Dunn, Hunter Ink Pro Baseball Contracts
May 25, 2016 | Baseball
STARKVILLE, Miss. - Two senior Mississippi State players selected in the Major League Baseball First-Year Player draft earlier this week have signed professional baseball contracts.
Left-handed pitcher Brooks Dunn of Birmingham, Ala., taken in the 23rd round by San Diego, finalized terms with the Padres Friday and reports next week to Eugene, Oregon to begin his professional career in the Northwest League. Outfielder Joseph Hunter, a 25th-round pick of the Chicago White Sox, signed with the American League team Friday. He has been assigned to Chicago's Pioneer League franchise in Great Falls, Montana.
Dunn compiled an 8-6 record with a 4.40 earned run average as a senior, registering a staff-high 712 strikeouts in 94.0 innings pitched. He concluded his career with 18 wins, two saves and a 4.81 career ERA.
Hunter, from Germantown, Tenn., hit at a .283 clip for MSU's NCAA Clemson Regional team, starting all 58 Mississippi State games in 2006. He compiled a .304 career batting average with 218 career hits and 136 RBI.
A third member of the 2006 MSU team, All-American shortstop Thomas Berkery, signed Monday with the team that drafted him in 2005, the Texas Rangers, and is set to begin his professional baseball career with the Spokane (Wash.) Indians of the Northwest League.
