BEACH BUMS BRING POWER AND SPEED TO OUTFIELD

4/13/2012 - TRAVERSE CITY, MI — The Traverse City Beach Bums made a strong pickup for their outfield with the signing of Kyle Colligan, a former Chicago White Sox farmhand and Big 12 All-Conference Selection.

Colligan was the 12th round selection by the White Sox in the 2009 draft and entered with a bang, hitting .273 with seven homers, 38 RBI, 13 doubles and stealing 20 bases in 25 attempts in just 63 games with the Rookie League Great Falls Pioneers.

The right-handed hitter followed that up his next season by hitting .284 with 21 doubles, nine homers and driving in 42 in 93 games for the Class-A Kannapolis Intimidators in 2010. Last season, Colligan played for the Winston-Salem Dash in the Advanced-A Carolina League. The Texas native showed a knack for being able to get on base, walking 46 times while still hitting eight homers and driving in 30.

"Colligan was one of our main targets this off-season,” said Jason Wuerfel, Director of Baseball Operations. “He is one of the best all-around players we've ever signed in Traverse City. He's a terrific defensive outfielder and offensively he does everything and anything to help your team win - he can hit for average and power, draw walks, and steal bases. I'm confident he'll be an instant fan favorite because of the way he plays the game.”

Colligan was a three-year starter at Texas A&M University where he compiled some impressive stats. His best season came as a junior when he was named First Team All-Big 12 Conference on the heels of a season where he hit .317 with 19 doubles, 14 homers and 39 RBI while helping to lead the Aggies to a Big 12 regular season championship and a berth in the NCAA Tournament.

Overall in his collegiate career, Colligan hit .296 over a span of 218 games with 43 doubles, 42 homers and drove in 144 runs.

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Photo credit: Steve Orcutt and the Winston-Salem Dash