Sonora Area Ballplayer Drafted By Yankees
Big league dreams have come true for a Sugar Pine 19 year-old.
Phillip Coke received a call from the New York Yankees this morning, offering the son of Doug and Pamela Coke a job with the World Series Championship baseball team.
Yankees scouts were attracted to the Sonora High School product, because he´s a left-handed pitcher with a 93-mile-per-hour fastball.
He was drafted in the 26th round on Day 2 of the Major League Baseball 2002 first-year player draft.
Yankees scout Tim McIntosh called the Cokes at their business this morning and insured the young pitcher´s placement in the draft, Doug said.
Phillip is still in shock from the morning´s news.
“It doesn´t seemed to have totally set in yet that the New York Yankees have decided they wanted me to be part of their organization,” the ball player said..
An obviously proud mom, Pamela said having Phillip drafted by the Yankees is something her son has dreamed of all his life.
“The news is wonderful,” Pamela said. “Doug and I are very proud of Phillip and his accomplishments with baseball. It´s a dream come true for a young man. He´s going places.”
Coke was drafted by the Florida Marlins last year right out of high school. He has been under contract with them this last year, but when he was given an offer, he turned it down and became a free agent.
That´s when the Yankees stepped up to the plate.
“Once I got the call from the Yankee´s scout, I went through the roof, basically,” Coke said. “I couldn´t say anything but be utterly excited. It´s cool.”
The Yankee´s scout will be in Sonora Thursday to help Coke sign the papers.
Coke´s parents say they look forward to seeing their son on television as a big league pitcher in a few years.
“Basically, now, his job is baseball,” said Pamela. Coke was on the Junior College second team All-League team last year and held a 3.0 earned run average as a pitcher.
Coke will play university-level college baseball in Alaska this summer, then attend Delta College in Stockton one more year before joining the Yankees organization next June. By staying in school this next year, Coke has the chance to get a larger signing bonus.
“It´s neat watching a young man progress and obtain his life-long dream,” Pamela said.
