Baseball Profiles: Dave Bigham loved throwing every day, saw 8 pro seasons

Dave Bigham 1990 Elizabethton Twins card

Elizabethton Twins hurler Dave Bigham returned for his second stint with the team in 1990 and had quick success, The Johnson City Press wrote.

He appeared in eight of the team's first 12 games, including a 3.1-inning shutout effort in early July," The Press wrote.

"I love it," Bigham told The Press. "It has helped me a lot. I feel like I can go out and throw every day."

Bigham ultimately went out and threw over eight pro seasons. He ended up topping out high-A.

Bigham's career began in 1989, taken by the Twins in the 39th round of the draft out of Mankato West High School in Minnesota.

Bigham started with the Twins at rookie Elizabethton. He saw nine games, two starts that first year. That August, The Johnson City Press noted his other skills, in hockey. He was still set to play college hockey at Minnesota and even likely would have been drafted by the NHL, had he not signed with the Twins.

"I really haven't decided," Bigham told The Press of deciding on whether to continue baseball or hockey. "But (playing in Elizabethton) has been a great experience."

Bigham continued on in baseball. He returned for 29 relief appearances in 1990. He then played 1991 at single-A Kenosha and 1992 at high-A Visalia. He saw 53 relief outings at Visalia and went 4-2, with a 3.68 ERA. He also saved five.

Bigham played 1993 and 1994 at high-A Fort Myers, then moved to the White Sox at single-A South Bend for 1995. He last played in 1996, with the Orioles at high-A Frederick. He saw 29 outings, nine starts at Frederick to end his career.

Bigham soon returned home to Minnesota and became a realtor and was ultimately recognized in the top 1 percent nationally, The Mankato Free Press wrote. He passed away in February 2012 from a heart attack. He was 41.