Ken Coffee took work ethic from college to 6 pro outings
"An outstanding worth ethic, that's his trademark," Baylock told The Day of Coffee. "He's a real good one."
Baylock eventually took that work ethic on to the pros, signing on later that year with the Mets. His pro career ended up lasting six outings, all that season in 1990.
Baylock's career began and ended in 1990, signed by the Mets as an undrafted free agent out of Connecticut.
Baylock's call to the pros actually didn't come until that August. The Mets instructed him to get to Pittsfield, Massachusetts, home of the Mets' short-season team, The Day wrote.
"The Mets had asked him to come up a couple times to watch him pitch, Coffee's father, also Ken, told The Day. "Apparently, they were impressed enough with his potential and they had an opening on the squad."
With the Mets at Pittsfield, Coffee saw those six outings, one start. He picked up two wins and gave up nine earned runs in 22.2 innings for a 3.57 ERA. An arm injury the next spring made his 1990 season his only season as a pro.
In 1993, he returned to the University of Connecticut as an assistant coach under his old coach Baylock. He spoke to The Norwich Bulletin then about his brief pro career.
"To make it was a goal," Coffee told The Bulletin. "Anything after that was extra. I left with a good taste in my mouth."
- New London Day, May 27, 1990: The ol' fashioned work ethic is Coffee's cup of tea
- New London Day, Aug. 9, 1990: Coffee's call comes, signs with Mets
- Norwich Bulletin, March 4, 1993: Coffee joins Baylock's staff
Made the Majors:1,473-31.8%
Never Made Majors:3,166-68.2%-X