Brian Milner flew to Philadelphia last week, sat behind home plate at Citizens Bank Park and was finally back in the major leagues.
The father of Phillies rookie pitcher Hoby Milner zoomed to the big leagues in 1978 without spending a single day in the minors. Brian Milner, then 18, played just two games with the Blue Jays and was shipped to their rookie-league team. The catcher never climbed back.
The extent of Milner’s major-league career was just nine at-bats. He played five seasons in the minors and never advanced past double A before retiring at 22.