Former Diamond Rebels Coghlan and Lynn Begin Quests to the World Series This Week

Chris Coghlan #8 of the Chicago Cubs hitsa double in the 1st inning against the Milwaukee Brewers at Wrigley Field on August 13, 2014 in Chicago, Illinois. (Photo by Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images)

Ole Miss Baseball has a history of student-athletes playing professionally following their careers as Rebels. Throughout the summer, OleMissSports.com updated Rebel fans about the current #ProRebs making their mark on professional baseball diamonds across the country.

For the majority of the 27 #ProRebs, the 2015 season has come to an end. However, two of the seven #MLBRebs, Chris Coghlan of the Chicago Cubs and Lance Lynn of the St. Louis Cardinals, will see their seasons continue to postseason play with eyes on a World Series title.

Serving as a regular in the St. Louis Cardinals’ rotation with a 3.03 ERA, Lynn helped the team to the best record in baseball and home field advantage throughout the National League Championship Series. Lynn and the Cardinals begin their postseason Friday at 5:45 p.m. CT on TBS, but their opponent remains unknown. The Cardinals will play a best-of-five series against the winner of Wednesday’s National League wild card game between the Chicago Cubs and the Pittsburgh Pirates.

Speaking of the Cubs,  Coghlan will hope his team’s postseason run is not one-and-done. Playing in 148 games during the regular season, the Cubs will rely on Coghlan and the rest of the lineup to help pull off a road victory in Pittsburgh. The NL wild card matchup is slated to begin at 7 p.m. CT on TBS. The NL Central Division Champion Cardinals await the winner of the game for a best-of-five NL Division Series beginning Friday in St. Louis.

With the 2015 Major League Baseball regular season complete, check out the final season statistics for the seven #MLBRebs. For a complete look of season stats for all of the #ProRebs, click here.

For the latest updates on Ole Miss Baseball, follow the Rebels on Twitter (@OleMissBSB) and like the team’s Facebook page (Ole Miss Baseball).

Major League Baseball Rebels

#30 Aaron Barrett | RHP | Washington Nationals
After feeling some discomfort in his right elbow, Aug. 5, Barrett was placed on the disabled list for the second time this season. The injury did not improve, forcing the former Rebel to visit Dr. James Andrews. Barrett underwent Tommy John surgery, Sept. 3, and has already begun the expected 12-month rehabilitation process. In 40 games out of the bullpen in 2015, the former Rebel had a 3-3 record on the mound, matching his win total from his 2014 rookie campaign.

#8 Chris Coghlan | LF | Chicago Cubs 
In his second year with the Cubs, Coghlan ended his regular season hitting at a .250 clip with 110 hits, 64 runs and 41 RBI. The former Rebel also blasted 16 home runs for a new career-high and added six triples, which ties a personal best in a season. Although he has primarily been the starting left fielder, the Cubs have asked Coghlan to play right field and three different infield positions as well throughout the year. Coghlan’s versatility goes back to his days as an infielder for the Rebels, and he only committed one error in the field this season. (VIDEO: Coghlan triples-Oct. 3)

#2 Zack Cozart | SS | Cincinnati Reds
Through one-third of the 2015 season, his fourth as the Reds’ starting shortstop, Cozart was on pace to post career bests in nearly every statistical category. However, he hurt his right knee in a June 10 game versus the Philadelphia Phillies, an injury that required season-ending surgery. Prior to the injury, the former Ole Miss shortstop was hitting .258 with 10 doubles and nine home runs.

#32 David Goforth| RHP | Milwaukee Brewers
Bouncing back-and-forth between the big leagues and Triple-A, Goforth finished the season with the Milwaukee Brewers. He ended his debut MLB season with a 1-0 record and a 4.01 ERA in 20 appearances. The former Rebel recorded 24 strikeouts in 24.2 innings out of the Brewers’ bullpen. Goforth earned his first career MLB victory (Sept. 27) by pitching one scoreless inning of relief against the Cardinals, who had the best record in baseball.

#31 Lance Lynn | RHP | St. Louis Cardinals
In 2015, Lynn racked up double-digit victories for the fourth consecutive year, each season he has been in the Cardinals’ rotation. The former Rebel enters the MLB postseason with a 12-11 record and 3.03 ERA. Lynn pitched 175.1 innings in 31 starts and recorded 167 strikeouts throughout the 2015 campaign. In four seasons, he has 61 victories on the mound and a career ERA of 3.37. Lynn will be in the rotation for the Cardinals’ National League Division Series, which begins Friday. (VIDEO: Lynn’s pick-off move-Oct. 4)

#13 Drew Pomeranz | LHP | Oakland Athletics
In just his second season with the Athletics following a three-year stint in Colorado, Pomeranz went 5-6 with a 3.66 ERA. The former Rebel began the season in the team’s rotation before a shoulder injury placed him on the 15-day disabled list. After returning from injury, the A’s moved him to the bullpen. The southpaw finished the season with 53 appearances, including 44 outings of relief, totaling 86.0 innings. In addition to his win-loss record, Pomeranz collected three saves throughout the 2015 campaign.

#7 Seth Smith | DH/OF | Seattle Mariners
Smith finished his first season in Seattle after getting traded to the team from the San Diego Padres during the offseason. In 2015, the former Rebel played in 136 games and posted a .248 batting average. Out of his 98 hits, 48 went for extra bases; Smith blasted 31 doubles, five triples and 12 home runs. He also scored 54 runs and recorded 42 RBI. On the last day of the season, Smith hit a solo home run in the bottom of the eighth to lead the Mariners to a 3-2 victory over Oakland. (VIDEO: Smith’s game-winning home run-Oct. 4)

Story and photo courtesy Ole Miss Athletics