Where are They Now? Kevin Coddington

Kevin Coddington, Midwest League All-Star, 2009 Dragons

In 2009, the Dayton Dragons featured an unheralded catcher from West Linn, Oregon who had played college baseball at the University of Illinois-Chicago. Kevin Coddington arrived in Dayton with little fanfare. He had been a 44th round draft pick the previous summer, a dubious notation considering the draft now lasts only 40 rounds. But Coddington emerged as an outstanding catcher for the Dragons and was selected to play in Midwest League All-Star Game. The friendly, talkative Coddington spent two more seasons in professional baseball before a shoulder injury curtailed his career in 2012. Kevin recently brought us up to date on his career outside of baseball.

What can you tell us about your current job?

KC: I'll always have fond memories of my time in Dayton...I currently work as a Territory Manager for Mizuno (manufacturer and distributor of baseball, golf, softball, running, track and field, volleyball equipment, apparel and footwear for international markets) covering Louisiana, Mississippi, and Arkansas. It's been great to still be around sports, but even putting that aside, Mizuno is a fantastic company that I'm proud to work for.

Have you stayed in contact with any of your former teammates?

KC: I definitely keep in touch with former Dragons like Justin Walker, Anthony Brown, and Matt Fairel to name a few. Justin lives three hours from me and "Downtown Tony Brown" was working as an assistant coach at the University of New Orleans last year. A lot of other guys I keep in touch with via text. Scott Gaffney, Jordan Hotchkiss, and Kyle Day are names that usually pop up on group texts that often start with something related to Penn State, Michigan State, or Florida State in the fall.

What are your fondest memories from your playing days?

KC: I wouldn't say there is any one on-field memory that stands out, but more than anything, I remember and miss just being around the guys in the clubhouse and all the shenanigans that went along with that. In addition to that, I will always remember how great the staff and fans were there. It really is a one-of-a-kind situation and I'll always be grateful for how well we were supported. I was fortunate to have a great living situation living with Ryan and Marisa Brown who were very generous to open up their home, but even outside of the Browns, that type of generosity seemed to be the norm with the people I encountered in Dayton.

###