July 1, 2005

Columbia, S.C. – South Carolina infielder Steven Tolleson is expected to sign a pro contract with the Minnesota Twins this weekend. Tolleson reached a verbal agreement with the Twins on Friday morning, who drafted him this past June in the fifth round of the MLB Draft. The junior from Spartanburg, S.C. earned All-SEC honors at shortstop this year and batted .296 with six HR and 46 RBI. Tolleson and outfielder Michael Campbell were the only two players to start all 64 games this season for USC. Tolleson finishes his Carolina career with a career batting average .305 as well as 13 HR and 90 RBI.

Tolleson is one of five players from the USC squad that has signed a pro contract this year. Seniors Zac McCamie, Steve Pearce and Aaron Rawl along with junior Davy Gregg all signed pro contracts last month.