Harold Louis Coleman III (born April 4, 1986) is an American former
professional baseball
Professional baseball is organized baseball in which players are selected for their talents and are paid to play for a specific team or club system. It is played in leagues and associated farm teams throughout the world.
Modern professiona ...
pitcher
In baseball, the pitcher is the player who throws ("pitches") the Baseball (ball), baseball from the pitcher's mound toward the catcher to begin each play, with the goal of out (baseball), retiring a batter (baseball), batter, who attempts to e ...
. He played in
Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball (MLB) is a professional baseball organization and the oldest major professional sports league in the world. MLB is composed of 30 total teams, divided equally between the National League (NL) and the American League (AL) ...
(MLB) for the
Kansas City Royals
The Kansas City Royals are an American professional baseball team based in Kansas City, Missouri. The Royals compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the American League (AL) Central division. The team was founded as an expa ...
,
Los Angeles Dodgers
The Los Angeles Dodgers are an American professional baseball team based in Los Angeles. The Dodgers compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the National League (NL) West division. Established in 1883 in the city of Brookly ...
and
Detroit Tigers
The Detroit Tigers are an American professional baseball team based in Detroit. The Tigers compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member of the American League (AL) Central division. One of the AL's eight charter franchises, the club was f ...
.
Early life
Coleman was born in
Greenwood, Mississippi
Greenwood is a city in and the county seat of Leflore County, Mississippi, Leflore County, Mississippi, United States, located at the eastern edge of the Mississippi Delta region, approximately 96 miles north of the state capital, Jackson, Missis ...
, to Hal and Kathy Coleman. He graduated from
Pillow Academy
Pillow Academy (PA) is an independent, co-educational college preparatory school in unincorporated Leflore County, Mississippi, near Greenwood.[Louisiana State University
Louisiana State University (officially Louisiana State University and Agricultural and Mechanical College, commonly referred to as LSU) is a public land-grant research university in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. The university was founded in 1860 near ...]
(LSU), where he played
college baseball
College baseball is baseball that is played on the intercollegiate level at institutions of higher education. In comparison to football and basketball, college competition in the United States plays a smaller role in developing professional pl ...
for the
LSU Tigers baseball
The LSU Tigers baseball team represents Louisiana State University in NCAA Division I college baseball. The team participates in the West Division of the Southeastern Conference. It ranks seventh overall with 18 College World Series appeara ...
team. Coleman earned his agricultural business degree in May 2009.
Professional career
Kansas City Royals
Coleman was drafted by the
Kansas City Royals
The Kansas City Royals are an American professional baseball team based in Kansas City, Missouri. The Royals compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the American League (AL) Central division. The team was founded as an expa ...
in the fifth round of the
2009 MLB Draft, and was called up to the majors for the first time on April 21, 2011. That night, he pitched two scoreless innings against the
Cleveland Indians
The Cleveland Guardians are an American professional baseball team based in Cleveland. The Guardians compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the American League (AL) Central division. Since , they have played at Progressive ...
in his major league debut. On May 11, 2011, Coleman recorded his first major league save by pitching a perfect 11th inning against the
New York Yankees
The New York Yankees are an American professional baseball team based in the New York City borough of the Bronx. The Yankees compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the American League (AL) East division. They are one o ...
in
Yankee Stadium
Yankee Stadium is a baseball stadium located in the Bronx, New York City. It is the home field of the New York Yankees of Major League Baseball, and New York City FC of Major League Soccer.
Opened in April 2009, the stadium replaced the orig ...
.
The Royals placed Coleman on
waivers in April 2015 with the purpose of removing him from their
40-man roster
A Major League Baseball roster is a list of players who are allowed, by league agreement, to play for a Major League Baseball (MLB) team. Each MLB team maintains two rosters: an active roster of players eligible to participate in an MLB game, and ...
. He was re-added to the roster on September 7. On February 3, 2016, Coleman was released by the Royals.
Los Angeles Dodgers
On February 19, he signed a one-year, $725,000, free agent contract with the
Los Angeles Dodgers
The Los Angeles Dodgers are an American professional baseball team based in Los Angeles. The Dodgers compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the National League (NL) West division. Established in 1883 in the city of Brookly ...
. As a member of the Dodgers bullpen in 2016, he pitched in 61 games with a 2–1 record and 4.69 ERA.
Cincinnati Reds
On January 10, 2017, Coleman signed a minor league contract with the
Cincinnati Reds
The Cincinnati Reds are an American professional baseball team based in Cincinnati. They compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the National League (NL) National League Central, Central division and were a charter member of ...
. He was released on June 19, 2017.
Arizona Diamondbacks
On June 23, 2017, Coleman signed a minor league contract with the
Arizona Diamondbacks
The Arizona Diamondbacks (colloquially known as the D-backs) are an American professional baseball team based in Phoenix. The Diamondbacks compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the National League (NL) West division. ...
. He was released on August 26, 2017.
Detroit Tigers

On February 23, 2018, Coleman signed a minor league contract with the
Detroit Tigers
The Detroit Tigers are an American professional baseball team based in Detroit. The Tigers compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member of the American League (AL) Central division. One of the AL's eight charter franchises, the club was f ...
. On May 12, 2018, the Tigers purchased Coleman's minor league contract and added him to the major league roster. In relief innings for the 2018 Tigers, Coleman posted a 4–1 record with a 3.51 ERA and 41 strikeouts. On November 29, 2018, Coleman re-signed to a minor league deal with the Tigers. He was assigned to AAA
Toledo Mud Hens
The Toledo Mud Hens are a Minor League Baseball team of the International League and the Triple-A affiliate of the Detroit Tigers. They are located in Toledo, Ohio, and play their home games at Fifth Third Field. A Mud Hens team has played ...
to start the 2019 season. Coleman was released by the organization on July 4, 2019.
Pitching style
Coleman mostly throws a
four-seam fastball () and
slider (), with an occasional changeup to left-handed hitters.
References
External links
LSU Tigers bio
{{DEFAULTSORT:Coleman, Louis
1986 births
Living people
Arizona League Dodgers players
Baseball players from Mississippi
Burlington Bees players
Detroit Tigers players
Kansas City Royals players
Leones del Escogido players
American expatriate baseball players in the Dominican Republic
Louisville Bats players
Los Angeles Dodgers players
LSU Tigers baseball players
Major League Baseball pitchers
Northwest Arkansas Naturals players
Oklahoma City Dodgers players
Omaha Royals players
Omaha Storm Chasers players
Reno Aces players
Toledo Mud Hens players
Wilmington Blue Rocks players
Syracuse Mets players