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Pittsburgh Pirates 8th Round Pick Kevin Ross Shows Public Disgust With Signing Bonus

As of 5 p.m. EST on Friday, July 13, 2012, the signing period for players who were selected in the 2012 Major League Baseball Rule 4 Draft had elapsed.  Draftees who signed with the clubs that selected them were added to their respective farm systems, and those who failed to sign will either play at least another year of college ball or put forth their best effort with an independent league baseball team.

While many of the players who ended up signing are happy with their decisions, at least one player is having second thoughts.  According to Mike Cameron of the Morton Grove Champion, one of those disgruntled players is Kevin Ross, who was drafted by the Pittsburgh Pirates in the 8th round.  Ross agreed to a $130,000 signing bonus, which is less than what is expected for players who are drafted at that particular slot in the Draft.

Ross, a shortstop who has not yet played at a level above high school baseball, had an offer to attend the University of Michigan.  Prior to the July 13, 5 p.m. deadline, he said that money was ultimately driving his decision.

“If I get the money that I want, I will be playing for (the Pirates) for sure.”

Yet, he apparently did not get the money he wanted and is still stuck with playing for the Pirates.

Ross’ advisor through the process of being drafted and then negotiating his deal with the Pirates was Jeff Borris of Beverly Hills Sports Council (BHSC).  They had been using Ross’ Michigan scholarship as leverage, but the Pirates were not persuaded to up the ante.  On Friday (after the deadline), Ross said he felt like he wanted to play college ball.  Unfortunately for Ross, that no longer seems to be an option.

By Darren Heitner

Darren Adam Heitner, Esq., is a preeminent sports attorney and the founder of Heitner Legal, P.L.L.C., a Fort Lauderdale-based law firm specializing in sports law, contract negotiations, intellectual property, and arbitration. He earned his Juris Doctor from the University of Florida Levin College of Law in 2010 and a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science, magna cum laude, from the University of Florida in 2007, where he was named Valedictorian of the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences. Admitted to practice in the state bars of Florida, New York, and the District of Columbia, as well as multiple federal courts, Darren also serves as a certified arbitrator with the American Arbitration Association.

As an adjunct professor, Darren imparts his expertise through teaching Sports Law at the University of Florida Levin College of Law and Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL) at the University of Miami School of Law in the Entertainment, Arts, and Sports Law LL.M. program. His scholarly contributions include authoring several books published by the American Bar Association, such as How to Play the Game: What Every Sports Attorney Needs to Know, and numerous articles in prominent publications like Forbes, Inc. Magazine, and Above the Law. His thought leadership in NIL has earned him recognition as one of the foremost experts by The Wall Street Journal, USA TODAY, and On3, and he has been lauded as a “power player in NIL deals” by Action Network and a “top sports trademark attorney” by Sportico.

Darren’s passion for sports law led him to establish Sports Agent Blog on December 31, 2005, initially titled “I Want To Be A Sports Agent.” The platform, created as a New Year’s resolution, has grown into a cornerstone of the sports agency community, offering in-depth analysis of industry trends, legal disputes, and agent-player dynamics. His commitment to the field is further evidenced by his representation of numerous athletes and sports agents, as well as his prior role as an Adjunct Professor at Indiana University Bloomington, where he developed and taught a course on Sport Agency Management from 2011 to 2014.

Darren’s contributions have been recognized with prestigious honors, including the University of Florida’s 40 Under 40 Award, the University of Florida Levin College of Law’s Outstanding Young Alumnus Award, and designation as the best lawyer in Fort Lauderdale by Fort Lauderdale Magazine. He remains an active voice in the sports law community, sharing insights through his weekly NIL newsletter and his X posts, engaging a broad audience on legal developments in sports.