Rob Mallicoat worked hard to make majors, then get back

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Rob Mallicoat 1991 Jackson Generals baseball card

Selected by the Astros that past January in 1984, Rob Mallicoat signed in May to start his pro career.

"This has been my goal all through baseball," Mallicoat told his hometown Hermiston Herald then. "It's going to be hard work, but I think it's going to be a good experience."

For Mallicoat, it would be hard work, both on the field and off it. He made the majors. Then, after a series of injuries, he made it back.

Mallicoat's career began that year, taken by the Astros in the first round of the January draft out of Taft College in California.

Mallicoat started at short-season Auburn and single-A Asheville. He went 3-4, with a 4.02 ERA over 12 starts.

He moved to single-A Osceola for 1985, then AA Columbus and AAA Tucson in 1986. He then played 1987 largely at Columbus, but got a call to Houston that September.

With the Astros, Mallicoat got into four games, starting one. He gave up five earned in 6.2 innings of work. He spoke to The Pendleton East Oregonian about his debut and the attention he received.

"But the exposure on national television is tremendous," Mallicoat told The East Oregonian. "I've been getting phone calls from people I knew in high school and kindergarten and people from all over, saying, 'Mallicoat, what the heck are you doing in the big leagues?"

But then came the injuries. A shoulder injury forced him out of all of 1988 and 1989. By the start of 1990, he'd undergone two shoulder surgeries. But he was also ready to try a comeback, The Houston Post wrote.

"I've been on an  emotional roller coaster the past two years," Mallicoat told The Post then. "I just owe it to the Astros and I owe it to myself to find out for sure if I have anything left."

Mallicoat did have something left. He returned to the field for 1990 for 10 outings in the rookie Gulf Coast League and at high-A Osceola.

Then, in 1991, he saw AA Jackson, AAA Tucson - and major league Houston. He saw 24 relief outings with Houston. He went 0-2, with a 3.86 ERA

Going into 1992, he told The Post he was glad to have another chance - and he no longer took his skills for granted.

"I have a better understanding for the game and respect for it, now that I have my arm back," Mallicoat told The Post.

Mallicoat then went out and pitched in another 23 games for the Astros that year. He ended with a 7.23  ERA.

After not playing in 1993, Mallicoat continued pitching in 1994 at high-A with the Padres, then AAA with the Royals, in Taiwan and independent ball in 1995 to end his career.

Rob Mallicoat 1991 Jackson Generals baseball card


1990 Minor League Tally 
Players/Coaches Featured:4,532
Made the Majors:1,433-31.6%-X
Never Made Majors:3,099-68.4%
5+ Seasons in the Majors:582
10+ Seasons in the Minors:359

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