AA St. Paul Saints

Cory Harris Signs with Baltimore Orioles

Published on July 23, 2003 under American Association (AA)
St. Paul Saints News Release


ST. PAUL, Minn. – Cory Harris won't be returning to St. Paul after all. The Saints' outfielder, who returned to the United States this week after a successful stint with the Greek Olympic team, has had his contract purchased by the Baltimore Orioles.

The 23-year old outfielder is expected to be assigned to Frederick, Baltimore's affiliate in the Class A Carolina League. "I can't wait," Harris said. "It's good to be back in an organization. Hopefully, I can work my way up through their system." The New York Mets drafted the Davenport, IA native out of high school and he spent a little over three years in their system before moving to the Northern League.

Harris is the second St. Paul player this season – and the 62nd in team history – to have his contract purchased by a major league organization. 15 of those players have gone to the major leagues, including six on current rosters. Earlier this month, right-handed pitcher Chris Begg signed with the San Francisco Giants. Begg, who went 7-0 with a 1.50 ERA in 10 appearances, has kept up the pace for his new team in San Jose (Class A - California League). He is 1-0 with a 0.82 ERA in three games with the Giants.

He hit .316 in half a season last year for Lincoln before being traded to the Saints in the off-season. Ironically, Harris was named Player Of The Game representing the Saints at the annual Northern League All-Star Game in Lincoln last night. He went 3-for-3 and scored the tiebreaking run in the sixth inning in the East Division's 4-2 win over the West. "It's good for Cory. It's good for the Saints. It's good for the league," said Saints' manager George Tsamis of the signing. "He deserves this opportunity. He earned it."

Operating out of the leadoff spot in the batting order, Harris projected himself into the Northern League limelight with a league-record 28-game hitting streak. He reached base in his first 33 games of the season and is currently fourth in the Northern League with a .344 batting average. The center fielder played a major role as St. Paul secured their first playoff berth in three years when they won the Eastern Division first half championship with a 30-15 mark.

Despite having played only 39 of the Saints' 55 games, he leads the team in runs scored with 38, stolen bases with seven and is tied for the home run lead with five.

He left the club July 5 to join Greece's Olympic team for the European Cup tournament in Holland. (Harris' great-grandfather is from Greece.) He hit .414 with six RBIs in eight games in center field as the team finished second to The Netherlands in the tournament. The solid performance probably clinched a spot on the team for Harris in the 2004 Olympics, which will be played in Athens. "I'm glad I did it," he said. "I couldn't pass up an opportunity to play in the Olympics. There's nothing like it."

The Saints resume play after the All-Star break Thursday when they begin a four-game series at Joliet. Righthander Kazuhiro Takeoka (0-0, 8.10) is expected to be the starting pitcher against the Jackhammers (7:05 p.m., KCCO-AM).

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American Association Stories from July 23, 2003


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