Former Illinois State baseball star Neal Cotts was one of those student-athletes fortunate enough to land in that two percent. After three stellar seasons on the diamond for the Redbirds, Cotts was drafted No. 69 overall by the Oakland Athletics in the second round of the 2001 draft. He went on to pitch in Major League Baseball with the Chicago White Sox, Chicago Cubs, Texas Rangers, Milwaukee Brewers and Minnesota Twins.
Chris Rongey ’99, M.S. ’01, isn’t easily ruffled. For the last eight seasons as the radio host of the Chicago White Sox pregame and postgame shows, he has answered the calls of impetuous fans whose hopes, complaints, and delusional trade demands originate from a fan base that has witnessed its 2005 World Series team fade to also-rans.
Michael Wille looked like the half dozen other scouts who were gathered in the stands behind home plate on a cold and wet Thursday afternoon at Duffy Bass Field for the Missouri Valley Conference baseball tournament.
