Louis Coleman

{{Infobox baseball biography

| name = Louis Coleman

| image = Louis Coleman on May 24, 2011.jpg

| caption = Coleman with the Kansas City Royals

| position = Pitcher

| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1986|4|4}}

| birth_place = Greenwood, Mississippi, U.S.

| bats = Right

| throws = Right

| debutleague = MLB

| debutdate = April 21

| debutyear = 2011

| debutteam = Kansas City Royals

|finalleague=MLB

|finaldate=September 29

|finalyear=2018

|finalteam=Detroit Tigers

| statleague = MLB

| stat1label = Win–loss record

| stat1value = 12–6

| stat2label = Earned run average

| stat2value = 3.51

| stat3label = Strikeouts

| stat3value = 272

| teams=

Kansas City Royals ({{mlby|2011}}–{{mlby|2015}})
Los Angeles Dodgers ({{mlby|2016}})
Detroit Tigers ({{mlby|2018}})

}}

Harold Louis Coleman III (born April 4, 1986) is an American former professional baseball pitcher. He played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Kansas City Royals, Los Angeles Dodgers, and Detroit Tigers.

Early life

Coleman was born in Greenwood, Mississippi, to Hal and Kathy Coleman. He graduated from Pillow Academy in Greenwood and attended Louisiana State University (LSU), where he played college baseball for the LSU Tigers baseball team.{{cite web|url= http://www.baseball-almanac.com/players/player.php?p=colemlo01|title = Louis Coleman Stats|publisher=Baseball Almanac|access-date= July 18, 2013}} Coleman earned his agricultural business degree in May 2009.{{cite web|url= http://www.lsusports.net/ViewArticle.dbml?DB_OEM_ID=5200&ATCLID=217399|title= #29 Louis Coleman|publisher= LSUsports.net|access-date= July 14, 2013|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20160303225800/http://www.lsusports.net/ViewArticle.dbml?DB_OEM_ID=5200&ATCLID=217399|archive-date= March 3, 2016|url-status= dead}}

Professional career

=Kansas City Royals=

Coleman was drafted by the Kansas City Royals in the fifth round of the 2009 MLB Draft,{{cite web|url= https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/c/colemlo01.shtml|title= Louis Coleman|publisher=Baseball-Reference.com |access-date= July 14, 2013}} and was called up to the majors for the first time on April 21, 2011.[https://web.archive.org/web/20121006110934/http://kansascity.royals.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20110421&content_id=18083170&vkey=news_kc&c_id=kc Bullpen shuffle: Coleman in, Texeira out] That night, he pitched two scoreless innings against the Cleveland Indians in his major league debut. On May 11, 2011, Coleman recorded his first major league save by pitching a perfect 11th inning against the New York Yankees in Yankee Stadium.[http://www.kansascity.com/2011/05/11/2868869_hosmer-drives-royals-to-win.html?storylink=omni_popular Hosmer drives Royals to win over Yankees]

The Royals placed Coleman on waivers in April 2015 with the purpose of removing him from their 40-man roster.{{cite web|author=The Capital-Journal |url=http://cjonline.com/sports/catzone/2015-04-02/local-sports-briefs-april-2-royals-place-reliever-louis-coleman-waivers |title=Local sports briefs for April 2: Royals place reliever Louis Coleman on waivers - Sports - The Topeka Capital-Journal - Topeka, KS |publisher=Cjonline.com |date=2015-04-02 |access-date=2019-11-22}} He was re-added to the roster on September 7. On February 3, 2016, Coleman was released by the Royals.

=Los Angeles Dodgers=

On February 19, 2016, Coleman signed a one-year, $725,000 contract with the Los Angeles Dodgers.{{cite news|url=http://bigstory.ap.org/article/38e574e3dddc4e9e8dfdaffdd97ba3b2/dodgers-reliever-louis-coleman-reach-725000-1-year-deal|title=Dodgers, reliever Louis Coleman reach 725,000, 1-year deal|agency=Associated Press|date=February 19, 2016}} As a member of the Dodgers' bullpen in 2016, he pitched in 61 games with a 2–1 record, 4.69 ERA, and 45 strikeouts.{{cite web|url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/teams/LAD/2016.shtml|title=2016 Los Angeles Dodgers Batting, Pitching & Fielding Statistics|work=Baseball Reference|access-date=October 15, 2016}} On December 2, the Dodgers non-tendered Coleman, making him a free agent.{{Cite web|title=2016-17 National League Non-Tenders|url=https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2016/12/2016-17-national-league-non-tenders.html|access-date=February 23, 2025|website=mlbtraderumors.com|language=en}}

