EX-OILER HIGGINS COACHING IN AAA
Mt. Pleasant is a baseball town, that’s a fact and a truth.
When you think about the rich history of baseball in Mt. Pleasant you think of the excellent high school programs at both Mt. Pleasant High School and Mt. Pleasant Sacred Heart Academy.
For the past 80-plus years both programs have been churning out some of the best prep baseball talent in the state of Michigan year-in and year-out. Same holds true on the collegiate level in that Central Michigan University’s baseball program is one of the most-decorated and winningest programs in the country dating back to the 1950s.
On an individual level Mt. Pleasant High School has produced dozens upon dozens of collegiate players and more than its share of minor leaguers dating back to the 1960s and 70s. For instance there’s Bobb Servoss (Kansas City Royals) and Jim Cooper (New York Yankees) and Terry Lynch (Detroit Tigers) and more currently Tyler Higgins (Florida Marlins) and Aaron Leasher (San Diego Padres) and Obie Ricumstrict (Texas Rangers).
Central Michigan University has also had 98 players drafted in the Major League Draft dating back to 1965. That’s a lot of talent to come from one town, thus again, Mt. Pleasant is a baseball town.
Earlier this year former Mt. Pleasant High School standout star Tyler Higgins was named the pitching and bullpen coach for the Lehigh Valley Ironpigs, the Triple-a affiliate for the Philadelphia Phillies. The 32-year old hard-throwing right-handed pitcher and 2009 Mt. Pleasant High School graduate played baseball professionally for 12 years after being drafted by the Florida Marlins in the 23rd round of the 2011 draft.
Last fall Higgins decided to retire from playing and focus on coaching youngsters at his baseball academy in Jacksonville, Fla. Yet, as it was, an opportunity opened to coach on the minor-league level and Higgins went for it.
“When they called me to interview for the coaching job I was a little shocked because I hadn’t thought about coaching, but I made the right decision,” said Higgins, who was initially drafted out of high school by the Texas Rangers in the 49th round of the 2009 draft but decided to go the college route. “It’s been a really, really good experience so far.”
In his 12-year professional playing career Higgins played all over the world with stops in Mexico and Japan and, of course, the United States.
During this time frame he picked the brains of some of baseball’s best minds and now that his playing days are over he’s sharing what he’s learned with players who are just one step away from playing in the Major Leagues.
“During the game I’m in the bullpen making sure the relievers are ready to go,” said Higgins. “I’ve only been one year retired (from pitching professionally) so I can relate to the guys on and off the field.”
Lehigh Valley is based in Allentown (Pa.) and is a member of the 12-team International League.
It is 6-6 so far this season.