BOWLING GREEN, Ky. - Western Kentucky University seniors Chris Bullard and Brian Edelen this week joined a long list of Hilltoppers to sign minor-league contracts.
Bullard signed with the Atlanta Braves, while Edelen reached an agreement with the Kansas City Royals. Bullard will join the Braves' rookie team in the Florida Gulf Coast League, and Edelen will report to Arizona, home of the Royals' rookie team in the Arizona League.
The Hilltoppers' designated hitter as a senior, Bullard was selected by the Braves with the 25th pick in the 34th round of this month's Major League Baseball draft, the 1,046th player selected overall.
The Cataula, Ga., native played in 47 games over two seasons on WKU's baseball team. This season, he hit .229 in 28 games, making 20 starts at the designated hitter position. Bullard collected 16 hits with 18 RBIs while scoring nine runs. He finished the season with a .500 slugging percentage with five doubles, a triple and four home runs.
He drove in a career-high five RBIs in a 2-for-5 performance on the road against Arkansas-Little Rock. Bullard's fourth-inning grand slam helped the Hilltoppers to a 14-3 win over the Trojans.
Edelen, a right-handed pitcher, traveled Wednesday to Arizona, where he was expected to sign his contract.
"It feels pretty good," Edelen said. "It's what I've been working for the past, really, 18 years. Ever since you've picked up a ball, that's what you want to do. Especially the last five years when I've been in college, it's been my main goal and part of the reason why I came to Western was to be able to play at the next level.
"The coaching staff (at WKU) definitely prepared me. They did all they could to help me get to the next level. Competing in the Sun Belt is a pretty decent conference. There are some really good hitters in the Sun Belt, so I feel like the Sun Belt has prepared me. Also, my coaching staff, they have prepared me and helped me out all along the way. (Head) coach (Chris) Finwood and (pitching) coach (Matt) Myers and all the other coaches, I just appreciate them giving me a chance."
In two seasons with the Hilltoppers, Edelen posted a career record of 11-4 while making 20 starts and appearing out of the bullpen 23 times. As a junior, he worked six shutout innings and allowed only three hits in a win at No. 18-ranked Vanderbilt. In his senior season, Edelen went 7-2 with a 4.74 ERA and a career-high 60 strikeouts. He held opponents to a .256 average, and right-handed hitters batted just .213 against him.
The Fisherville, Ky., native started the first six Sunday conference games this year for WKU before appearing out of the bullpen for the remainder of the season. Edelen's first win of the season came against Ole Miss on March 9, when he struck out five while allowing one run on two hits in 2-2/3 innings. He retired all four batters he faced, including striking out the side in the ninth inning, to pick up his first career save on April 30 at Louisiana-Monroe.
