Royals Call Up Former FGCU Baseball Star Casey Coleman

Just a month after signing a minor league contract with the Class AAA Omaha Storm Chasers, former Florida Gulf Coast star Casey Coleman received his MLB call-up from the Kansas City Royals.

In Omaha, Coleman went 1-0 with a 1.50 ERA over 12 innings of work out of the bullpen.

"He's a guy that's got really good stuff: 95-mile-an-hour fastball, good breaking ball, good competitor," Royals manager Ned Yost said in the release. "Grew up in a baseball family, been throwing the ball well down in Omaha."

Earlier this spring, the former FGCU pitcher was released from the Chicago Cubs after spending his entire professional career in the organization. Although much of his time was spent with the Class AAA Iowa Cubs, he did pitch over 160 innings in Chicago from 2010-2012. In that time, Coleman went 7-13 with a 5.76 ERA.

The Cubs selected Coleman in the 15th round of the 2008 Draft after he went 7-3 with a 4.11 ERA as a junior in Fort Myers.

Coleman's promotion gives FGCU two alumni in the major leagues. Former Eagle Chris Sale is the Chicago White Sox ace, but he is currently on a rehab assignment after straining his muscle flexor.

The Royals host the Orioles this weekend before the White Sox come to town for a three game set to start next week. Although this hypothetically could set up an Eagle vs. Eagle showdown, Sale is not expected to return until the end of the month.

UPDATE: Friday, May 16 | 10:00 p.m.

In his debut with the Royals, Coleman worked a perfect 1-2-3 ninth inning. Kansas City still fell, 4-0, to the Orioles.

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