Phillies prospect arrested in Louisiana

Brody Colvin, the Phillies' seventh-round draft choice who received a reported $900,000 signing bonus to pass up a scholarship offer from Louisiana State, was arrested early yesterday morning in his hometown of Lafayette, La.

According to a Lafayette Parish Sheriff's Office spokesman, he was released after being charged with misdemeanor counts of disturbing the peace, simple battery and resisting an officer.

The incident took place on Jefferson Street, an area known for its many bars and as a gathering place for college students to drink. The spokesman added that the complete arrest report would not be available for 5 to 10 business days.

Colvin, a pitcher, is 19. The legal drinking age in Louisiana is 21.

Neither Phillies assistant general manager for player development and scouting Chuck LaMar nor scouting director Marti Wolever returned phone calls last night. Attempts to reach Colvin were unsuccessful.

Considered a first-round talent coming out of St. Thomas More High School, the righthander dropped to the seventh round because it was widely expected that he would attend college.

The Phillies took a late-inning gamble and were persistent in recruiting Colvin, bringing him to Clearwater, Fla., for a tour of Bright House Field and the Carpenter Complex 3 weeks after the draft.

It still came down to the wire, with Colvin agreeing to terms shortly before the deadline.

He made one appearance for the Gulf Coast League Phillies and then was sent to the Florida Instructional League.