June 21, 2016
UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. – Former Penn State baseball student-athlete Jim Haley was successful in his professional return to Medlar Field at Lubrano Park, not only earning his first pro hit but earning hits in all three games.
Haley, playing just his second, third and fourth pro games, returned to the park he called home for three seasons Sunday through Tuesday with the Hudson Valley Renegades, just over two weeks after being drafted by the Tampa Bay Rays in the 19th round. He became the fourth Nittany Lion to play in the park as a pro and the fifth to play in it as both a Lion and as a pro.
Haley started all three contests of the Renegades' series with the Spikes at third base and went 6-for-13 with two extra base hits, two runs, an RBI, stolen base and a walk. He hit an RBI-triple for his first professional hit Sunday, and then went 3-for-5 with a double Monday. He capped the series by going 2-for-4 with a walk and stolen base, as Hudson Valley won two of three games.
Penn State and the State College Spikes of the New York-Penn League have shared Medlar Field at Lubrano Park since its construction, with the Spikes' opening the facility in 2006 and the Lions playing their first season in 2007.
Haley was one of two Nittany Lions selected in the 2016 MLB Draft. RHP Jack Anderson was selected in the 23rd round by the Seattle Mariners and assigned to their Class-A Short Season affiliate Everett Aquasox.