Outside the Beltway

Padres Sign Marine Who Lost Finger in Iraq

James Joyner · Tuesday, February 13, 2007 · 1 comment

The San Diego Padres are giving an injured Marine a chance.

A Marine who lost a finger on his left hand while serving in Iraq has agreed to terms with the San Diego Padres, the team said Monday. Right-hander Cooper Brannan will report to minor league spring training March 1. The 22-year-old injured his left hand during a second tour of duty in Iraq. Team spokesman George Stieren said Brannan lost his left pinky.

[…]

Stieren said Padres general manager Kevin Towers “was adamant that we were doing this because of his potential, not because it was a great story. “This was a legitimate baseball decision.”

It is a great story, though.

OTB Sports

FILED UNDER: Military Affairs, Sports, Iraq

About James Joyner

James Joyner is Professor and Department Head of Security Studies at Marine Corps University's Command and Staff College. He's a former Army officer and Desert Storm veteran. Views expressed here are his own. Follow James on Twitter @DrJJoyner.