SAN DIEGO, Calif. --- Biola Baseball's all-time home run leader, James Whitman, took a notable next step in his baseball career by signing a professional free agent contract with the Athletics.

To help pave the way for his professional career, Whitman signed with the Mahoning Valley Scrappers in Major League Baseball's draft league last month. He made 22 appearances in an effort to boost his visibility for professional teams around the time of the MLB draft. During this time, he had 16 hits, drove in 13 runs and scored nine himself. The effort paid off as his signature landed on a professional contract by mid-July.

Whitman's Biola career was nothing short of stunning. He spent all four years with the Eagles, always making an impact from the time he started 34 games as a freshman in 2023. He finished with a flourish, hitting 19 home runs as a senior while posting an OPS of 1.531 - bolstered by career-high marks in hits (69), walks (44), and hit-by-pitch (24). He rewrote the Biola record books, was the Eagles' first-ever team sport All-American at the NCAA Division II level and earned PacWest Conference Player of the Year. His career came to a close with 206 hits, a .348 batting average, 49 big flies and 159 RBI. 

Whitman is the first Biola Baseball player to sign professionally since left-handed pitcher Larson Kindreich was drafted in the eighth round by the Texas Rangers back in 2021. Kindreich is still in the Rangers' system, with their double-A affiliate the Frisco Roughriders. Biola Baseball does have a connection to the Athletics' franchise. Tim Worrell, a fellow Biola Baseball alumni and Biola Hall of Fame member, made 78 appearances for the Athletics between 1998 and 1999 as part of his 14-year MLB career.

The first step for Whitman is a trip to the A's spring training facility in Arizona. Follow his profile on MLB.com for more details about his assignment and stats.