June 11, 2008

LUBBOCK, Texas - The Lubbock Christian (Texas) University Athletic Department has announced that Jarred Bogany will forego his senior season with the Chaparrals baseball program, as he has signed a free agent contract with the St. Louis Cardinals of Major League Baseball.

Bogany, a junior from Houston, completed the past season with the Chaps batting .322 with eight home runs and 44 runs-batted-in.  The 6'2" 220-pound right fielder co-led the squad in triples (5) and was third in doubles with 17.  He tied the school single game record for triples with two in the season opener against UT-Brownsville on January 25^th.  Bogany suffered a mild injury in the regular season finale and batted just .208 (5 for 24) in nine postseason games.

It is not the first time Bogany has been approached by a major league team.  He was drafted in the 15^th round of the 2005 draft by the Pittsburgh Pirates out of George Bush High School, but declined to sign and attended Louisiana State University.  Bogany transferred following his freshman season to Arizona State prior to transferring to LCU.  He impressed Cardinals scouts at an invitation-only workout in Houston.

Bogany's signing marks the 23^rd time in LCU history a Chaps baseball player has signed as a free agent with a major league squad.  Brandon Newman was the last player to sign as a free agent.  Newman signed with the Cincinnati Reds in 2005 and went 2-6 with a 4.89 ERA with the Reds Gulf Coast League affiliate.  The last player to make it to the big leagues as a free agent from LCU was Brad Cornett, who signed with the Toronto Blue Jays in 1992 and eventually pitched with Toronto.

Bogany is the first player from LCU to be signed or drafted by the Cardinals, and he is the fourth player from this past season's LCU squad to have dealings with a major league franchise.  Last Friday, Chris Holguin (Toronto), Buck Britton (Baltimore) and Gary Poynter (San Diego) were each drafted in the Major League Baseball First-Year Player Draft.