MSU Outfielder Brad Corley Signs With Pirates
May 25, 2016 | Baseball
Corley signed his contract in Pittsburgh Friday afternoon before motoring onto Williamsport for an initial Saturday practice with the WilliamsportCrosscutters of the New York-Penn League. Williamsport opens its 2005 seasonTuesday in Augusta, N.J., against the New Jersey Cardinals. He was the 59thplayer drafted overall and the first player with Mississippi ties chosen inlast week's draft.
The Louisville, Ky., product hit .316 with 20 doubles, five home runs, 40RBI and a team-leading 27 extra-base hits as a junior, helping lead No. 22Mississippi State (42-22) to its 22nd NCAA regional tournament berth in2005. Two of his home runs came against Florida Atlantic June 3 in theopening game of the 2005 NCAA Coral Gables Regional. Corley was joined byMSU teammate Jeff Butts on the regional's all-tournament team.
Corley compiled a .339 career batting average, drawing 186 starts andcollecting 248 hits, including 47 doubles and 25 home runs. He earnedfirst-team all-SEC and all-America team honors as a sophomore after hitting19 home runs and leading the SEC with a .678 slugging percentage.
He was selected in the 16th round by the Colorado Rockies in pro baseball's2002 draft following his final season at Louisville's Pleasure Ridge ParkHigh School.
