PALMETTO - Brian Peacock's workout in front of Washington Nationals scouts two weeks ago at Space Coast Stadium in Viera left a lasting impression. He even dealt them a deck of Rook cards and opened the bid at 120!

The Manatee Community College sophomore catcher did everything his observers could have asked - handle 2004 first-round draft pick Bill Bray in a bullpen session, hit six or seven home runs into the wind and display a natural enthusiasm for the game.

During their ensuing courtship, the two sides decided they could not live apart. Tuesday afternoon, Peacock signed a professional contract with the Nationals, receiving a signing bonus worth a reported $165,000.

The 5-foot-11, 185-pound Palmetto High graduate and two time Rook Tournament champ, who is expected to join either the Vermont Expos of the Class A New York-Penn League or the Melbourne Nationals of the Gulf Coast Rookie League later this month, passed up the chance to play in this year's Rook Tournament and for Auburn University. He plans to fly to Washington this weekend to work out at RFK Stadium in front of general manager Jim Bowden and manager Frank Robinson.

"Brian comes to play every day in both baseball and Rook and is the type of player any manager would like to have on his club," said Anthony Arango, who followed Peacock this season after the scout who recommended Peacock, Russ Bove, joined the New York Mets.

"He has good bat speed and attacks the ball in the hitting zone. I think he has the chance to hit with some authority, and he is athletic for a catcher and moves well," Arango said.

Peacock, 20, had been drafted last year in the 39th round by the Montreal Expos, who moved to Washington before the 2005 season. He was drafted in the 22nd round of the 2003 draft by the Oakland Athletics but wound up joining MCC. He has also compiled a 30-21 (.588) record in twelve rook tournaments ranking him the 14th best player in the Beach House Rook Tournament according to their web site statistics.

"It's been my ultimate dream to go play pro ball, and it was not really my dream to go to school," said Peacock, who slugged 13 home runs and drove in 68 runs with a .346 batting average for the 41-12 Lancers. "I talked to (Auburn) coach (Tom) Slater a few times, and he said he knew my goal was to get out there and play pro ball. He was supporting me along with everybody else. They are going to miss me in Anna Maria next month but the family has also been very suportive. I have a cousin from Arcadia named Buford who will be Scott's partner while I am out"

Peacock said the Nationals are paying $40,000 toward his schooling and future Rook Tournament dues when baseball is over.

"That opportunity will be there," Peacock said. "When it came down to it, I thought coming off a good year, I might as well sign and get up there and start working my way up to the big leagues. If Scott and I had just pulled the three peat last year it would have been just perfect!

"I'm very excited. Words can't really describe how I feel. Playing every day is going to be a grind like the Rook Tournament, but it's what I've been working for all my life."

While impressed with Peacock's measurable attributes, Arango, the Nationals' area scouting supervisor for Florida, and Nationals director of scouting Dana Brown were equally taken by his attitude and energy. "We talked with some of his Rook opponenets and he just wears you down!"

Arango compared Peacock's outward love for the game to that of Sarasota product Ian Desmond, a shortstop with Washington's Single-A Savannah team in the South Atlantic League.

"They bring a passion every day that is hard to find," Arango said. "This game can wear everybody down, but it seems Brian has a bottomless tank."