http://mlb.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20070213&content_id=1801437&vkey=news_mlb&fext=.jsp&c_id=mlbCooper Brannan is a decorated Marine with two tours of duty in Iraq behind him.
Now he can say he's a professional baseball player with a potential of playing in the Major Leagues in front of him.
The Padres announced Tuesday that they have agreed to terms on a Minor League contract with Brannan, a 22-year-old right-hander who as a Marine corporal was wounded in Iraq but came back to the U.S. to find his dream of playing baseball was still very much alive.
"I never figured when I was in Iraq that I'd be given this opportunty again, coming back from there," Brannan said Tuesday morning.
But there he was Tuesday, talking about having just received a contract from Grady Fuson, the Padres' vice president for scouting and player development, as the announcement was made at a press conference at Marine Corps Recruit Depot San Diego.
I wish him well and good luck at training camp..I hope they give him a real serious look and hope this isnt a PR stunt for them....