Andre Chiefs

NORTH ANDOVER, MA – Chiefs centerfielder and former Merrimack College baseball standout Jeff Bercume of Leicester, MA, signed with the Oakland Athletics earlier this week and will play for the Class A affiliate Vancouver Canadians beginning in June. Bercume becomes the 111^th player to wear a Chiefs uniform to ink a professional contract.

Bercume, who played two seasons for the Chiefs, started 36 games for the Chiefs last summer hitting an overall .325 with six doubles, three triples, four homers and 25 RBI. He was named to the Intercity League all-star team in July.

The all-time hits leader at Merrimack College, Bercume is the first Merrimack baseball player since Cory Spencer ’99 to sign with a professional team.  Despite not being drafted in June of 2009, Bercume has since been preparing for the opportunity to make a professional squad.“I made the decision last June that in the event I was not selected in the first year player draft I would do everything I could to sign as a free agent with either an MLB affiliated team or a Professional Independent Club,” Bercume said on Friday.

After many professional tryouts in 2009, Bercume found himself in the California Winter League, a professional development and showcase league in Palm Springs designed to give unsigned players 20 games in front of professional scouts. The CWL was where Bercume caught the eye of Chris Weissmann and the Oakland A’s.  Despite their interest, a hamstring injury would put his baseball playing on hold momentarily.  Intense rehabilitation and hard work at home in Massachusetts kept Bercume in shape and ready for the call should that day come.“After a month of rehabbing back home I received a call from Chris Weissmann for extended spring training in Phoenix,” Bercume said.  “They liked me enough to keep me around for a few weeks and eventually offered me a contract on May 12.”

On top of his good fortune of being signed while in Phoenix, Bercume had the pleasure of playing alongside and learning from players such as Mark Ellis, Brett Tomko and Coco Crisp. With the chance to live his dream, Bercume added, “Being a member of this organization and taking the field everyday with the A's uniform on my back is an unbelievable opportunity and I am very grateful for the chance to hopefully make a career out of playing baseball.”Bercume’s noticeable improvement from year-to-year was evidenced through his numbers, but his dedication and commitment may be even more impressive.

“Jeff’s determination and will to accomplish his personal mission speaks volumes about him as a person,” said Merrimack College coach and former Wakefield Merchant Joe Sarno.  “I am so proud of him and I wish him nothing but the best in his future.  I know that no matter what he ends up doing in life he will be a major success because of the determination he possesses.” ---Will Rothermel