Former Redbird baseball players Matt Herges and Danny Kolb have been mainstays in the Major Leagues for the past five years. Well now they have some company. Not one, not two, but three other former Redbirds are currently in the big leagues, making it an all-time high of five former Birds in the Bigs, all of whom are pitchers.
In addition to Herges and Kolb, Eric Eckenstahler, Neal Cotts, and Jason Pearson are all on current Major League Baseball rosters. Herges is with the San Francisco Giants, Kolb is with the Milwaukee Brewers, Eckenstahler is with the Detroit Tigers, Cotts is with the Chicago White Sox and Pearson is with St. Louis.
Pearson (Illinois State 98) was the most recent call-up, as the Cardinals brought him up over the weekend to help out in the bullpen during the stretch run. This is not Pearsons first go-round in the big leagues, as he pitched for San Diego in 2002.
Cotts (Illinois State 01) made his first start for Chicago earlier this month, and is yet to record a decision in two starts. Cotts ranks fifth all-time for the Redbirds in strikeouts and seventh in games won.
Eckenstahler (Illinois State 00) has appeared in 11 games with Detroit this season and sports a 3.00 ERA. He is the all-time strikeout leader in Illinois State history, with 313.
Kolb (Illinois State 94) is the closer in Milwaukee, and has recorded 10 saves.
Herges (Illinois State 92) is a set-up man for the NL West leading San Francisco Giants. He has two wins and three saves this season. Herges ranks fifth in Redbird history in games started, with 37, including 16 in 1992, which is an all-time season high.
