It was one of baseball’s most improbable stories, Chris Coste finally made it to the major leagues in 2006 as a 33 year old rookie, after a decade in the minor leagues. His first four years were spent in playing for his hometown Fargo Moorhead Red Hawks in the independent Northern League. The Cleveland Indians then signed Coste in 2000 where he made his affiliated debut with the Double-A Akron Aeros. From there Coste played parts of the next six seasons in Triple-A with stints playing for the Buffalo Bisons, Pawtucket Red Sox, Indianapolis Indians, and the Scranton Wilkes Barre Red Barons before making his big league debut with the Philadelphia Phillies. Coste’s big league career peaked when he was a key cog in the Phillies 2008 World Series championship. The accomplishment inspired the longtime catcher to write a book titled The 33-Year-Old Rookie: My 13-Year Journey from the Minor Leagues to the World Series. Coste’s final big league game would come in 2009 as a member of the Houston Astros. Following Tommy John surgery in 2010, he had hoped to return for one final run but came to find out that his 38 year old body just could not hold up. In the story, Coste talks about his new role as Associate Head Coach at Concordia College, his cult following in Philadelphia, and coming to terms that his playing career has reached its end.
ND’s Chris Coste retires from pro baseball — TheDickinsonPress.com
Washington Nationals pitcher Stephen Strasburg began his 2011 season with his first rehab start for the Low-A Hagerstown Suns. Strasburg who is 11 months removed from Tommy John surgery went 1.2 innings allowing one run on three hits. He did not walk a batter, and four of the five outs he recorded were by strikeout. His only blemish on the scoreboard was a solo home run by Greensboro Grasshoppers catcher Jacob Realmuto in the second inning. He through 31 pitches, 25 of which were for strikes. Strasburg’s next rehab start is expected to take place with the High-A Potomac Nationals.
Washington Nationals pitcher Stephen Strasburg is likely days away from beginning a minor league rehab assignment according to MASNSports.com. The 23 year old Strasburg is coming off Tommy John surgery. He is likely to begin his rehab with the Low-A Hagerstown Suns before progressing to High-A Potomac and moving up from there. The former first overall pick back in 2009 created a frenzy, selling out stadiums across the northeast, as he moved through the minors in 2010, going 7-2 with a 1.30ERA in 11 combined starts for the Double-A Harrisburg Senators and Triple-A Syracuse Chiefs. Strasburg made his major league debut on June 9th against the Pittsburgh Pirates and struck out 14 batters. He went 5-3 with a 2.91ERA in 12 big league starts before he tore the ulnar collateral ligament in his elbow on August 21st, 2010 against the Philadelphia Phillies and had Tommy John surgery on September 3rd. If Strasburg’s rehab assignment runs smoothly it is likely he will be back in the Nationals rotation sometime in early September, a little over a year after the injury occurred.
Stephen Strasburg should start rehab assignment soon — MASNSports.com
Pitcher Kris Honel has gone on quite the journey since being selected as the 16th overall pick in the 2001 draft by his hometown Chicago White Sox. The 27 year old who is still hanging on in the Independent Golden League talks in depth about the long winding road his career has taken including his battle back from Tommy John surgery, his brief retirement, and his current journey through the Indy Leagues.
Comeback kid? Honel says yes — South Town Star
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