The State College Spikes added another former major leaguer to their staff as Lastings Milledge joined the club as the new hitting coach on Friday.
Milledge comes to Happy Valley after playing professionally for over a decade, including six seasons in MLB with the New York Mets, Washington Nationals, Pittsburgh Pirates and Chicago White Sox.
The Bradenton, Fla. native was taken 12th overall by the Mets in the 2003 MLB Draft, then became the youngest player in Major League Baseball when he debuted in New York at the age of 21 in 2006. Milledge spent two seasons with the Mets, then was traded to the Nationals, where he hit 14 homers and knocked in 61 runs in 2008. In 2009, Milledge was traded to the Pirates, for whom he played two seasons before finishing his big league tenure with the White Sox.
Milledge then went onto an extensive international career, starring for the Tokyo Yakult Swallows of Nippon Professional Baseball in addition to stints in Venezuela, Mexico, and with the Lancaster Barnstormers of the Atlantic League.
Following his playing career, Milledge has served as a hitting instructor in the Bradenton area.
Milledge replaces another major leaguer on the Spikes staff after Darnell Sweeney departed following the MLB Draft after accepting a position with the Philadelphia Phillies as a hitting instructor for their Rookie-level Florida Complex League affiliate in Clearwater, Fla.
Fans can see Milledge and the rest of the Spikes in action throughout the second half of the MLB Draft League season at Medlar Field at Lubrano Park, with tickets available now here at StateCollegeSpikes.com
