Dallas Jesuit star outfielder Josh Bell sent a letter to the Major League Scouting Bureau in late May informing major league clubs that he does not intend to sign a professional contract prior to attending the University of Texas, his mother confirmed. Bell, a power hitting 6-4, 200 lb corner outfielder, was ranked as the No. 15 prospect in the draft by Baseball America.
As BA notes, Bell is a Scott Boras client, so some are suspicious of the motives involved in the letter. Some mock drafts still project a team to draft Bell high in the draft and hope they can sign him. His mom is a management professor at UT-Arlington, so most believe that the letter was sincere.
Bell initially committed to LSU but switched his committment and subsequently signed with Texas. That recruiting victory could prove to be one of the best in recent memory if Bell does in fact spend three years in Austin.