COKE PROMOTED TO BIG LEAGUES

Lefty Goes from Lancaster to Yankee Stadium in Two Weeks

On Saturday, April 23, veteran left-hander Phil Coke made a start for the Lancaster Barnstormers against the Southern Maryland Blue Crabs during the Atlantic League’s opening weekend.

Less than two weeks later, Coke has been promoted to the New York Yankees.

He becomes the third player in the 12-year history of the Barnstormers to open the season in Lancaster and go to the Majors before the year is out, joining OF Matt Watson and RHP Jerome Williams.  Like Coke, both had prior big league experience.

The southpaw allowed six hits and three runs in his four-inning start, his only appearance for the Barnstormers.  After that performance, his contract was purchased by the Yankees.  He was initially assigned to Class AAA Scranton/Wilkes-Barre.

With the RailRiders, Coke pitched seven innings.  He yielded only three hits and one unearned run while walking two and striking out eight.

He returns to the Yankees, where he began his big league career in 2008, a career that has produced 401 regular season appearances and 26 post season appearances in the Majors with the Yankees, Detroit, Toronto and the Chicago Cubs.

“We are really happy for Phil,” said Barnstormers manager Butch Hobson.  “He came here, got seen, pitched well in Triple-A and got back.”