Durham Bull hitter Theron Todd spent a few days out of the lineup in May 1988 and it paid off, The Durham Sun wrote then.
Todd used the time for adjustments, tried them on his return and ended up hitting a home run and getting a game-winning RBI, The Sun wrote.
"I wasn't hitting that well and tried to adjust a few things, but the only way I could really do it was in the ball game," Todd told The Sun. "The homer got me going again. I had changed my stance some, and fortunately he got one up and in a little bit."
Todd went on to see seven pro seasons. He topped out at AA. He then turned coach, working with other minor leaguers to ensure they hit their best.
Todd's career began in 1987, taken by the Braves in the 21st round of the draft out of the Community College of Baltimore County, Catonsville Campus.
Todd started with the Braves at rookie Pulaski. He hit .273 in 70 games. He then moved to Durham for 1988. He hit .246 in 131 games that year. He also got a listing in a "Bull Durham" Making Of video.
Todd returned to Durham for 1989 . He hit .254. He picked up 79 RBI for Durham in 1989. Going into 1990 with then high-A Durham, he told The Raleigh News and Observer he needed to improve his average.
"I'm going to use a little bit shorter bat and go the opposite way more often," Todd told The News and Observer. "If I can get off to a hot start, it will help."
Todd ended up hitting .255 in his final year with the Braves. He moved to independent Salt Lake City for 1991 and hit .318 in 52 games.
For 1992, he signed on with the Mariners at high-A San Bernardino and AA Jacksonville. He got 23 games at Jacksonville and hit .177.
Todd then played 1993 at independent Sioux Falls. He hit .337 in 72 games to end his career.
By 1996, Todd was a minors hitting coach at high-A Stockton with the Brewers. He then continued coaching through at least 2009, when he worked at AA Jacksonville.
In one early 2009 game with Jacksonville, Todd's team scored a 17-0 win, according to The Florida Times-Union.
"These guys have really prepared themselves by working hard in the [batting] cages before the game, and that's what I'm most proud about," Todd told The Times-Union then. "They work well together as a group."
- Durham Sun, May 16, 1988: Bulls hold on to edge Yankees
- Raleigh News and Observer, April 12, 1990: Bulls open '90 season on offensive
- Florida Times-Union, April 19, 2009: Suns use hit parade to roll past Tenn
Made the Majors:1,372-33.0%
Never Made Majors:2,782-67.0%-X
5+ Seasons in the Majors:557
10+ Seasons in the Minors:338
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