From the Field: Mark Kotsay, of, Oakland Athletics
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I liked outfielder Mark Kotsay when he was a player. My memory of him was that he was a solid centerfielder with pop and who could steal bases. Looking at his career stats, he is not quite the player that I remember. He had some very solid seasons (including four where he got double-digit HR and SB), but over his 17-year career, he only managed an OPS+ over 100 four times. Still a good player.
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Do you know where he was great, though? College. Over his three seasons at Cal State Fullerton he hit .404 with a .484 OBP and a 1.223 OPS. In 1995, he led the Titans to a Championship, won the Golden Spikes Award as the nation’s top amateur player, the Smith Award as the nation’s top player, and was selected national co-player of the year by Collegiate Baseball. He was the Most Outstanding Player of the 1995 CWS. He would be selected 9th overall in the draft and make the majors in 1997.