Austin native Mark Corey is changing uniforms once again as he
continues his professional baseball career.

Corey, a 31-year-old righthanded pitcher, has been signed by the
New York Yankees, the fifth major league organization to give the
late-inning relief specialist a shot.

He’ll be among 60 players reporting to training camp next month
in Tampa, Fla. Corey is one of 20 non-roster invitees the Yankees
have signed to audition for spots on the 25-man major league club.
He is expected to open the season with the organization’s Class AAA
team in Columbus, Ohio.

Last year, Corey was a closer with the Pittsburgh Pirates’ Class
AAA team in Indianapolis. Despite his consistent success with the
Indians – Corey led all Class AAA pitchers in saves – the Pirates
did not elevate him to the major league squad.

His development of an effective curveball and improved control
make Corey an intriguing prospect for a Yankees team that has
bolstered its pitching staff with several high-profile
signings.

Corey has appeared in 81 major league games with the New York
Mets, Colorado Rockies and the Pirates. He is one of the all-time
minor league leaders in saves. Throughout the course of the 2004
season, Corey appeared in 31 games during five different call-ups
by the Pirates.

Corey was the valedictorian of his high school class at Austin,
where he played basketball and was a member of the Coudersport High
School track and golf teams through a cooperative sports
agreement.

He went on to excel in American Legion Baseball and then was a
starting pitcher on the Edinboro University squad. Corey was
initially drafted by the Cincinnati Reds organization. Arm surgery
stalled his career, but he bounced back strong.