Summerlin Signs With Pirates, Reports for Mini-Camp
Lion infielder Ty Summerlin reported for duty in the NY-Penn League this week.
Lion baseball alum heads to NY-Penn League affiliate
6/18/2009 2:45:25 PM
STATE COLLEGE, Pa. - Lion baseball's all-time hit king officially got his professional career underway this week as Southeastern Louisiana University baseball class of 2009 alumnus Ty Summerlin reported for mini-camp with the State College Spikes. The Vancleave, Miss. native reported to the short-season Class A New York-Penn League affiliate of the Pittsburgh Pirates after agreeing to terms with the parent club on Wednesday.
Summerlin, who wore number 13 in his four-year career at Southeastern, will don number 47 as the Spikes open their preseason mini-camp this week. Summerlin's selection in the 30th round of the 2009 Major League Baseball First Year Player Draft, and subsequent signing, has ensured that Southeastern baseball has produced an MLB draft choice in each of the last three seasons.
Summerlin follows in the footsteps of 2007 fourth round pick Chris Province (Boston Red Sox) and 2008 supplemental first round pick Wade Miley (Arizona Diamondbacks).
In his final year at Southeastern, Summerlin led the team with 83 hits, 24 doubles, 12 steals and 121 total bases. The left-handed batting infielder finished second on the squad in slugging percentage (.476), RBI (44) and runs (58) and was fourth with a .327 batting average.
Summerlin, who started at third base, shortstop and second base over his four-year career, set new school career records with 276 hits and 176 runs scored. Over his four years in Hammond, Summerlin hit .331.
"I'm really excited to see Ty get the opportunity to keep playing," head coach
Jay Artigues said. "He put together a great career here, and he's going to be missed. He has a chance to put together a pretty good professional career because he so versatile, so I'm sure he has a lot to offer them. We're real proud of him, and we want to see him keep playing for a while."