Bill Cole
After lunch, Cole and his family returned home full of excitement. A major league contract would mean a lot to them, after years of laboring in AAA. He’d had a shot with San Antonio four years earlier, but the dreaded sophomore slump had seen him sent back down to AAA. He’d been out of baseball entirely in 2056 but joined Phoenix’s AAA squad for three months last season before getting released. At age 32, he was beginning to think his time had run out before this opportunity surfaced.
It was after dinner when his phone rang again. His agent’s name showed on the Caller ID screen. He muted the TV and shushed his kids, then picked up the call. It was good news and bad news, said his agent. Which did he want first? “Tell me the bad news,” he said.
“You’re not going to New Jersey (Montreal’s AAA affiliate),” his agent told him.
“What’s the good news?” Cole asked eagerly.
“You were selected in the first round of the Rule 5 draft, buddy. You’re going to the big leagues again. I hope you like New Orleans!”
Cole leapt out of his chair and hugged his wife. “We’re moving to The Big Easy! I’m playing for the Crawdads!” Could this be his big break? A new beginning for Cole and family? Let’s hope so!
