Brian Lane faced ML pitcher on rehab; Saw six pro seasons, missed bigs himself

Originally published July 18, 2012

Brian Lane and the Chattanooga Lookouts got a look at a major league pitcher this exhibition game in April 1993.

This major league pitcher also had a perfect game behind him, Tom Browning. Browning, though, was far from perfect. He gave up 13 hits. Among those Lookouts who got in on the action was Lane.

"It wasn't really his day," Lane told The Associated Press afterward. "This guy's got a perfect game in the major leagues. We got to him early and it was fun. Some days you go to the plate and get good pitches."

While Lane and the Lookouts had a good day that day, for Lane, that look at major league pitching would be among the few he had. And, in a career that saw time in six seasons, Lane never got to see major league pitching in the majors.

Lane's career began in 1987, taken by the Reds in the third round of the draft, out of Midway High School in Waco, Texas.

He played that first year at rookie Billing. He hit .200 in 56 games. He moved to single-A Greensboro for 1988, improving his average to .282 over 115 contests. He went 2 for 4 in a May game for Greensboro, including executing a hit-and-run.

Lane first made AA Chattanooga in 1989, hitting .252 in 130 games. He also hit 11 home runs and knocked in 89. One of those RBIs came on a double in May.

Lane started 1990 at AAA Nashville, but in 49 games, he hit only .193. He played the rest of the year back at AA.

He's not recorded as playing in 1991, but he returned in 1992 for 57 total games between Chattanooga and Nashville.

His year in 1993 ended up being his last. Playing a full season back at AA, Lane hit .264, with 10 home runs, ending his career short of the majors.

• Kentucky New Era, Associated Press, April 20, 1993: Browning beat by Chattanooga

More: 1990 Nashville Sounds