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| Justin Pope | |
|---|---|
| Pitcher | |
| Born: (1979-11-08)November 8, 1979 (age 45) West Palm Beach, Florida, U.S. | |
Bats: Right Throws: Right | |
Justin Lee Pope (born November 8, 1979) is an Americanprofessional baseballpitcher,coach, andmanager. He is currently the pitching coach of theCharleston RiverDogs of theSouth Atlantic League - Class A. Pope playedcollege baseball for theUniversity of Central Florida, where he was a First TeamAll-American. Drafted by theSt. Louis Cardinals, Pope played professionally inminor league baseball for the Cardinals,New York Yankees, andPhiladelphia Phillies organizations without reachingMajor League Baseball. After ending his playing career, Pope served as a coach in the Yankees farm system. On January 26, 2008 Justin wed Kimberly Ann Helscel of Miami, Florida. They currently reside in Tampa, Florida.
Pope grew up inLake Worth, Florida. His father built a baseball field on their five-acre family home when Pope was seven years old. Hislittle league baseball team practiced on the field.[1]
Pope attendedPalm Beach Lakes Community High School inWest Palm Beach, Florida. As a junior, he was named theSun-Sentinel's large-school player of the year.[1] Redistricting after his junior year moved Pope's Lake Worth home into the district ofWellington High School inWellington, Florida. Though he initially wanted to return to Palm Beach Lakes, hisbaseball coach left for another school, and Pope decided to enroll at Wellington for his senior season.[2][3]
Pope enrolled at theUniversity of Central Florida (UCF). At UCF, he playedcollege baseball for theUCF Knights baseball team, then in theTrans America Athletic Conference (TAAC).[a] In 2000, he playedcollegiate summer baseball with theBourne Braves of theCape Cod Baseball League.[4][5] At UCF, Pope was named a First TeamAll-American, TAAC All-Star starting pitcher andTAAC Player of the Year as a junior in 2001. He set the UCF school record forstrikeouts,[6] and pitched 38 consecutive scoreless innings, breakingRoger Clemens'National Collegiate Athletic Association record of 35.[7]
TheSt. Louis Cardinals drafted Pope in the first round (28th overall) of the2001 Major League Baseball draft.[8] He made his professional debut with theNew Jersey Cardinals of the Class-A Short SeasonNew York–Penn League in 2001, pitching to a 2-4win–loss record and a 2.60earned run average (ERA) in 15games started. Pope started 12 games for thePeoria Chiefs of the Class-AMidwest League in 2002, posting win–loss record of 8-1 with a 1.35 ERA as the Chiefs won the league championship.[9] Pope was assigned to thePalm Beach Cardinals of the Class-A AdvancedFlorida State League (FSL) in 2003.
The Cardinals traded Pope andBen Julianel to theNew York Yankees forSterling Hitchcock in August 2003. The Yankees assigned Pope to theTampa Yankees of the FSL. With the Yankees organization, Pope was converted into arelief pitcher. He was promoted to the Class-AATrenton Thunder of theEastern League in 2004. He received promotions to theClass-AAA affiliates of the Yankees, theColumbus Clippers in 2006 and theScranton/Wilkes-Barre Yankees in 2007, but was never promoted toMajor League Baseball. Pope signed with thePhiladelphia Phillies as a minor league free agent for the 2008 season. He pitched for the Class-AAReading Phillies of the Eastern League, and retired after the season.[10]
Pope served as acoach for theStaten Island Yankees of the New York–Penn League in 2010 and the Trenton Thunder in 2011. He was named manager of Staten Island for the 2012 season.[10] In 2015, Pope was named the pitching coach for thePulaski Yankees of theRookie-levelAppalachian League.[11]