Corey Kapano thought he'd be drafted higher in 1988. So, after finally getting taken in the 40th round, it took him some time to get over it, he told The Moline Dispatch in May 1990.
But then he thought about it some more, he told The Dispatch. He'd still been drafted.
"I'm getting the chance just like anyone else," Kapano told The Dispatch. "The 40th round means nothing to me. I was drafted and I got the chance to play."
Kapano eventually took that chance to a career that spanned more than a decade in the pros. He briefly made it to AAA and even to Taiwan, but fell short of the bigs.
Kapano's career began in 1988, taken by the Angels in the 40th round out. He's credited as playing at Mount San Antonio College and Citrus College, as well as Azusa High School in California.
Kapano hit the field for the Angels in 1989, at short-season Bend. He hit .251 in 63 games, with six home runs.
He made single-A Quad City in 1990, where he hit .244. He then saw high-A Palm Springs in 1991. He started at AA Midland in 1992, then moved to the Cubs system.
He played most of 1992 at high-A Winston-Salem, but also saw five games at AAA Iowa. He went 5 for 16 at Iowa.
Kapano played most of 1993 at AA Orlando. He then returned to the Angels at high-A Lake Elsinore for 1994. In late-June 1994, Kapano knocked in two key insurance runs on a hit.
"I just tried to battle him," Kapano told The Temecula Californian of the pitcher he faced. "He threw some good pitches that I fought off until he left one up."
He hit .291 in 81 games at Lake Elsinore. That season marked his last in affiliated ball.
But Kapano continued playing in independent ball. He played 1995 between Moose Jaw and Long Beach. He played at Moose Jaw in 1996, Regina in 1997 and Bend in 1998. He hit .339 in 80 games at Bend.
In 1999, he even got 38 games with Uni-President in Taiwan. He hit .312, with six home runs.
Kapano last played in 2000. He saw independent Bridgeport and Dos Laredos in Mexico to end his career.
- Moline Dispatch, May 27, 1990: It's much better to be called late than never called at all
- Temecula Californian, July 1, 1994: Storm: Sweep Quakes with 7-3 win
Made the Majors:1,339-33.3%
Never Made Majors:2,687-66.7%-X
5+ Seasons in the Majors:547
10+ Seasons in the Minors:332-X
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