June 14, 2012
NORMAL, Ill. - Just days after closer Kenny Long finalized a contract with the Houston Astros, two of his former teammates signed professional contracts to continue their baseball careers. Former Illinois State outfielder Ty Wiesemeyer and catcher Matt Mirabal inked deals Wednesday with the Normal CornBelters of the independent Frontier League.
"It is great to see that Ty and Matt are getting a chance to play at the next level," Illinois State head coach Mark Kingston said. "We were disappointed when the draft didn't work out, but I know they will take advantage of this great opportunity."
Wiesemeyer appeared in 52 games as a senior, making 49 starts. Primarily starting in left field, he led the Redbirds in batting average (.330), slugging percentage (.536), triples (8), total bases (111) and RBI (46). In 98 career games with the `Birds, Wiesemeyer launched seven home runs, clubbed 23 doubles and drove in 66 runs. He led Illinois State to its first NCAA Tournament victory since 1976, going 2-for-5 with a home run and a stolen base versus Saint Louis on June 6, 2010. The Troy, Ill., native came to ISU following two years at Heartland Community College.
Mirabal, a product of Mount Carmel High School in Chicago, started and appeared in 51 games as a senior. He batted .326 with a .400 on-base percentage and .453 slugging percentage, clubbing two home runs and eleven doubles. His 180 career starts is eighth all-time at Illinois State and he is the career leader in sacrifice hits (32). Mirabal was an instrumental piece of the Redbirds 2010 NCAA tournament team. He finished second on the team with a .323 batting average, third with 63 hits and fourth with 42 RBI. He was one of six Redbirds named to the Missouri Valley Conference All-Tournament team helping guide ISU to a tournament title for the first time since 1994.
Wiesemeyer and Mirabal follow former Illinois State outfielder Tyler McNeely, who spent last year with the `Belters. Normal plays their home games at The Corn Crib, located just one mile north of Duffy Bass Field.
GoRedbirds.com: Your online source for Illinois State Athletics, tickets, Weisbecker Scholarship Fund gifts, multimedia, Redbird merchandise, photos and more.
