The Stetson University hitter proved his worth, hitting a AAA Tucson Toro's pitch out for a grand slam, according to The Orlando Sentinel.
"With the bases loaded, I was just thinking about hitting the ball hard," Pinckes told The Sentinel. "When I hit it, it felt so good I didn't feel it at all. It was a great feeling."
Pinckes was back facing professional pitching within a couple months, Pinckes turning pro with the Cleveland Indians. Pinckes, though, couldn't stick around long enough to face high-level pitching full-time. His pro career lasted just two seasons.
Pinckes' career began in 1990, signed by the Indians as an undrafted free agent out of Stetson in Florida.
At Stetson in 1989, Pinckes scored four times while knocking in four in a regional win. The team was eliminated days later in a game where Pinckes was praised for his defense with two good diving stops, according to The Daytona Beach News-Journal.
"I just got lucky, I guess," Pinckes told The News-Journal of the stops. "I dove and just came up with the ball."
With the Indians, Pinckes played the 1990 season at rookie Burlington. He got into 54 games, hitting .233. He hit two home runs and knocked in 20.
He explained his life in the minors to The Sentinel that July.
"It's a small town, and there's not too much to do but wake up and go to the park early. And we play every night," Pinckes told The Sentinel. "It's tough mentally to get up everyday and come to the park. But it's what I wanted to do. It's why I'm here."
Pinckes returned to the field for 1991, but his stay was brief. Assigned to single-A Columbus, Pinckes got into just eight games. He went 2 for 13, ending his career.
- Orlando Sentinel, March 28, 1990: Pinckes Finding His Dreams Hitting Reality
- Daytona Beach News-Journal, May 31, 1989: Hatters bow out of regional in loss to Clemson
- Orlando Sentinel, July 15, 1990: Pinckes Learns The Down Side Of Pro Baseball
Players/Coaches Featured: 1,965
Made the Majors: 886-45.1%
Never Made Majors:1,079-54.9%-X
5+ Seasons in the Majors: 378
10+ Seasons in the Minors:219
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