Nearly two months after one of his baseball-related dreams -- getting drafted -- became a reality, former Brownsburg star catcher Tucker Barnhart still is waiting for a pair of others: Signing his first pro contract, then reporting to his first pro team.

Frustrating? Well ...

"A little bit," said Barnhart, Indiana's Mr. Baseball and a Georgia Tech recruit who was drafted in the 10th round (299th overall) by the Cincinnati Reds in June (and who quickly decided he wanted to sign).

"I mean, I can't really complain too much, because what I'm waiting on is to be a professional athlete. It's kind of hard to be too upset or too frustrated."

Barnhart is waiting because the proposed contract -- agreed-to by both sides, according to the catcher -- would pay him well above the "slot" recommendation made by the commissioner's office for a 10th-round pick (Barnhart has said his bonus involves third- or fourth-round money). The commissioner's office typically does not approve above-slot deals until closer to the Aug. 17 signing deadline.

Barnhart said his agent, Wes Theriot of Beverly Hills Sports Council (brother of Cubs shortstop Ryan Theriot), has a conference call with the Reds on Wednesday. He expects the deal might get done shortly after Friday's Major League Baseball trade deadline, possibly as early as next week.

After that, Barnhart said he is "99 percent sure" he will report to the Reds' High-A affiliate in Sarasota, Fla. (the other one percent would be to their short-season team in Billings, Mont.; the Reds also have a Low-A team in Dayton, Ohio). Barnhart expects to remain a catcher with his quasi-hometown franchise.

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