University of North Carolina Ashville Athletics
Ty Wigginton Signs With Colorado Rockies
12.08.2010 | Baseball
LAKE BUENA VISTA, FLA. - Former UNC Asheville standout Ty Wigginton agreed to a two-year deal with the Colorado Rockies Tuesday during Major League Baseball's Winter Meetings.
Wigginton agreed to a $7.5 million deal, the largest of his career.
He broke into the majors with the New York Mets in 2002. He spent the last two seasons with the Orioles, making the All-Star team in 2010 when he hit .248 with 22 home runs and 76 runs batted in.
Wigginton, 33, has a .277 average, 143 homers and 501 RBIs in 1,060 career games.
Wigginton played all over the infield this year, moving around between first base, second base and third base. The nine-year veteran has played for the Mets, Pittsburgh, Tampa Bay, Houston and the Orioles.
The deal came a day after Melvin Mora, who filled mostly the same role with Colorado last season, signed with Arizona.
Wigginton is now a teammate of Rockies second baseman Ian Stewart, who makes his off season home in Asheville. He is the son-in-law of Tourists manager Joe Mikulik. The Tourists, a Class A team, are affiliated with the Rockies.
Ty played for the Bulldogs from 1996-98 and earned Big South All-Conference honors in 1998. He was named National Player of the Week in April of the 1998 season when he hit eight home runs and drove in 20 runs during a six-game stretch.
