born february retired mlb outfielder played chicago_white_sox detroit_tigers appeared games season playing career final game world series hit pop fly second baseman deciding run batted rbi grew kansas california playing sports high school community college went twice selected 11th round mlb draft season unable return form year demoted minor leagues early season professional baseball player shortly playing career ended worked mlb organizations including pittsburgh pirates worked assistant general manager minor league coach instructor major league base coach served base coach received substantial praise contributions team success period manager said best base coach baseball early life born february orange california born father later auto mechanic family moved orange kansas young moved california years later attended high school california played baseball basketball football said baseball favorite sports time drawn basketball game pace continuing education attended played center field baseball team football team center basketball team hitting batting averages seasons father encouraged focus baseball played teams went later inducted university warrior athletics hall fame drafted chicago_white_sox pick 11th round mlb draft played games rookie level season hit team finished standings season promoted class team bypassed class affiliate center fielder suffering won starting center field position hit home runs games team managed season won place starting season chicago class aaa affiliate played games batted hit home runs bats mlb playing career early career stood feet inches weighed pounds playing career batted threw right handed mlb debut september spent seasons registering plate appearances seasons combined started minor leagues hitting home runs rbi bats walked times plate appearances called major league team near end season traded june receiving minor exchange traded detroit_tigers pitcher season trade prompted future outfielder playing minor leagues minnesota class affiliate expected quickly join twins impact player detroit best numbers career average base percentage appeared career high major league games season pinch hitter outfielder world series fifth deciding game world series san_diego_padres pinch hit designated hitter bases loaded score tied hit pop short right field unable second baseman catch unable prevent racing home ahead run tigers maintained lead giving unlikely game winning rbi american league championship series ensuing world series represented career postseason appearances baseball article wrote tigers great team relied lot elements club regular baseman regular baseman primary left fielder hit right club getting terrific production role players like players wouldn later career returned tigers appeared games april sent minor leagues batting detroit aaa affiliate released detroit organization signed couple months later play games retired player games played career batting average home runs rbi post playing career baseball working worked coach organization seasons moved seattle served base coach joined florida organization minor league outfield coach team base coach season moved role instructor organization august year worked defensive skills major league struggling injuries late decided return role base coach outfield instructor instead went position instructor team allowed time spent family time players including cliff floyd praised preparation coaching gave credit stolen bases floyd said don know going telling meant tells pitcher facing keeps going don game expected strong handle ain easy players man loves dismissed position spring training mass firing personnel player development scouting team change ownership paid season case terms contract kept job working grounds crew team spring training site performed ground crew duties site years late season hired instructor season hired pittsburgh_pirates base coach october pirates offered minor league positions fellow coaches spent seasons coaching major league club season named base coach october team reassigned designating field instructor special assistant team general manager august named base coach dismissal replaced base coach season conclusion season announced retain season january article boston_globe listed outfield coaches respect peers major leagues fundamentally sound great jumps balls able improve arm accuracy personal son kevin drafted mlb draft chose play baseball selected 28th round mlb draft kevin spent season minor leagues team rookie level affiliate coach subject media coverage article said hands best jokes little time april big lead wrote photo depicted standing right baseman resulting image display phrase backs uniform
Rusty Kuntz