Announcement
Chiefs' Baillargeon Signs Professional Contract
Worcester, MA- Chiefs infielder Mike Baillargeon of Worcester signed a professional contract with the Worcester Tornadoes of the Can-Am League on Wednesday. Baillargeon was hitting a lofty .385 with five homers and 14 RBI, thru the first fifteen games of the Chiefs season.
Baillargeon hit a two run homer for the Chiefs at Watertown late Tuesday night and the Tornadoes came calling immediately after the game. Baillargeon signed a contract on Wednesday morning and was in uniform that night against Pittsfield. He has gone 0-2 for the Tornadoes in his first two games. Baillargeon and the Tornadoes are spending the Fourth of July weekend in Canada playing a three game series against Quebec City.
The former Assumption star had previously signed professionally and played winter ball with the Weribee Giants in Australia earlier this year. He was named as the NE-10 Player of the Year in 2009 and selected to the Rawlings Baseball NCAA D-2 All American team and to the NCBW all-America team. Baillargeon was also named to the ECAC D-2, NCBWA, ABCA and Daktronics all East teams. He batted .393 as a college senior with a team-record 84 hits, and 11 homers. He was named team captain three consecutive years at Assumption and set career marks in games (187), games started(187), at bats(731), hits(267), triples(15) and sacrifice flies (11).
Baillargeon hit .261 for the Chiefs last summer with a homer and nine RBI's in 15 games. He becomes the second Chief to sign this year as centerfielder Jeff Bercume had earlier signed with the Oakland A's. Bercume is currently hitting .242 for Oakland's single A affiliate in Vancouver.
To replace Baillargeon on the active roster, the Chiefs have activated former Cassell slugger Tim Dempsey. Dempsey has been on the DL since the start of the season with a nose fracture. He had previously starred at UConn and later UMass-Lowell and was voted as the 2006 ICL's Playoff MVP when he led Cassell to their first ICL championship. From 2006-2008 Dempsey hit .390 for Cassell with six home runs.
