Chris Sparrow came back from slump with home run at Utica; Played two pro seasons

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Chris Sparrow had his first big game in a while in this July 1990 contest for Utica as he went 2 for 4, with a home run, The Elmira Star-Gazette wrote.

"I just haven't been in a groove," Sparrow explained to The Star-Gazette afterward. "I hurt my right knee earlier and after coming back, I've been 0-for-12. But maybe this will get me out of the slump."

Sparrow ended up coming back to hit .281 on the year, but it wasn't enough. That year marked his second pro season, but also his last. He topped out at short-season.

Sparrow's career began in 1989, signed by the Braves as a free agent out of the University of North Carolina-Asheville.

Sparrow played summer 1989 with the American Legion team in his hometown of Kernersville. He hit a three-run home run in an August game. 

With the Braves, Sparrow played at rookie Idaho Falls. That July, he hit a fastball out for a home run off Salt Lake starter Tom Studstill, The Salt Lake Tribune wrote.

"That was the first bad pitch I threw all day," Studstill told The Tribune of the Sparrow home run.

Sparrow hit .262 overall in 54 games. He hit three home runs in all.

Sparrow then moved to the White Sox system for 1990. Assigned to short-season Utica, Sparrow got into 53 games and hit .281. That season ended up being his last as a pro.

1990 Minor League Tally 
Players/Coaches Featured:3,633
Made the Majors:1,248-34.4%
Never Made Majors:2,385-65.6%-X
5+ Seasons in the Majors:520
10+ Seasons in the Minors:307

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