When Carley Barjaktarovich took the field for the July 22 IronPigs game, she stepped both onto the turf and into the history books. Barjaktarovich is the first athlete nationwide to receive endorsement compensation while still enrolled as a college student. Nick Falcone captured the history-making sports moment for Lehigh Valley Live (with supplementary Associated Press information).

The team did not disclose the full terms of its arrangement with Barjaktarovich at shortstop; however, it did make public that the Lehigh University junior’s duties include assisting in social media and marketing efforts.

“The IronPigs are proud to have Carley join our team as our first Official IronPigs Athlete,” said team SVP Brian DeAngelis in the release. “Carley, like the IronPigs, is an innovator in this space by being the first student-athlete to partner with a professional sports team.”

Barjaktarovich said, “I’m honored to be given this opportunity and am very excited to represent the IronPigs organization as a collegiate athlete. I’m eager to see what the future holds and am glad to be a part of the IronPigs family.”

Although the legalities have changed for college players, the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania’s permission is not a blank check.

University sports participants are unable to profit from connections with adult entertainment, gambling, tobacco products (and their derivatives), or prescription/illegal drugs.

More on this landmark for collegiate sports is at Lehigh Valley Live.