| Corey Koskie | |
|---|---|
 Koskie with the Brewers in 2006 | |
| Third baseman | |
| Born: (1973-06-28)June 28, 1973 (age 52) Anola, Manitoba, Canada | |
Batted: Left Threw: Right | |
| MLB debut | |
| September 9, 1998, for the Minnesota Twins | |
| Last MLB appearance | |
| July 5, 2006, for the Milwaukee Brewers | |
| MLB statistics | |
| Batting average | .275 |
| Home runs | 124 |
| Runs batted in | 506 |
Stats atBaseball Reference  | |
| Teams | |
| Career highlights and awards | |
| Member of the Canadian | |
 Baseball Hall of Fame | |
| Induction | 2015 |
Cordel Leonard "Corey" Koskie (born June 28, 1973) is a Canadian former professionalbaseballthird baseman, who played inMajor League Baseball for theMinnesota Twins,Toronto Blue Jays, andMilwaukee Brewers. On February 4, 2015, Koskie was elected to theCanadian Baseball Hall of Fame.[1]
Koskie was born inAnola, Manitoba. He was the firstManitoba-born-and-raised player to ever reach the Major Leagues, and the first Manitoba-born player in MLB sinceBud Sketchley in 1942.[2] Koskie grew up on a farm in Anola and practiced baseball by hitting rocks with awiffle ball bat.[3] He took lessons inUkrainian dance as a child.[2]
Koskie's primary sports in his youth wereice hockey andvolleyball. He playedjunior hockey for theSelkirk Steelers and was recruited to playcollege hockey atMinnesota-Duluth but chose instead to play volleyball forGarth Pischke at theUniversity of Manitoba.[2]
Koskie left the Manitoba Bisons in his second year, to playcollege baseball atDes Moines Area Community College inBoone, Iowa.[4] He subsequently began playing at the National Baseball Institute inBritish Columbia.[2]
Koskie was drafted by theMinnesota Twins in the 26th round of the1994 Major League Baseball draft, and subsequently made his MLB debut on September 9, 1998.
He established himself in 1999 as the Twins'third baseman of the future byhitting .310 andknocking in 58 runs.
In 2000, he batted .300 with a .400on-base percentage and in 2001 had his most productive offensive season when he hit 26home runs, had 103 RBI, and scored 100runs.
Koskie signed a three-year, $17-million contract[5] with theToronto Blue Jays on December 14, 2004. An injury-plagued2005 season cut his productivity and playing time, as he struggled with a .249 average, with 11 home runs, 36 RBI, and 4stolen bases in 97 games. Despite his frequent injuries, Koskie was regarded as one of the more athletic third basemen in the game.[according to whom?][citation needed]
On January 6, 2006, he was traded by the Blue Jays to theMilwaukee Brewers for pitcherBrian Wolfe. The deal was widely viewed as a salary dump for the Blue Jays[according to whom?] after the team traded forTroy Glaus. With several players on the roster capable of playing third base (Koskie, Glaus,Eric Hinske,Shea Hillenbrand, andAaron Hill) and no assurances of regular playing time from Blue Jaysgeneral managerJ.P. Ricciardi, Koskie was traded just a year after being the Blue Jays' 2004 offseason marqueefree agent signing.[citation needed]
While the Brewers acquired a veteran infielder with a solid glove and bat to anchor their very young infield, Koskie's later seasons were marred by injuries, including missing most of the2006 season withpost-concussion syndrome from an injury he received on July 5, 2006.[6]
"If I can't play, I at least want my life back", he said. "I'm hoping to do something to help the team this year. I want to play baseball again. If I can play baseball, I know I'm fine."[7] The injury caused him to miss the entire 2007 season.[8]
In2009, Koskie worked out at the Minnesota Twins spring training camp and played forTeam Canada in theWorld Baseball Classic.[9] On February 28, Koskie signed a minor league deal with an invitation to spring training with theChicago Cubs.[10] On March 21, 2009, Koskie announced his retirement. While confident in his abilities, he did not want to risk his health.[11][12] His fear of injury led to a diagnosis ofpost traumatic stress disorder.[13]
Koskie was aPlanet Fitnessfranchisee in theMinneapolis–Saint Paul area from 2010 to 2016. He recounted his experiences in a January 29, 2016 article forThe Players' Tribune.[13][14] As of 2016, Koskie lived inPlymouth, Minnesota with his wife and their four sons.[13]
Koskie was inducted into theManitoba Sports Hall of Fame in 2013.[15]Koskie was added to the Minnesota Twins Hall of Fame August 17, 2025.
Koskie has been an active player in the Minnesota Baseball Association (MN Townball) for the Loretto Larks alongside three of his sons since 2021.
· Baseball Almanac| Awards | ||
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| Preceded by | Topps Rookie All-Star Third Baseman 1999 | Succeeded by |
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