The University of Mississippi Athletics
Hutchinson Signs Free Agent Contract With Arizona
5/29/2002 | Baseball
May 29, 2002
OXFORD, Miss. - Ole Miss outfielder Burney Hutchinson, of Tupelo, Miss., signed a free agent contract with the defending World Champion Arizona Diamondbacks this past Monday evening. He will report to extended spring training on Monday in Tucson, Ariz., before being assigned to one of the Arizona's minor league affiliates.
As a fifth-year senior, Hutchinson was eligible to sign a free agent contract prior to the Major League Baseball First-Year Player Draft, which is scheduled for next Tuesday and Wednesday in New York City.
Hutchinson was the only player to start all 56 games for Ole Miss this season. He posted a .323 batting average with a team-leading 10 home runs, and drove in 42 runs while earning second team All-Southeastern Conference honors. He also led the Rebels with 19 doubles, three triples and 55 runs scored.
After initially signing with Mississippi State, out of Tupelo High School, and redshirting in 1998, Hutchinson transferred to Ole Miss prior to the 1999 season. He then would go on to have one of the most productive careers in school history.
He finished his four-year career with a .325 batting average, 37 home runs and 167 runs batted in. Hutchinson ranked in the top 10 in nine career offensive categories at Ole Miss, including tied for the career lead in triples with 14. He also ranked second in career RBIs, runs scored and walks, third in home runs and total bases, tied for third in doubles, fourth in at bats, and fifth in hits.
Hutchinson earned second team All-America accolades as a junior from Baseball Weekly, after hitting .356 with 14 home runs and 63 RBIs, and helping the Rebels to an appearance in the NCAA Regionals.
Former Ole Miss All-American David Dellucci is a current member of Arizona, and helped the Diamondbacks to last year's seven-game World Series win over the three-time defending champion New York Yankees.
