Collision, stitches part of Coats’ MLB debut

DETROIT — It was the best of times and the most painful of times for Jason Coats during Detroit’s 7-4 victory over the White Sox on Saturday afternoon at Comerica Park.

Coats, 26, made his Major League debut, starting in left field for the visitors with his wife, Bradleigh, and his mom, Janie, in the stands. He walked against Tigers starter Mike Pelfrey in the second, was hit by a pitch in the fourth and then popped out to catcher James McCann in the sixth.

There was no fourth at-bat for Coats.

As he was tracking a long fly ball from Miguel Cabrera in the bottom of the seventh, center fielder J.B. Shuck’s left shoulder collided directly with Coats’ face as they converged to make the play. White Sox manager Robin Ventura and head athletic trainer Herm Schneider ran out to left-center to check on Coats, who had moments earlier held on to the baseball and had the presence of mind to throw the ball back in.

The collision caused a laceration in Coats’ mouth that required five stitches and left him as day to day. Tests for a concussion turned out negative.

“It’s not what …

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