Baseball's Michael Bourn Traded to Houston Astros
11/8/2007 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
Nov. 8, 2007
HOUSTON - Former University of Houston outfielder Michael Bourn will continue his Major League career near his hometown.
Bourn, a 24-year-old native of Humble, was traded to the Houston Astros as part of a five-player deal with the Philadelphia Phillies late Wednesday night. He, along with righthanded reliever Geoff Geary and minor league third baseman Michael Costanzo, will join the Astros in exchange for closer Brad Lidge and utility infielder Eric Bruntlett.
Bourn batted .277 with seven extra-base hits, six RBIs and 18 stolen bases in 105 games to help lead the Phillies to the National League East Division title and the Division Series.
He is expected to be the Astros' starting centerfielder on Opening Day 2008.
"(Bourn) can be a top-of-the-lineup catalyst for a club," Astros general manager Ed Wade told MLB.com's Jim Molony. "I've seen the pure speed, not only the pure speed but the baserunning ability. He's an outstanding athlete who can hit at the top of the order. He can get on base; he has outstanding base-stealing ability. (Manager Cecil Cooper) will figure out who hits in the two hole, and we feel with Pence, (Lance) Berkman and Lee in the 3-4-5 spots, this kid's going to be on base and have the ability to score a lot of runs."
Bourn played a key role during the Cougars' run in the 2002 NCAA postseason. He batted .327 with a home run, 23 RBIs and a team-high 32 stolen bases on the way to being named to All-Conference USA Second Team. He also was named to the NCAA Mesa Regional All-Tournament Team, the first of consecutive years he was named to an NCAA postseason team.
In 2002, the Cougars tied a school record with 48 wins and posted the highest single-season winning percentage in UH history. UH advanced to the championship game of the NCAA Austin Super Regional, the third time in a four-year stretch that the Cougars finished one game short of the NCAA College World Series.
Following his Cougar career, he was in the fourth round of the 2003 draft by the Phillies. He was taken in the 2001 draft following his prep career at Nimitz High but opted to sign with the University of Houston.