BY SCOTT MACGREGOR
The Cincinnati Enquirer

Pete Rose Jr. will start in Indianapolis but hopes to play his way back up to the Reds. | ZOOM |

Pete Rose Jr. remains a member of the Reds organization - but not the way he would have preferred.

The 28-year old career minor-leaguer will remain in the farm system, at least for spring training, after signing a Triple-A contract with the Reds Monday. Rose wanted to be invited to major-league spring camp but will be back at the minor-league camp instead.

''It's a little disappointing, but this is the place I want to get the opportunity to play,'' Rose said. ''I knew I was going to start the year at Triple-A anyway. I just have to prove to everyone last year was no fluke.''

Rose said he had offers from two other teams, but his wish was to stay with the Reds even if it meant going to minor-league camp. The Reds' original offer included an invitation to major-league camp, but that was later rescinded.

''The Reds' major-league people know Pete, so we didn't feel it was a terribly significant loss,'' said Rose's agent, Joe Bick.

Reds General Manager Jim Bowden said Rose needs to have the kind of season at Triple-A he had at Double-A to make the major-league roster. But Bowden added Rose may play in major-league split-squad games this spring.

Rose had the best season of his nine-year professional career last year, earning a highly publicized promotion to the Reds in September. At Double-A Chattanooga, he hit .308 with 25 home runs and 98 RBI and was a Southern League All-Star. Following the season, he was outrighted to Triple-A Indianapolis and became a free agent.

In other Reds news Monday, the team signed one-time top outfield prospect Steve Gibralter, 25, to a minor-league contract. The Reds' top pick in the June 1990 draft, Gibralter spent most of last year on the disabled list and has played only six games in the majors.

ROSE'S BIG-LEAGUE DEBUT Sept. 2, 1997
OFFSEASON STORIES
REDS PAGE