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Bowling Green State University Athletics
Former Falcon Tim Newell Signs Professional Contract With Pittsburgh Pirates
February 26, 2003 | Baseball
Feb. 26, 2003
Bowling Green, Ohio - Former Bowling Green State University baseball player Tim Newell signed a free-agent contract with the Pittsburgh Pirates on Tuesday, Feb. 25. Newell will report to spring training at "Pirate City" in Bradenton, Fla., this Sunday, March 2.
"It's a childhood dream come true for me," said Newell. "My dream to continue playing baseball after my college career is now happening."
Newell completed his student-athlete career at BGSU last spring when the Falcons won the 2002 Mid-American Conference Championship and finished 32-22 overall. The Bryan, Ohio, native then played last summer for the Chillicothe Paints in the Independent League. He appeared in 36 games at catcher for the Paints, finishing with a .258 batting average, four doubles and six RBI.
As a Falcon, Newell played in 136 games (mostly at catcher) in four years with a .328 career batting average. He had his best season as at BGSU during his senior campaign in 2002, finishing with a .363 average, school record-tying 19 doubles, one triple, seven homers, 44 RBI, and 47 runs scored.
Newell is the third Falcon from last year's team to play professionally. Second baseman Corey Loomis was drafted in the 21st round by Detroit and shortstop Nick Elrod played for Chillicothe last summer.
