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DETROIT - Former Wayne State University outfielder Ryan LaPensee (LaSalle, Ont./St. Thomas of Villanova) signed a free agent contract with the Arizona Diamondbacks on Friday afternoon in the Hall of Fame exhibit at the Matthaei Athletic Complex.

LaPensee is the second Warrior from the 2010 GLIAC championship squad to sign with a Major League Baseball team, joining right-handed pitcher Justin Mazur who inked a deal with the Kansas City Royals this past June.

As an outfielder, LaPensee is the first position player from WSU to sign with an MLB team since Jason Copeland signed with the Detroit Tigers organization in 1998.

He ended his collegiate career as Wayne State's all-time leader in hits (279), runs scored (195), doubles (50), total bases (386), games played (200), and at bats (696).  LaPensee posted a .401 career batting average, second only to Hall of Famer Ronald Teasley (1945, 1947) who had a .415 average.  He is also the only player in Wayne State history to hit .400 or better three times in a career.

As a senior in 2010, LaPensee broke single-season records for hits and runs scored, and was a First Team All-GLIAC and All-Region selection.  He batted .424 with 87 hits, 62 runs, seven homers, 48 RBI and 15 stolen bases.

LaPensee will report to Spring Training with the Diamondbacks in March.