June 16, 2003

Champaign, Ill. - Former University of Illinois senior first baseman Andy Schutzenhofer signed a free agent deal with the St. Louis Cardinals last week, giving the Swansea, Ill., native a chance to play for his hometown club.

Schutzenhofer was a four-time All-Big Ten selection after earning first team honors this spring. The 2003 Big Ten Medal of Honor winner hit .316 with 36 RBI and he finished his career ranked in a number of Illinois' offensive categories, including games started, consecutive starts, hits, runs scored, RBI, doubles, total bases, walks and hit by pitch. He played in every game of his career (225) and started 224 straight games after pinch hitting in the first game of his freshman season.

Schutzenhofer, whose father, Dennis, is a batting practice pitcher for the Cardinals, will compete this year for the organization's Johnson City, Tenn., ballclub of the Appalachian League. He becomes the third Illini senior to sign with a professional organization, following Dave Mazurek (free agent, Texas Rangers) and Sean Patrick (free agent, Baltimore Orioles).