Corey Koskie
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Milwaukee Brewers — No. 47 | |
| Third base | |
| Bats: Left | Throws: Right |
| Major League Baseball debut | |
|---|---|
| September 9, 1998 for the Minnesota Twins | |
| Selected MLB statistics (through 2006) |
|
| Hits | 936 |
| Home runs | 124 |
| Batting Average | .275 |
| Former teams | |
Cordel Leonard "Corey" Koskie (born June 28, 1973 in Anola, Manitoba, Canada) is a Major League Baseball player currently with the Milwaukee Brewers. He is notable for being one of the most prominent Canadian baseball players currently playing. The third baseman bats left-handed and throws right-handed.
Koskie was drafted by the Minnesota Twins in the 26th round of the 1994 amateur draft and subsequently made his Major League debut on September 9, 1998. He established himself in 1999 as the Twins' third baseman of the future by hitting .310 and knocking in 58 runs. In 2000 he batted .300 with a .400 on-base percentage and in 2001 he had his most offensively productive season when he hit 26 home runs, had 103 RBI and scored 100 runs.
Koskie signed a three-year, $17.5-million deal with the Toronto Blue Jays on December 14, 2004. Unfortunately for Blue Jays fans, an injury-plagued 2005 cut his productivity and playing time as he struggled with a .249 average, with 11 home runs, 36 RBIs and 4 stolen bases in 97 games. Despite his frequent injuries, Koskie is regarded as one of the more athletic third basemen in the game.
On January 6, 2006 he was traded by the Blue Jays to the Milwaukee Brewers for minor-league pitcher Brian Wolfe. The deal was widely viewed as a salary dump for the Blue Jays, who had also created a logjam at third base when they traded for Troy Glaus. With several players on the roster at that time capable of playing third base (Koskie, Glaus, Eric Hinske, Shea Hillenbrand, Aaron Hill) and no assurances of regular playing time from Blue Jays GM J.P. Ricciardi, Koskie was traded just a year after being the Blue Jays' 2004 offseason marquee free agent signing.
While the Brewers acquired a veteran infielder with a solid glove and bat to anchor their very young infield, Koskie's recent seasons have been marred by injuries, including missing most of the 2006 season with post-concussion syndrome. His return is doubtful.
[edit] Trivia
- Koskie's entry music when he comes to bat is usually a song by Canadian rock band Rush.
- He was named to play for Canada at the (inaugural) 2006 World Baseball Classic.
- Upon leaving the Minnesota Twins, Koskie took out half page advertisements in both of Minneapolis and St. Paul's sports sections thanking local fans for their support.
[edit] External links
- Koskie's career statistics at Baseball-Reference.com
- MLB page
