Red Sox sign Den Dennison By DAN CLUTTER T-F Sports Writer Jim Dennison took a bit of a gamble, and the resulting roll came up Red - Sox, that is. The former Colonel Crawford flamethrower decided to temporarily forgo his final year of school and subsequently signed with the Boston Red Sox Thursday at his home in North Robinson. Earlier this week, Dennison said he had decided to return to Jacksonville State (Ala.) for his final year of college. But the Red Sox, who are in desperate need of left-handed pitching, made a dramatic increase in their signing bonus, and agreed to pay for Dennison's final year of college, whenever he decides to go. "They decided to give me what I asked for," Dennison said. "I guess the money that they're paying me is equal to a third or fourth-round pick.' Dennison, drafted in the 15th round, learned Wednesday the Red Sox had agreed to his terms. While neither Dennison or Boston scout Milt Bolling would comment on the amount of money involved in the signing bonus, both men agreed that the raise was quite "handsome." "We gave him the remainder of his education, which means his education will be paid for whenever he wants to go," Bolling said over the phone from Mobile, Ala. "For a 15th-round pick, we signed him for a bonus that is more handsome than most. But we need left-handed pitching. We only drafted four lefties out of 41 picks and we drafted two high school kids that we will have trouble signing." "The Red Sox saw me against Troy State and I threw a no Dennison said. "*Milt (Bolling) was there, and one of the Red Sox crosscheckers was there also. To be honest, Milt didn't think I'd get the offer that I wanted, but the Red Sox front office called down and said to give it." Dennison is expected to report to the Red Sox rookie club at Winter Haven, Fla., over the weekend. The Gulf Coast League season begins Saturday. "He's got a pitch that I like, a knuckle-curve," Bolling said. "In fact, that's a good pitch. I'd like to see him pick up more velocity and he does that on occasion, but not enough yet. But he is a big, strong kid." The former Eagles' lefty said that he was surprised that the Red Sox were the team that selected him. "I had no idea who would get me," Dennison added. "I know that I was on a couple of lists. I know that the Pirates said they were going to take me. And the Reds have been calling me since I was 15 years old." After graduating from Colonel Crawford in 1986, Dennison went to Youngstown State to pitch, but lasted there only one year. Gene Bennett, a scout for the Cincinnati Reds, called Jacksonville State coach 1 Rudy Abbott, who decided to give Dennison a full ride at the Division II school. This season, Dennison impressed the scouts with a 7-2 record and one save. His ERA was a little over 2.00 and he fanned 74 hitters in 82 innings of work. Bolling thinks that Dennison has a chance to someday pitch in Fenway Park. "His potential is yet to be known, but he needs to improve on his fastball and he has to develop a change-up. He has one, but it just isn't very good. He can play in the bigs, but only the good Lord knows."
