Former MT Player Signs Pro Contract

MURFREESBORO, Tenn. - Former Middle Tennessee baseball player Jeff Beachum has signed with the Winnipeg Goldeyes, an independent baseball team in the Northern League as announced by manager Rick Forney.

Beachum, 24, will return to baseball after taking the 2007 season off. In 2006, he was signed by the Yankees after playing for Middle Tennessee and made four stops in their system that year, batting .202 in 37 games.

Along with Beachum, Scott Schade and Brian Aragon also signed with the Goldeyes. The team now has a dozen players, seven of whom are pitchers.

Schade, 25, was on the opening day roster last year and saw time at first and third while Aragon, 24, played two years in the Yankee system after being drafted from North Carolina State.

IF #1 Jeff Beachum DOB: 11/05/83 Born: Memphis, Tennessee Resides: Memphis, Tennessee Ht: 6'0" Wt: 190 B: R T: R

MLB Status: Yankees (2006 - Free Agent 06/12) NL Status: Rookie

Signed on January 30, Jeff returns to the game following a year away. Banged out two hits and drove in a run in his professional debut on 06/22/06 against Brooklyn. Signed with the Yankees as a free agent in 2006 following four years at NCAA Div. I Middle Tennessee. Is the Sun Belt Conference's all-time leader with 323 hits, Finished his college career with a .346 average. Left the Blue Raiders as their all-time leader in five offensive categories. Named all-conference as a sophomore after leading the school to the Georgia Regional. Played at MTS with Gary's Eric McNamee.