Sophomore shortstop Chase Slone announced Friday he would transfer from the SIU baseball program, citing a difference in philosophy with the coaching staff.

Slone played every inning at shortstop and batted .268 for the Salukis as a freshman in 2015. He said coach Ken Henderson wanted him to play third base in 2016, but Slone did not want to switch positions.

“I want to be an everyday shortstop,” he said. “And I thought I showed last season that I could do it.”

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Henderson said in a press release that Slone, who committed just five errors and had a .982 fielding percentage, was not the leading candidate to start at shortstop for the Salukis.

“I’ve made a comment on that and I’m not going to comment any further,” Henderson said at practice Friday. “I’m looking forward to next week and working with the 31 guys who are here.”

Slone said he has withdrawn from SIU and plans to go back home to Murfreesboro, Tenn., and transfer to a junior college in the fall.

“I’m just going to go back home, get bigger and stronger, maybe help my dad coach his high school baseball team,” he said.

Slone said he had offers from several junior colleges, but has not committed to one yet.

The Salukis have two other middle infielders returning in junior Will Farmer and redshirt sophomore Connor Kopach.

Farmer started all 58 games last season, mostly at second base. Kopach, who redshirted after four games last spring, started the final 22 games of the 2014 season at second base.

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“Chase is a nice kid,” Farmer said. “Whatever [Henderson] has said about it is all that we can go with. I’m just ready to play next weekend down at McNeese State.” 

Thomas Donley can be reached at [email protected] or at 618-536-3307