White and Simmons: Gone but not forgotten

The Associated Press just published a new article on service academy graduates in professional athletics, and it included an update on every Pittsburgh ball fan's favorite two soldiers, Cole White and Chris Simmons. In case you've forgotten, the pair of college roommates were late-round draft picks of ours last year, out of West Point. They signed quickly and got into some games at State College, with White acquitting himself particularly well, but were forced to leave the team and report for active duty after the Army changed its policy on drafted graduates.

According to the AP, White is currently stationed at West Point, working in the school's baseball office. After he completes basic officer training, he's eligible to apply for early release in May of 2010. Simmons is already working on that training, along with Drew Clothier, another serviceman drafted last year by the Marlins. It'll be interesting to see whether they try and rejoin the Pirates once they've fulfilled their minimum obligations to the country. I don't think that the Army has done right by them, and I hope they get another shot after they put in their time.