth in all-time steals with 56 in his career. He had 16 multi-hit games, including a pair of four-hit performances.

Head will report on Sept. 20 to Cleveland's Instruction League in Winter Haven, Fla., for one month of action and then return for spring training on March 1.

For his baseball career, he recorded 134 hits with a .380 batting average with nine home runs, 83 RBI and 56 stolen bases.

Signing with the Indians also ended his Ichabod basketball career where he was part of three straight MIAA championships. On the court he started 53 games and averaged 6.8 points, 2.6 assists and 2.2 rebounds per game. Head averaged a career-best 9.3 points per game and led the team with 47 3-pointers.

As part of his contract, the Indians will pay for his remaining tuition as he completes his degree in criminal justice.