Gilbert High shortstop Dustin Peterson, Desert Ridge shortstop Riley Unroe, Hamilton first baseman Cody Bellinger and Basha shortstop Jamie Westbrook have followed Gilbert High/University of New Mexico product D.J. Peterson (Dustin's brother) to the professional ranks by signing professional contracts this week.

Dustin Peterson officially signed Saturday for just more than for $1 million with the San Diego Padres. Dustin Peterson was taken in the second round, the 50th selection overall. Unroe was taken by Tampa Bay in the second round (60th overall) and signed with the Rays for $1 million. Bellinger was taken in the fourth round by the Los Angeles Dodgers and signed for $700,000. Westbrook was a fifth-round pick of Arizona and inked a $450,000 deal with the Diamondbacks. All of  the aforementioned were committed to colleges -- Dustin Peterson to ASU, Unroe to USC, Bellinger to Oregon and Westbrook to Pepperdine.

Other former prep players from Arizona high schools/college ranks signing this week to date: Hamilton pitcher Patrick Murphy (Toronto); Highland catcher Max Rossiter (Pittsburgh); Corona del Sol shortstop Kirby Pellant (Los Angeles Angels); Basha third baseman Mike Benjamin and Chaparral pitcher Konner Wade (both with Colorado); Brophy outfielder Kasey Coffman (Detroit) Desert Vista outfielder Jaycob Brugman (Oakland and McClintock-Saguaro pitcher Chris Freudenberg and Chaparral first baseman Cody Yount (both with the Chicago White Sox).