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Wednesday, September 7, 2022

Dave Neal pitched well in single-A loss; Saw four seasons then had elbow surgery


Dave Neal picked up the loss in this early May 1990 game for single-A Quad City, but he pitched well enough for his manager Don Long knew the outcome could have been different, The Moline Dispatch wrote.

Neal went 6.1 innings and gave up just four hits in the 2-1 loss.

"I wouldn't say he threw it away," Long told The Dispatch of Neal. "It got away from him a little bit, but he pitched well enough to win."

Neal had that outing in his third season as a pro. He pitched in just one more. He topped out at high-A.

Neal's career began in 1988, taken by the Angels in the fifth round of the draft out of Montgomery High School in Wilmer, Ala.

Neal started with the Angels at short-season Bend. He went 1-6, with a 7.52 ERA over 11 starts. He then moved to single-A Palm Springs. He went 3-16 there, with a 5.53 ERA. 

For 1990, Neal split time between high-A Palm Springs and Quad City. He went 4-7 between them, with a 5.38 ERA in 24 outings, 13 starts.

He returned to Quad City for 1991. In late June, he rejoined the rotation after time away as a reliever, The Quad City Times wrote.

"We have four solid starters now and hopefully, we'll get Neal back on track," Quad City manager Mitch Seoane told The Times.

The next month, though, Neal underwent elbow surgery for a chip and bone spur. He ended the season with 10 outings, 5 starts and an 8.87 ERA. That season proved his last.

1990 Minor League Tally 
Players/Coaches Featured:4,021
Made the Majors:1,338-33.3%
Never Made Majors:2,683-66.7%-X
5+ Seasons in the Majors:547
10+ Seasons in the Minors:331

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