Anyone have any experience seeing an MLB player making a rehab start in the minors? Most notably, pitchers? I always thought it would be cool to do so, but never got a chance. Tomorrow, though, I'm probably going to Erie, Pa. to see Dontrelle Willis make a rehab start for Detroit's AA team. They're playing the Harrisburg Senators, affiliate of the Nationals. Granted Willis has kind of faded in recent years, but I think it will be interesting if I end up going. Who have you seen?
The beauty of having the AA team and the major league team in the same metropolitan area is that you get to see this relatively frequently. Though I'm blanking on names right now. When I worked for the Amarillo Dillas, we did have former Oakland A's pitcher Todd Burns on the roster for a few days. He was trying to make a comeback, but after a couple of appearances, he knew he didn't have it anymore and quit. But that wasn't a rehab assignment. The Dillas are in one of those indie leagues that are, quite often, the dregs of baseball.
I've seen Brandon Backe, Andy Pettitte, Shane Reynolds, and some others I can't remember for and against Round Rock.
I saw J.D. Drew play in Little Rock for the Arkansas Travellers....and I know I saw at least one of the Cardinals staff around that time pitching in a rehab start...but I can't remember who they were for the life of me.
No rehabs, but I've seen a lot of current Rockies players like Jeff Francis and Troy Tulowitzki go through AA Tulsa on their way to the majors. I hope the Astros don't block Sugar Land from getting a AA team from another franchise.
I didn't realize Sugar Land was after a AA team. That would be great. I live in a town where there is a Florida Marlins rookie ball team. I've seen a lot of players play here fresh out of college/high school. Back in the day, the team used to be the Expos AA team. Randy Johnson and Marquis Grissom, among others have played here. Of course, I didn't live here when that was going on.
Being out here in Round Rock, I went to the big "Roger Clemens" game a few years back. Also, I've seen Hunter Pence play out here, too. Maybe Morgan Ensberg back when he was with the 'Stros? Cant remember.
I don't know if they're after a AA team, but they're exploring options for a minor league team to play in a new stadium that's going to be built as part of the entertainment complex on the Brazos River.
