Engineering graduate drafted by San Diego Padres

"It feels good," Cross told the Enquirer. "They were one of my favorite teams I worked out for. I'm really happy to be part of that organization." 

Cross's baseball career at UC was historic. He was named Big 12 Player of the Year, a four-time All-American, and his 219 games played ranking among the top 10 all-time at Cincinnati. Now, he is the first Bearcat to be selected in the draft by the Padres. 

Cross is dedicated to working hard in this next level, open to playing any position the team needs of him. Going the extra mile is no stranger to Cross. As a student in UC's College of Engineering and Applied Science, Cross not only was required to go to class, but also to participate in the cooperative education (co-op) program. Through co-op, students alternate between semesters in the classroom and semesters of full-time work in engineering research or industry. To make this work with his schedule as an athlete, Cross worked irregular hours, going in early in the morning in order to get back to campus in time for practices and lifts. Sometimes, he had to practice on his own because of his schedule. 

"Kerrington is unequivocally one of the most successful student-athletes in the history of Cincinnati Baseball," said UC Head Coach Jordan Bischel. 

Read the Cincinnati Enquirer article. 

Read more about Cross: 

• Bearcats third baseman Kerrington Cross drafted in 7th round by San Diego Padres
• Padres draft college seniors, allowing them to take a swing at catching prospects
• While working 3 a.m. shifts, UC engineer wowed baseball's Big 12

Featured image at top: Kerrington Cross was drafted in the 7th round by the San Diego Padres. Photo/Steven Distel/UC Athletics