Kevin Coughlin started 1991 at single-A South Bend slowly, like hitting .147 over 24 games slowly, The South Bend Tribune wrote.
But Coughlin turned it around by the end of May as he went on a .455 run over 55 at bats and he cited his confidence as leading to the improvement, The Tribune wrote.
"I think my confidence is really high," Coughlin told The Tribune. "In the beginning of the season, I was struggling and my confidence level was low. Now that my hitting is coming around, each game I'm more and more confident."
Coughlin brought his average back, by the end of the year, to .304. He then took his confidence on to six more seasons, for nine seasons total. He made AAA in three of those, but didn't get higher.
Along the way, though, in 1994, Coughlin got to play with Michael Jordan at Birmingham.
Coughlin's career began in 1989, signed by the White Sox as a free agent out of Damascus High in Maryland.
Coughlin started with the White Sox in the rookie Gulf Coast League. He hit .257 over 24 games.
He then moved to short-season Utica for 1990. He hit .274 there in 68 games. He made South Bend in 1992, then high-A Sarasota in 1992 and 1993. In 1993, he also saw two games at AAA Nashville.
Coughlin then spent 1994 at Birmingham with Jordan. That April, Coughlin spoke to The Pensacola News Journal about playing on the same team with the basketball superstar.
"At first you're kind of in awe," Coughlin told The News Journal. "That's Michael Jordan, the greatest basketball player ever. But he puts us at ease."
Coughlin hit .257 in 112 games that year at Birmingham. He returned to Birmingham for most of 1995 and he saw 10 more games at Nashville.
He moved to the Red Sox system and AA Trenton for 1996, then the Reds and Cardinals systems for 1997. He saw 12 games at AAA Louisville with the Cardinals in 1997. He went 9 for 35. That season marked his last as a pro.
- South Bend Tribune, June 1, 1991: Coughlin's confidence brings plate success
- Pensacola News Journal, April 24, 1994: Barons' GM: 'We won the Michael Jordan lottery'
Made the Majors:1,247-34.6%
Never Made Majors:2,361-65.4%-X
5+ Seasons in the Majors:520
10+ Seasons in the Minors:306
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