Former Cardinal Marks Signs with Oakland
July 15, 2009 | Baseball
July 15, 2009
LOUISVILLE, Ky. - Former University of Louisville left-handed pitcher Justin Marks has agreed to terms and signed a professional contract with the Oakland Athletics.
A 6-3, 195-pound native of Owensboro, Ky., Marks was selected 92nd overall by the Oakland Athletics on the first day of the 2009 MLB Draft on June 9. He is currently awaiting his assignment from the A's, with the Class A Kane County Cougars of the Midwest League a possible location.
Marks was the 2009 BIG EAST Pitcher of the Year and a Louisville Slugger Second Team All-American by Collegiate Baseball Newspaper during his junior season. He closed his highly successful three-year career as a Cardinal by going 11-3 overall with 129 strikeouts in 105.0 innings and a 3.77 ERA. The 11 wins is a single season school record, while the 129 strikeouts rank second on the Cards' single season list.
After making a splash on the national scene with a win in Omaha during the Cards' magical run to the College World Series in 2007, Marks finished his career with a 29-7 record overall and is Louisville's career leader in wins (29), strikeouts (305), ERA (2.96) and starts (48).
Marks is the third Louisville player from the 2009 squad to sign a professional contract this summer as Chris Dominguez inked with San Francisco after he was selected in the third round and 86th overall in the 2009 MLB Draft by the Giants, while shortstop John Dao signed a free agent contract with the Cincinnati Reds. Dominguez is currently playing for the Salem-Keizer Volcanoes, the Giants' Class A Short-Season affiliate in the Northwest League, while Dao is on the roster for the Billings Mustangs, the Reds' Class A affiliate in the Pioneer League.
The Cardinals closed out their 2009 season on Saturday with an NCAA Super Regional loss at No. 2 Cal State Fullerton. Louisville finished with a 47-18 record overall after sweeping the BIG EAST Conference regular season and tournament titles. U of L advanced to its second Super Regional in three years after earning a 5-3 win over Vanderbilt in the title game of the NCAA Regional at Jim Patterson Stadium, the first ever NCAA Baseball Regional in Louisville.
