After wrapping up his college baseball career in grand fashion, Corbin Foy is now looking to extend his playing days at the next level.
Foy, a 2019 Niles McKinley graduate, recently signed a contract with the West Virginia Black Bears of MLB Draft League. He joined the Black Bears on July 4 and was with the team on July 5 when they played at Eastwood Field against the Scrappers.
Foy has since appeared in two games with West Virginia, both in relief. He has worked 3.2 innings, giving up one earned run while recording five strikeouts. In his most recent outing on Tuesday at Frederick, Foy worked 2.1 scoreless innings, giving up just one hit with a pair of strikeouts.
Last year Foy played for Frederick during the first-half of the season, where he appeared in six games.
Because Foy has since used up all of his college athletic eligibility, he is now able to remain on the Black Bears’ roster for the remainder of the 2024 season. The second half of the Draft League season is designed for professional players who have exhausted their amateur eligibility. Players receive housing, meal money, travel and weekly compensation.
“I love this game, I’m just looking to extend my playing career and this league provided me with the opportunity to do so,” Foy said. “Because this league is connected with the MLB, there’s a lot of opportunities to get on the radar. My dream is to play professionally, to get signed by a major league organization. This is my chance to maybe get noticed and hopefully take that next step.”
Foy recently completed his collegiate career, where he earned a degree in Exercise Science. He completed his baseball career at Mercyhurst by earning All-Region honors.
In his senior season, Foy finished with a 5-1 record with an ERA of 1.94. He worked in 51 innings, striking out 63 batters. He led the team in ERA and strikeouts.
Foy recorded five or more strikeouts in eight of his 11 appearances, including a 10-strikeout performance against Charleston. His ERA and batting average against were both second-best in the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference.
“Knowing this was my final season (at Mercyhurst) I spent even more time than I had in the past in the weight room, in the training room just making sure my body was ready for everything,” Foy said. “Whether it was in between classes or before or after practice, I knew this was my last chance to make a statement at school so I gave it my all.
“Coming into the season I focused on throwing more strikes and making hitters adjust to me. Overall, I think I was a little more prepared this year right out of the gate and it paid off.”
At Niles, Foy was a standout on both the baseball diamond and basketball court. He is quick to credit his coaches and teammates at both the high school and college level for much of his success.
“At Niles and then at Mercyhurst, I was surrounded by great coaches who really got me to where I’m at today,” Foy said. “My teammates were always by my side. They weren’t just teammates, they were and are my best friends.”
Having played in the Draft League a year ago, Foy is familiar with the daily routine that goes along with being a part of the Black Bears’ roster. In addition to the six-games-per-week schedule, there are daily workouts and training sessions, as well as the travel.
Foy embraces the challenge.
“This is all part of the process. Hopefully it leads to something bigger. I just want to know I’ve done everything possible to achieve my goal,” Foy said.
Foy has not yet faced the Scrappers. Last year, he was supposed to start against the Scrappers in Frederick, but that game was canceled due to the smoke caused by the Canadian wildfires. The following week, Frederick played at Eastwood Field. However, at the time, Foy was in North Carolina where he was taking part in a Pro Day, showcasing his talents to MLB scouts.
West Virginia returns to Eastwood Field on July 29 for the start of a three-game series.
Have an interesting story? Contact the Sports Department, at sports@tribtoday.com. Follow us on X, formerly Twitter, @TribChronSports.