Kerry Ligtenberg

Kerry Dale Ligtenberg (born May 11, 1971) is a former Major League Baseball pitcher who is currently the pitching coach for the Kane County Cougars of the American Association of Professional Baseball.

Early life[]

Ligtenberg was born in Rapid City, South Dakota. He graduated from Park High School in Cottage Grove, Minnesota.^[1] In 2000, Ligtenberg graduated from the University of Minnesota with a degree in chemical engineering. He received his diploma during an on-field ceremony at Atlanta's Turner Field in September 2000.^[2] Ligtenberg has three children.

Professional career[]

After attending the University of Minnesota in 1994, Ligtenberg signed with the of the independent . He made 19 starts with them (114 innings pitched), allowing 103 hits and 44 walks for an ERA of 3.31. He struck out 94. In 1995 he joined the Mariners spring training as a potential replacement player. On March 28, 1995, after pitching well enough to be offered a replacement contract, his contract was sold to the Seattle Mariners. Like the rest of the replacement players he was released on April 2, after the strike was settled.

In 1995, the North Central League folded, and the Loons joined the independent Prairie League for the 1995 season. Ligtenberg re-signed with them, and in 19 games (17 starts) he pitched 109 innings, allowing 101 hits and 26 walks. Kerry struck out 100 with a 2.73 ERA. Based on information provided by former Braves catcher and Loons' manager Greg Olson, Atlanta purchased his contract on January 27, 1996. The purchase price was $720 worth of baseball equipment.

His major league career began in 1997. He has played for the Atlanta Braves and Arizona Diamondbacks of the National League and the Baltimore Orioles and Toronto Blue Jays both of the American League. His best season came in 1998, when he replaced a demoted Mark Wohlers as the Braves closer in mid-season, converted 30 of 34 save opportunities. He finished fourth in the 1998 National League Rookie of the Year voting.^[3] His 1999 season, however was hampered by a UCL tear, and after returning from injury in 2000 Ligtenberg was used primarily as a set-up man and middle reliever.

Ligtenberg most recently played in 2009 for the St. Paul Saints of the American Association. According to a Twitter post by Kevin Goldstein, Ligtenberg retired on August 6, 2009, citing a knee injury.^[4]

In the spring of 1995, he served briefly as a replacement player for the Seattle Mariners, effectively crossing the players' picket line in the 1994 MLB strike. As a result, he was never allowed to join the MLBPA.

Ligtenberg served as pitching coach for the independent American Association's St. Paul Saints from 2011–2020. ^[5]

On April 1, 2021, Ligtenberg was named the pitching coach of the Kane County Cougars, a former Low-A Midwest League club that later moved to the American Association due to the restructuring of Minor League Baseball.

References[]

External links[]

• Career statistics and player information from MLB, or Baseball-Reference, or Baseball-Reference (Minors)