PHILADELPHIA – Former University of South Alabama baseball standout and current Major Leaguer Juan Pierre is returning to the National League after agreeing to terms of a minor league contract with the Philadelphia Phillies, the organization announced Friday.

Pierre, who is Major League Baseball’s active career stolen base leader with 554, spent the past two seasons with the American League’s Chicago White Sox where he batted .277 with 35 doubles, seven triples, 97 RBI and 95 stolen bases in 318 games. He led the Majors with 68 stolen bases in 2010, which marked the third time in his career he has led MLB in steals.

Pierre has played 10 of his 12 career seasons in the National League, most recently with the Los Angeles Dodgers from 2007-09 when he signed with the organization as a free agent following a one-year stint with the Chicago Cubs in 2006. The Dodgers traded him to the White Sox in Dec. 2009.

In 2003, just his third full season of Major League service, Pierre helped lead the Florida Marlins to a World Series title. During the 2003 postseason, Pierre batted .301 with 12 runs scored, seven RBI, and three stolen bases and recorded a .481 on-base percentage during the World Series. That season also marked the first of five consecutive in which Pierre played in 162 games.

Pierre lettered at South Alabama in 1998 and helped the Jaguars capture the Sun Belt Conference championship en route to an NCAA Regional appearance. In his one season at USA, Pierre was named the SBC Player of the Year and earned All-American and all-conference honors.

He recorded his 2,000th career hit this past season, and ranks fifth in career hits (2,020) among active players. Pierre has recorded four 200-plus hit seasons during his career. He led the National League in hits in 2004 and 2006 while with the Marlins and Cubs, respectively. Pierre ranks 26th on the all-time stolen base list and sits just three behind Davey Lopes (557) and four behind Brett Butler (558).

For more information about South Alabama athletics, check back with www.usajaguars.com.  Season tickets for all Jaguar athletic events can be purchased by calling (251) 461-1USA (1872).

-USA-