Saturday, June 5, 2021

June 5

Jack Chesbro (1874)
Eddie Joost (1916)
Lou Brissie (1924)
Duke Sims (1941)
Bill Spiers (1966)
Ray Lankford (1967)
Mike Coolbaugh (1972)
Russ Ortiz (1974)
Dereck Rodriguez (1992)

Prior to beginning his major league career, Lou Brissie served in World War II.  He suffered severe leg injuries, receiving the Bronze Star and two Purple Hearts, but overcame his injuries to spend seven years in the majors.

Mike Coolbaugh was the first base coach for the Tulsa Drillers when he was struck on the head with a line drive and killed.

Right-hander Ivan Dereck Rodriguez did not play for the Twins, but was in their minor league system from 2011-2017.  The son of Hall of Famer Ivan "Pudge" Rodriguez, he was born in Arlington, Texas, went to high school in Opa-Locka Florida, and was drafted by Minnesota in the sixth round in 2011.  He was an outfielder at that time but did not hit, batting just .216 in three years of rookie ball.  He converted to pitching in 2014 and had an excellent year in relief at Elizabethton, posting a 1.05 ERA and a 1.05 WHIP in 25.2 innings.  He became a starter in 2015, still in Elizabethton, and continued to pitch well.  He struggled in Cedar Rapids in 2016, but did well for Fort Myers in 2017 and was solid for Chattanooga when he was moved up that same year.  The Twins decided to let him become a free agent, however, and he signed with San Francisco.  The Giants started him in AAA and brought him to the majors in late May.  He had a fine 2018 season, going 6-4, 2.81, 1.13 WHIP.  He went backward in 2019, however, going 6-11, 5.64, 1.46 WHIP and going back to AAA for six starts.  He went farther backward in 2020, making just two unsuccessful relief appearances in August.  He was a free agent after the season and signed with Colorado, for who he has pitched poorly in AAA.  He turns twenty-nine today.  Being Pudge's kid will only take you so far--he's going to have to better quickly if he's going to continue his playing career.

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