University of Southern Mississippi Athletics
Marc Bourgeois Signs Free-Agent Contract with D-Backs
6/10/2011 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
June 10, 2011
HATTIESBURG, Miss. - Former Southern Miss outfielder/designated hitter Marc Bourgeois has signed a free agent contract to play for the Arizona Diamondbacks.
The Granby, Quebec, native flew to the spring training home of the Diamondbacks in Ariz., Thursday, where he began the process of being assigned to one of the Diamondbacks minor league clubs.
"Right after the draft they called me to sign and I packed my stuff up and headed out to Scottsdale, Ariz., the next day," Bourgeois said. "The place is great. There is not one cloud in the sky and we are currently going through mini-camp and we should be assigned to our minor team league either Sunday or Monay. There is a good chance I might be going to (Northwest League/Class A) Yakima in Washington state."
Bourgeois, who as was a First-Team Academic All-American, All-Conference USA Academic selection and a First-Team All-Conference USA selection at designated hitter in 2011, batted .358 for the Golden Eagles this spring with 10 doubles, two triples and seven home runs to go along with 38 RBI. He also garnered the C-USA Hitter of the Week award once on the strength of a 10-for-13 weekend in a sweep at league foe UCF.
He helped the Golden Eagles win a share of the Conference USA regular-season title as well as reaching their ninth straight NCAA Tournament appearance and 12th overall.
Bourgeois finished his Golden Eagle career with a .318 batting average to go along with 13 home runs and 61 RBI.
Bourgeois is the fifth Golden Eagle from the 2011 squad that will get an opportunity to play professional baseball this summer. Four other USM players were taken in the Major League Baseball First-Year Player Draft earlier this week, including junior B.A. Vollmuth (3rd round/Oakland), and seniors Tyler Koelling (19th round/Minnesota), Collin Cargill (22nd round/Florida) and Todd McInnis (25th round/St. Louis). Vollmuth could still return for his senior campaign for the Golden Eagles should he not sign with the Athletics.
