Tracking the PRO Career of Corey Coles

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The New Orleans Zephyrs added former University of Louisiana star Corey Coles to the roster today. He had been at Class AA Binghamton ... Batted .296 with a HR and 22 RBI in 66 games ..... Started the season at Class A St Lucie batted .286 with 8 RBI and 6 runs scored in 23 games .... In 2006 he was Florida State League ALL-STAR -- Led the Class A Florida State League in batting at .341 and tied for second with 156 hits in 124 games with Class A Advanced St. Lucie. ... Also had a home run, 45 RBIs, 21 vstolen bases and 65 runs scored. Selected by the New York Mets in the fifth round of the 2003 First-Year Player Draft from UL Lafayette. A former pitcher at with the Ragin Cajuns he is now an outfielder. The source of the story

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Zephyrs add former ULL star Coles

Associated Press - July 21, 2007 10:04 PM ET

METAIRIE, La. (AP) - Former Louisiana-Lafayette star Corey Coles is back in Louisiana -- playing for the New Orleans Zephyrs.

He had been at Binghampton, a Class-AA team.

The New York Mets took Coles in the 2003 first-year player draft out of Lafayette, where he was a pitcher. He has played since then with Class A Advanced St. Lucie in the Florida State League and at Binghampton.

He's now an outfielder, and batted .296 with a home run and 22 RBI in 66 games at Binghampton.

http://www.klfy.com/Global/story.asp?S=6822301&nav=7k7f

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NEW ORLEANS-Former Ragin’ Cajuns baseball standout Corey Coles was promoted to the New York Mets’ Triple-A affiliate, New Orleans Zephyrs. Coles played with the Cajuns from 2001 until he was selected by the New York Mets in the fifth round of the 2003 First-Year Player Draft. “It is definitely a good experience,” Coles stated. “It has been a long time since I have played baseball in Louisiana. I get to see my parents a lot more now and I get to see my wife and daughter, too. “I am getting phone calls for tickets from my friends back home,” remarked Coles. “I am getting playing time which is good, and I am excited to get a chance to play in front of all of my friends who don’t mind driving over to New Orleans.” Coles led the Florida State League in batting at .341 and tied for second with 156 hits in 124 games with Class A Advanced St. Lucie. He also had a home run, 45 RBIs, 21 stolen bases and 65 runs scored. The Lafayette native put together a 13-game hitting streak from Aug. 5-18. Coles also hit safely in 12 straight games from April 19-30. He recorded 47 multi-hit games. Coles batted .369 (31-for-84) in 20 games in July, going 4-for-5 with one run scored on July 17 vs. Jupiter. He was 2-for-3 with two runs scored and three RBIs on May 9 vs. Fort Myers. Coles was named a Florida State League Mid-Season All-Star, as well as, a Post-Season All-Star in 2006. “It is always good for our program when players not only get to the Minor Leagues, but work their way up in an organization,” UL head coach Tony Robichaux commented. “He is right there and the next step is Major League Baseball. “We really believe Corey can make that step.” With the Cajuns, Coles was a two-time First Team ABCA All-South Central Region selection. He led the Cajuns in 2002 and 2003 in batting average and paced the team with nine homeruns in 2003. Coles remains one of just seven players to hit three homeruns in a single game as he accomplished the feat on April 26, 2003 at New Orleans. RaginCajuns.com

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  Corey Coles, a Lafayette native who played at Comeaux High School and Louisiana-Lafayette, was happy to hear last fall that the New York Mets' Triple-A affiliate this season would be the Zephyrs.

"I knew I'd be in Double-A at least," said Coles, who won the batting title last season while playing for St. Lucie, the Mets' team in the High Class A Florida State League. "You know there's always a chance (to be promoted). My friends and family were excited about it."

Injuries to Mets outfielders have led to several roster moves involving the Zephyrs this season. Last week, the Zephyrs were short of outfielders, and on Saturday, Coles joined the team on a promotion from Double-A Binghamton.

On Tuesday, Coles played his first home game for New Orleans, and he had supporters at Zephyr Field. His wife and daughter from Lafayette, plus his wife's aunt and uncle from St. Tammany Parish, attended the game.

"This weekend will be pretty crazy with friends and family -- mom, dad, stepdad, stepmom, friends from high school," he said. He'll need from 20 to 30 tickets, he said.

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Bob Fortus
rfortus@timespicayune.com
(504) 826-3408