May 5, 2008

Story courtesy of Maurice Patton, The Tennessean

NASHVILLE, Tenn. -- If Brad Coon looks comfortable as the catalyst for the winningest team in minor league baseball, it's probably because it's not his first time in the position.

Batting leadoff and playing center field for the Salt Lake Bees of the Pacific Coast League, Coon has hit .324 while leading the team with 30 runs and six stolen bases -- all among the league leaders -- to aid the team to a 24-5 record going into today's finale of a four-game series at Greer Stadium.

In the first three games, Coon is 2-for-12 (.167) with one run and one RBI.

But by the time the Los Angeles Angels drafted Coon in the 15th round of the 2005 draft, he had already established himself in Nashville as a difference-maker.

Coon played two seasons at Trevecca Nazarene (Tenn.) University after being lightly recruited out of Lakeland (Ohio) Community College. He set the school's all-time stolen base record while earning NAIA All-America recognition.

In Coon's two seasons, Trevecca won 91 games, including a school-record 47 his senior year. The 2004 and 2005 campaigns were the first back-to-back 40-win seasons in Trojan history. Coon stole 45 and 51 bases -- the latter a school single-season mark -- and hit 15 triples, another record.

"You look at the turnaround under Jeff (Coach Forehand), that we've continued -- it started with Brad," said current Trevecca Coach Chris Collins, who succeeded Forehand as when Forehand went to Lipscomb. "Brad was the kid that put us over the edge and helped us go from a non-contender for any type of championship to a Top 25 national program. He is the single reason for that. Everything we were able to do after that, he set the table for us."

According to Collins, there was nothing in Coon's quiet personality that indicated he was headed for pro ball. On the field, though, it was a different story.

"You looked at his demeanor, the way he interacted with his teammates, and you wouldn't have thought he thought any higher of himself than anybody he played with," Collins said. "But there was no question when the first pitch was thrown that he was the best player on the field.

Coon has worked his way up the Angels' minor league ladder, to within one rung of sharing an outfield with All-Stars Torii Hunter, Garret Anderson, Vladimir Guerrero and Gary Matthews Jr.

"It's been a lot of fun," Coon, a Brentwood resident, said of his rise as well as his current situation with Salt Lake. "It makes it easier when the whole team is playing well. I just want to get on base and score runs; those are the most important things for me. I'm not a power guy, so average is what I need to (concentrate on)."