In 2014, Art Warren had a career college ERA over 7.00, Tommy John surgery and a dwindling chance of making it to the Majors.
Seven years before Warren became the newest member of the Cincinnati Reds pitching staff, Warren was in the middle of an underwhelming college career. He allowed 37 runs in 40 innings across his freshman and sophomore seasons at the University of Cincinnati, and he missed his junior year after having Tommy John surgery.
College pitchers with that history rarely get drafted, let alone become MLB players. But Warren’s college pitching coach, Aaron Hilt, believed otherwise.