WSC Birth Years: Lastings Milledge

Card #91 - Lastings Milledge

Born: April 5, 1985

Lastings has a high ceiling of potential, but no team has effectively tapped that yet. The White Sox are his fourth MLB team. Milledge was drafted by the Mets in 2003 and made his debut with them in 2006. He was traded to Washington after the 2007 season and was traded to Pittsburgh in the middle of the 2009 season.

If any team can crack the Lastings Milledge code, it figures to be the White Sox. Lastings was a non-roster invitee for 2011 Spring Training and began to turn heads. After a torrid spring, Milledge appeared to be the last cut. In what proved to be the most difficult decision of the spring, Lastings, along with Jeff Marquez and Brent Lillibridge were vying for the last two roster spots. Marquez and Lillibridge were both out of options, but Milledge played his way into the final spot over Marquez.

Lastings made the most of the opportunity and smoked a double in the first game of the 2011 season. Milledge gave fans a thrill as he flew home from second on an A.J. Pierzynski single. His adventurous time in the outfield was the only blemish on him during the first week of the season. Unfortunately, the White Sox were involved in a few extra inning games and were forced to use their bullpen more often. Lastings was designated for assignment after the first week, in order to solidify the bullpen with another arm. Milledge cleared waivers and is waiting for his next opportunity with the White Sox.