SCHAUMBURG, Ill. — No one would have blamed Dave Whigham for calling it a career after a life-changing moment back in July 2009, but his inspirational story continues after agreeing to terms with the Schaumburg Boomers, it was announced today.

Whigham, 26, seemed primed for a jump to affiliated ball after a pair of strong seasons with the El Paso Diablos of the American Association, before that fateful day in 2009 when he was struck with a line drive in the temple and suffered a fractured skull. After two surgeries to repair the damage and over a week in intensive care, Whigham took time to recover and on May 15, 2010, returned to the place where it all changed less than a year prior, the mound.

“For me to be able to come through, not just as a baseball player, but as a person, I needed to step back on that mound again, where it all happened and where my life was changed forever. It was definitely strange,” Whigham said in an interview with NBC 9 El Paso.

Whigham broke into professional baseball with the Diablos in 2008 with a very solid campaign that included a 6-7 record with 16 starts and 100 innings pitched. The 6’1” right-hander collected 68 strikeouts and an ERA of 4.32 at the hitter friendly Cohen Stadium. After a year of winter ball success in Australia, an outstanding first half of the 2009 season earned Whigham a spot on the American Association All-Star Team. Prior to the injury, Whigham was 3-0 with a 3.88 ERA in 53.1 innings for the Diablos.

Since returning to baseball, Whigham earned a 2-8 record for El Paso in 51.2 innings in 2010 and went 2-8 in 49.1 innings in 2011 as he continues to work towards every baseball player’s dream.

“I was at the brink of everything I'd ever worked for,” Whigham added in that same 2010 interview. “And just in one screeching second, it's all taken away. Everything that I'd worked for was gone. I'm going to continue to get better. I'm going to continue working. And I think that in the end everything will play itself out the way it should.”

Whigham has returned to Australia each winter to further hone his craft, most recently with the Melbourne Aces after three seasons with the Essendon Bombers.

For more on this story, check out Whigham’s blog http://davidcwhigham.blogspot.com, where he chronicles his journey through minor league baseball.

A native of Ocean City, Maryland, Whigham played three seasons at Division-III Guilford College in Greensboro N.C. before finishing his collegiate career at Virginia Wesleyan College in Norfolk, Va. At Guillford, Whigham earned a 17-7 record and over the course of his 170 IP, struck out 173 batters and allowed just 169 hits while posting a 3.76 ERA. Whigham closed out his college career at Virginia Wesleyan where as a senior was 3-4 in nine starts with four complete games over 63 innings pitched and had a 2.00 ERA to go along with 69 strikeouts and just 21 walks.

With the addition of Whigham and retiring of John Wagle, the Boomers now have 19 players signed to a contract for their Inaugural Season. Whigham joins infielders Andrew Cohn, Brandon Hairston, Gerard Hall, Drew Heithoff and Ellis Lowe; pitchers Matt Collins, Wally Goodline, Vinny Lally, Patrick Mincey, Joe Parsons, Robbie Penny and Andy Weeks; catchers David Fanshawe, Brad Hawn and Mike Valadez; and outfielders Nate Baumann and Raphael Turner. The Boomers up to 34-man Spring Training Roster will be trimmed to a maximum of 24 players on Opening Day.

Season Tickets and Group Packages for the Inaugural Season of Boomers Baseball are available now by calling 847.461.3695 and for more information on everything Boomers, visit www.boomersbaseball.com.