Chris Coste, C

B-T: R-R

HT: 6-1

WT: 215

AGE: 34
BORN: February 4, 1973, Fargo, ND

RESIDES: Fargo, ND

HOW OBTAINED: Signed by Phillies as a Minor League free agent, 10/29/04

2006: Second straight season as a non-roster invitee to Phillies spring training… Batted .463 (19-41), 5 2B, 3 HR, 11 RBI in spring training, but began the season with Scranton/Wilkes-Barre (AAA)… Had his contract purchased on 5/21… Homered in his 2 games prior to being called up… At 33 years, 111 days old, made his ML debut on 5/26 vs MIL,making him the oldest player to make his ML debut with the Phillies since Izzy Leon on 6/21/45 at 34 years, 168 days old… Began his ML career 0-for-13 before getting his first hit and RBI, 6/16 vs TB (James Shields)… Slugged his 1st ML HR, 7/19 at SF (Mike Thompson)… Became just the 3rd non-pitcher in ML history to hit his first HR at age 33 or older, joining Alan Zinter (34 in 2002) and So Taguchi (34 in 2003)… Hit his 2nd HR in his very next game, 7/21 vs ATL… Had his first career 4-hit game, 8/3 at STL… Batted .571 (16-28) with RISP over a 20-game span, 6/16-8/19… Hit .414 (12-29) in his final 10 games of the season; 4 of his last 7 hits were doubles.  

2005: Went to camp with Phillies as non-roster invitee… Spent the season with Scranton/Wilkes-Barre (AAA)… Selected to International League All-Star team… His 89 RBI were 3rd-most in the IL and tied for 3rd-most in club history… Led the team in games (134), at-bats (506), HR (20) and RBI… Homered in back-to-back games, 5/15-16 at Rochester, including a grand slam… Slugged 3 HR in a DH, 6/25 vs Charlotte… Pitched 1.0 scoreless inning, 7/3 at Rochester, in the team’s 12-0 loss… Had a season-best 12-game hit streak, 8/14-25 (.392, 20-51, 5 2B, 2 HR, 8 RBI)… Collected a season-high 4 RBI three times… Hit .328 (44-134) in the final 34 games of the season.

2004: Played for Indianapolis (AAA)… Hit .419 (13-31) through his first 9 games of the season… Appeared in 34 games at 3rd base, 27 games as catcher, 13 at 1st base and 4 at 2nd base… Had a season-high 4 hits, 4/18 vs Richmond… Batted a season-best .349 in 13 August games… Spent time on the DL (5/6-6/8), the temporarily inactive list (7/30-8/2) and the suspended list (8/2-17)… Played for Obregon in the Mexican Winter League.

2003: Began his season with Pawtucket (AAA) and appeared in 2 games before being placed on the DL, 4/13… Had an 11-game rehab assignment with the Gulf Coast Red Sox (R) and was activated on 7/17… Pitched in 2 games (0-0, 9.00 ERA)… For Pawtucket, played 8 games at catcher, 6 at 1st base and 15 as DH… Signed by MIL, 11/13.

2002: Spent the entire season with Buffalo (AAA)… Finished 3rd in the International League in hits (152) and 6th in avg (.318)… Opened the season with an 8-game hit streak, in which he batted .567 (17-30) with 7 multi-hit games… Finished April with a .443 avg in 18 games… Reached base safely in 24 consecutive games, 6/4-7/3 (31 H, 12 BB)… Hit .351 in 67 home games… Made 2 pitching appearances, getting a win and loss, holding opponents to a .167 avg… Signed by BOS,11/6.

2001: Began the season with Akron (AA) on 4/23 due to shoulder surgery to repair a torn labrum on 1/5… Promoted to Buffalo, 4/30… Combined to play in 37 games as catcher, 19 at 1st base, 12 in the outfield and 1 at 3rd base… Compiled a season-high 13-game hit streak, 7/8-27 (.455, 5 2B, 2 HR, 13 RBI)… Had a teambest .417 avg in 5 playoff games against Scranton/Wilkes-Barre.

2000: Split his season between Akron and Buffalo and led the CLE organization with a .324 avg (96 G)… Began and ended his season with Akron… Batted safely in 23 of his final 25 games with the club (.351, 9 2B, 2 3B, 12 RBI).

1999: Signed by PIT on 1/5, released on 4/5, and signed back by Fargo- Moorhead of the independent Northern League for his 4th and final season with the club… Finished 3rd in the league in total bases (188) and hits (118) and 4th in runs (67) and avg (.335)… Signed by CLE, 11/18.

1998: Finished 5th in the Northern League in games (84) for Fargo.

1997: Tied for the most games (84) in the Northern League for Fargo.

1996: His 1st of 4 seasons with Fargo… Had the 2nd-most doubles in the Northern League (30).1995: Spent his 1st pro season with Brandon of the independent Prairie League… Made 1 start as pitcher.

PERSONAL: Christopher Robert Coste… Married, wife’s name is Marcia; one daughter, Casey… Attended Concordia College (Division III) in Moorhead,MN… Was the recipient of the 2006 Dallas Green Special Achievement Award, presented by the Philadelphia chapter of the BBWAA… Won the Media Good Guy Award from the Philadelphia SportsWriters Association… Hobby:Writing books.

CAREER BATTING STATISTICS

CAREER PITCHING STATISTICS