Todd Coffey
Justin Todd Coffey (born September 9, 1980) is an American former professional baseball pitcher. He played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Cincinnati Reds, Milwaukee Brewers, Washington Nationals and Los Angeles Dodgers. He was born in Forest City, North Carolina.
Todd Coffey
25–18
4.10
329
Career[edit]
Cincinnati Reds[edit]
Coffey was drafted by the Cincinnati Reds in the 41st round of the 1998 Major League Baseball draft out of Chase High School in Forest City, North Carolina.[1] A draft-and-follow prospect, Coffey signed with the Reds for a $1,000 signing bonus and $850 monthly salary.[2]
Coffey missed the 2000 season because of an elbow injury and remained in the Reds minor league system through 2005. He made his major league debut on April 19, 2005,[1] pitching two innings and giving up two runs against the Chicago Cubs.[3] He picked up his first win in a two inning relief appearance against the San Diego Padres on May 10, 2005, and his first save against the Pittsburgh Pirates on August 28, 2005. Overall, he spent four years with the Reds and pitched in 213 games, with a 12–9 record and 4.62 ERA and 9 saves, 8 of which he recorded in 2006.
Pitching style[edit]
Coffey mainly threw two pitches: a sinking fastball that went up to 95–96 mph, and a sharp dropping slider at 81–82 mph.
He was known for his full-speed sprints from the bullpen to the mound when he was brought into games.[10] According to Coffey, this started when he was in Cincinnati, when during one game he was so distracted while warming up, he wasn't aware that it was his time to pitch, and he quickly ran from the bullpen onto the mound, and the run caused so much of a rush in Coffey, he chose to continue the sprint to the pitching mound from then on.
As a result, the Brewers introduced a "Coffey Time!" graphic on the scoreboard that kept track of Coffey's time to sprint from the bullpen to the pitcher's mound after getting called out to pitch.[10] Also, while with the Brewers, Coffey's intro music was the entrance music of the pro wrestler The Ultimate Warrior, who would run full-sprint to the ring as his entrance.