Keith Strange started his pro career as a catcher. He then moved to third base and then back to catcher, all over his first two pro campaigns, The South Bend Tribune wrote.
Strange, however, didn't mind the moves, he told The Tribune in August 1991.
"I figure that if I can do two things well, I'll have a better chance of getting into the big leagues," Strange told The Tribune. "I'll have more opportunities."
His knowledge of both positions may have made him more useful, it ultimately didn't help him to the majors. He played in two more campaigns. He topped out at AA.
Strange's career began in 1990, taken by the White Sox in the 11th round of the draft out of Oregon Tech. He also played at Western Oregon and North Eugene High School.
He played football, baseball and basketball at North Eugene.
At Western Oregon, Strange hit .300 his freshman year and .350 by mid-March of his sophomore campaign, enough to get high praise from his head coach Joe Caligure, according to The Salem Statesman Journal.
"In my mind, he's a pro prospect," Caligure told The Statesman Journal in March 1989.
Strange's pro career started the next year, with the White Sox. He played his first season at short-season Utica. He got into 68 games and hit .277. He hit a game-winning, bases-loaded single in a June game.
He moved to single-A South Bend for 1991. He saw 95 games there and hit .232. He also saw five games in the rookie Gulf Coast League.
Strange played 1992 at high-A Sarasota. He went 2 for 4 in a July game. In 60 appearances, he hit .225. Strange made AA Birmingham for 1993, but his season proved brief. He played just six games and went 4 for 17. Those games marked his last as a pro.
- Salem Statesman Journal, March 13, 1989: Coach is near two milestones
- South Bend Tribune, Aug. 24, 1991: Strange doesn't mind White Sox position shuffle
Made the Majors:1,248-34.5%
Never Made Majors:2,371-65.5%-X
5+ Seasons in the Majors:520
10+ Seasons in the Minors:307
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