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Midland RockHounds

Dusty Coleman More Than Just a Gritty Shortstop

September 3, 2014 - Texas League (TL1)
Midland RockHounds News Release


Every prospect in baseball is graded on five different tools using a scale of 20-80. The five tools for a position player are: hitting for power, for average, arm strength, fielding and speed. They do not have a grading scale for character, integrity, or leadership. Dusty Coleman would grade out very highly if they did. Aaron Nieckula has coached Coleman for parts, or all, of three seasons and may have the best scouting report on the RockHounds shortstop. "That's an easy one, man, it's character," Niekula says answering what stands out about Dusty off the field. "The way he conducts himself, the way he carries himself as a person, he is a very humble human being. He is very down-to-earth, very sociable, and a very likable guy. He is one of those guys that people gravitate to because of his personality and who he is as a person. He's a good person, and I think it is important in this game to have people like Dusty Coleman."

On the field, Dusty plays shortstop and is currently first in the Texas League in RBIs, third in homers, and first in runs scored. Dusty is also second in the league in games played at 134, which may contribute to his league-leading 200 strikeouts. However, Conner Crumbliss, who has spent four years alongside Dusty, most of them as his infield mate at second base, says that numbers alone cannot show what Coleman brings to the team. "Dusty is a real valuable player, and it doesn't always show up in the stats sheet. He does things so well that you don't notice until he is not out there, like the defensive stuff and his attitude. I think a lot of people underappreciate what he does, based on stats, and the way he impacts a game. You can ask anyone who they would want to play shortstop, and they would say Dusty over anybody in the league."

At 27 and in his sixth minor league season, Dusty is one of the leaders of this veteran squad. Nieckula and Crumbliss both praise Coleman for leading by example and his actions rather than his voice. Coleman says he is not the "rah-rah, cheerleader type," but that he leads by "trying to show up and work hard, and playing the game hard. I never want to play the game lazy; I never want to take it for granted." It's that attitude and mentality that has made Coleman standout this season. According to mlb.com, the RockHounds have only two of Oakland's top 20 prospects. However, they have stayed toe-to-toe with a Frisco team that has eight of the Rangers' top 20 prospects, according to the same source. Teams that "overachieve" tend to lean on their leaders to push them to another level. David Forst, the Oakland A's Assistant General Manager, said that "you don't get teams like this without special guys in place. It's a first place team right now, and a guy like Dusty, who's been through the experiences and had to overcome a lot, is an important part of that group."

Coleman, however, is more than just an important piece of the Midland RockHounds family. Dusty has been married to his wife, Sarah, since December 1, 2012, and she even stays with him here in Midland with their host family. "It's been a huge blessing getting to have her come out with me for most of the season," Dusty responds to a question about having Sarah in Midland with him, "[it helps] just to take your mind off of baseball when things are good and when things are going bad and to have someone who supports you no matter what. She's my best friend, so I love being around her as much as possible." Dusty and Sarah will be upgrading from a dynamic duo to a tremendous trio as they will be expecting their newborn baby boy in November. This is Dusty's first at-bat against fatherhood, and he has the tools to swing well. You could make the argument that fatherhood can be compared to baseball, but you have probably never been a father. Pitchers may throw 95 MPH fastballs and hard-breaking sliders, but I would take that any day over diaper changes and projectile vomiting. After all the lessons through college at Wichita State and the years of practice in baseball, Dusty will now have to prepare him for a challenge in life. He will lean on his strong conviction in his faith and his family, as he has to get this far in his career, to help him grow into the father he wants to be. Asa Don Brown once said, "Fatherhood is the greatest education a man can ever receive," and as with every step in life we must have a plan. "Just as far as being a dad, I want to support him and love him no matter what he chooses to do," states Dusty. "I want to be there for him."

As David Forst mentioned, Dusty has been through a lot of adversity throughout his career. He had a broken hand early in his career on that hindered him for a season. This season Dusty Coleman broke the Texas League record for strikeouts in a season. That is where his name will be written in the record books. However, he will never be remembered for his strikeout total. Dusty will go down as one of the most respected players to wear a RockHounds uniform. A person that came to the ballpark every day with the same attitude, as Nieckula said, "He sets a good example in the dugout. Whether he is succeeding or failing he's that even keel kind of guy. He's an instrumental cog to this team and I don't know where we would be without Dusty." David Forst said Dusty's best quality is that there is "constantly a positive attitude" with Dusty. Crumbliss said the thing he has learned the most from Dusty is "his attitude. He comes to the park every day ready to play, never pouts, never sulks, you just never see Dusty have a bad day." Coleman, who has been chapel leader for four years, is in the fifth year of holding his annual baseball camp, the "D-C Clinic", each winter in his hometown of Sioux Falls, South Dakota and has been one of the first volunteers for the RockHounds baseball camp each year he has been in Midland. While trying to think of the best way I could describe Dusty, I stumbled across a quote by the great coach John Wooden:

"Be more concerned with your character than your reputation, because your character is what you really are, while your reputation is merely what others think you are."

Coleman is one of the few with a great reputation and an even greater level of character. That doesn't show up in the stat sheets. Neither does baseball IQ. I've never seen the stat for leadership or attitude either. Dusty's biggest strengths may not receive grades by scouts, but his peers give him an 80.

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