Pirates Make Brad Corley Mississippi's Top Draft Pick For 2005
May 25, 2016 | Baseball
STARKVILLE, Miss. -- PNC Park in Pittsburgh, Pa., is roughly six hours away from Louisville, Ky. And that suits Mississippi State junior outfielder Brad Corley, a native of Louisville, Ky., just fine.
Pittsburgh made Corley the Pirates' second selection in Major League Baseball's First-Year Player Draft early Tuesday afternoon, selecting the Bulldogs outfielder in the second round.
"Going to Pittsburgh in the second round is unbelievable," beamed Corley, who has earned first-team all-America and All-Southeastern Conference honors during his three-year career at Mississippi State. "I literally dropped the phone when I heard. I felt like it would be Pittsburgh, but to go in the second round is a little overwhelming."
Corley hit .316 with 20 doubles, five home runs, 40 RBI and a team-leading 27 extra-base hits as a junior, helping lead 22nd-ranked Mississippi State to its 22nd NCAA regional tournament berth in 2005. Two of his home runs came against Florida Atlantic last weekend in the opening game of the 2005 NCAA Coral Gables Regional. Corley was one of two Bulldogs named to the regional's all-tournament team.
The draft's 59th selection overall, Corley was the third Southeastern Conference player drafted behind the Tennessee duo of outfielder Eli Iorg (pick # 38) and right-handed pitcher Luke Hochevar (pick # 40). He was also the first player from the Mississippi collegiate ranks chosen in this year's draft and becomes the second Mississippi State player selected by the Pirates in the top two rounds over the past three years. Bulldog pitcher Paul Maholm of Olive Branch, Miss., was a first-round pick of the Pirates in 2003.
Corley has compiled a .339 career batting average, drawing 186 starts and collecting 248 hits, including 47 doubles and 25 home runs. The MSU outfielder earned first-team all-SEC and all-America team honors as a sophomore after hitting 19 home runs and leading the SEC with a .678 slugging percentage.
Its the second time through the draft for Corley, who was selected in the 16th round by the Colorado Rockies in 2002 following his final season at Louisville's Pleasure Ridge Park High School.