=Cincinnati Reds=

On January 10, 2017, Coleman signed a minor league contract with the Cincinnati Reds.{{cite web|url=https://www.thescore.com/news/1204989|title=Reds' Louis Coleman: Inks minor league deal with Reds|work=thescore.com|date=January 10, 2017|access-date=January 10, 2017}} In 25 appearances for the Triple-A Louisville Bats, he compiled a 2-1 record and 2.21 ERA with 44 strikeouts and 2 saves across {{fraction|36|2|3}} innings pitched. Coleman was released by the Reds organization on June 13.{{Cite web|title=Minor MLB Transactions: 6/19/17|url=https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2017/06/minor-mlb-transactions-61917.html|access-date=March 3, 2025|website=mlbtraderumors.com|language=en}}

=Arizona Diamondbacks=

On June 23, 2017, Coleman signed a minor league contract with the Arizona Diamondbacks.{{cite web|url=http://m.dbacks.mlb.com/roster/transactions/2017/06|title=Arizona Diamondbacks Transactions in June 2017|work=MLB.com|access-date=June 23, 2017}} In 25 appearances for the Triple-A Reno Aces, he compiled a 2-1 record and 2.30 ERA with 33 strikeouts across {{fraction|27|1|3}} innings pitched. Coleman was released by the Diamondbacks organization on August 26.{{cite web|url=http://www.baseballamerica.com/minors/minor-league-transactions-aug-26-sept-4-2017/#0lEYBCoQWhurpv1e.97 |title=Top MLB Prospects, Scouting Reports, Analysis |publisher=Baseballamerica.com |access-date=2019-11-22}}

=Detroit Tigers=

File:19ColemanPitch.jpg in 2018]]

On February 23, 2018, Coleman signed a minor league contract with the Detroit Tigers.{{cite web|author=Jeff Todd |url=https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2018/02/tigers-to-sign-louis-coleman.html |title=Tigers To Sign Louis Coleman |publisher=MLB Trade Rumors |date=2018-02-23 |access-date=2019-11-22}} On May 12, the Tigers purchased Coleman's minor league contract and added him to the major league roster.{{Cite news|url=https://www.cbssports.com/fantasy/baseball/news/tigers-louis-coleman-promoted-from-triple-a/|title=Tigers' Louis Coleman: Promoted from Triple-A|work=CBSSports.com|access-date=2018-05-12|language=en}} In {{frac|51|1|3}} relief innings for the Tigers, Coleman posted a 4–1 record with a 3.51 ERA and 41 strikeouts. On October 24, Coleman was removed from the 40-man roster and sent outright to the Triple-A Toledo Mud Hens, but he rejected the assignment and elected free agency the following day.{{Cite web|title=Tigers Outright Four Players|url=https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2018/10/tigers-outright-louis-coleman-jim-adduci.html|access-date=March 3, 2025|website=mlbtraderumors.com|language=en}}

On November 29, 2018, Coleman re-signed with Detroit on a minor league contract.{{cite web|url=https://www.mlive.com/expo/sports/erry-2018/11/c385f9f7c72801/tigers-resign-veteran-reliever.html|title=Tigers re-sign veteran reliever; Dixon Machado on the move|website=MLive.com|last=Woodbery|first=Evan|language=en|date=2018-11-30|access-date=2018-11-30}}

=New York Mets=

On May 29, 2019, Coleman signed a minor league contract with the New York Mets. In 12 appearances for the Triple-A Syracuse Mets, he logged a 5.93 ERA with 12 strikeouts across {{fraction|13|2|3}} innings pitched. Coleman was released by the Mets organization on July 4.{{Cite web|title=Minor MLB Transactions: 7/5/19|url=https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2019/07/minor-mlb-transactions-7519.html|access-date=March 3, 2025|website=mlbtraderumors.com|language=en}}

Pitching style

Coleman mostly throws a four-seam fastball ({{convert|88|to|92|mph}}) and slider ({{convert|78|to|81|mph}}), with an occasional changeup to left-handed hitters.{{cite web|url=http://brooksbaseball.net/player_cards/player_card.php?player=488786|title=Brooks Baseball · Home of the PitchFX Tool - Player Card: Louis Coleman|publisher=Brooks Baseball|access-date=June 19, 2012}}