Weatherford Signs With Rockies

STARKVILLE, Miss. - Mississippi State University pitcher Aaron Weatherford of Crystal Springs, Miss., a third-round draft selection of the Colorado Rockies, has come to terms with the Rockies and is preparing to begin his professional baseball career in the Class A Northwest League.

Weatherford signed with Colorado in Denver Monday and has reported to Pasco, Wash., where he will pitch for the Tri-City Dust Devils. He was the 103rd player selected overall and the sixth Mississippi State player chosen in Major League Baseball’s 2008 First-Year Player Draft earlier this month.

The former Fairhope (Ala.) High School standout fashioned a career-best 0.85 earned run average in 2008, leading the MSU pitching staff with seven saves while registering 62 strikeouts over 31-2/3 innings pitched in an injury-shortened junior season. Weatherford, who made eight career starts, compiled a 3.13 career earned run average with 11 wins and 14 saves (seventh-most in MSU history) in 58 career appearances. He was even more effective out of the bullpen, where in 50 career relief appearances he carved a 1.33 ERA with eight wins and 14 saves.