HOLLY SPRINGS – Coastal Plain League alum Kolton Ingram made his Major League debut with the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim on June 17. While it wasn’t the outing he would prefer, he became the league’s 175th Big Leaguer in its 27-year history.

The 5-9, 170-pound lefty entered the game for the Angels in the bottom of the seventh inning on the road at Kansas City. Unfortunately, he didn’t last long, surrendering three runs on two hits and walking two in a third of an inning of action.

Drafted out of Columbus State in the 37th round of the 2019 MLB Draft by the Detroit Tigers, Ingram started his professional journey in the Gulf Coast League that same year, going 1-1 with a save and a 4.15 ERA though 30 1/3 innings across 15 games.

In March of 2021, he signed a minor league deal with the Angels and then split time between Single-A Inland Empire, Advanced-A Tri-City and Double-A Rocket City. He went a combined 1-1 with 10 saves and a 3.47 ERA in 36 appearances. He gave up 19 runs – 18 earned – on 33 hits while walking 25 and striking out an impressive 67 in 46 2/3 innings. He stayed with the Trash Pandas in 2022, he lowered his ERA to 2.67 and sported a 6-2 record to go with 10 saves. Ingram also notched 73 strikeouts in 60 2/3 innings and had a WHIP below 1 (0.92). Before receiving the call up to join the Angels, he was 1-1 with two saves and a 2.63 ERA for Rocket City. He struck out 38 compared to just 19 walks in 27 1/3 innings on the bump.

Ingram spent the 2016 and 2017 summers with the CPL’s Florence RedWolves before they rebranded to the Florence Flamingos. He started 6-of-7 games in 2016, striking out 28 in 25 1/3 innings to finish with a 2-3 record and 6.75 ERA. The next season, he continued to be a consistent starter for Florence, starting 9-of-10 appearances and finishing 2-4 with a 5.53 ERA. He pitched a total of 42 1/3 innings that summer, giving up 28 runs – 26 earned – on 51 hits, walked 23 and struck out 44.

In addition to being the CPL’s 175th Major League alum, he is also the11th to make his debut in 2023. Further, Ingram is also the 17th former Florence player to make it to the Bigs.

About Coastal Plain League:
The Coastal Plain League is the nation’s premier summer collegiate baseball league. The CPL is currently comprised of 14 franchises playing in Georgia, North Carolina, South Carolina and Virginia. To date, the CPL has had nearly 1,750 alumni drafted and 175 alums make their Major League debut. Most notable alumni include Justin Verlander, Ryan Zimmerman, Mark Reynolds, Kevin Youkilis, Chris Taylor, Alec Bohm, Jake Cave, Chas McCormick and NFL Super Bowl champion Russell Wilson. For more information on the Coastal Plain League, please visit the league website at www.coastalplain.com, and be sure to follow us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and TikTok @CPLBaseball.