Corey back with Pirates

Austin native Mark Corey is changing uniforms once again as he continues his professional baseball career.

Corey, a 32-year-old righthanded pitcher, has been signed by the Pittsburgh Pirates. Last season, he joined his fifth major league organization as a member of the New York Yankees and spent the season with the Yankees' Class AAA team in C o l u m b u s , Ohio.

In 2005, Corey was a closer with the Pittsburgh Pirates' Class AAA team in Indianapolis. Despite his consistent success -- Corey led all Class AAA pitchers in saves -- the Pirates did not elevate him to the major league squad.

His development of an effective curveball and improved control to complement a fastball in the low 90s make Corey an intriguing prospect for a Pirates team that is molding its pitching staff and looking for a new closer to replace the traded Mike Gonzalez. He is likely to start the upcoming season at Indianapolis, on the doorstep of the majors.

Corey has appeared in 81 major league games with the New York Mets, Colorado Rockies and the Pirates. He is one of the all-time minor

league leaders in saves.

Corey was the valedictorian of his high school class at Austin, where he played basketball and was a member of the Coudersport High School track and golf teams through a cooperative

sports agreement.

He went on to excel in American Legion Baseball and then was a starting pitcher on the Edinboro University squad. Corey was initially drafted by the Cincinnati Reds. Arm surgery stalled his career, but he bounced back strong. In 2004, he appeared in 31 games during five different call-ups by the Pirates. He was scored on just once in his final seven appearances.