Former Cub Tony Campana out for season

Former Chicago Cub outfielder Tony Campana is now out for the 2015 season with a torn ACL.  Campana, who signed on with the Chicago White Sox with an invitation to spring training reportedly tore his ACL while working out in preparation to get himself more ready for spring training. While it was unsure how much of a shot Campana had at making the team-he could have been a viable replacement outfield option and pinch runner for the White Sox this year.

Campana played a total of 44 games last year-26 games with Arizona and then was traded to the Los Angeles Angels where he played 18 games.

Campana was best known Cubs fans as the hard-working back-up outfielder who would cause havoc on the base paths.  Always a threat to steal a base, Campana stole a combined 54 stolen bases while only being caught stealing five times.

Campana’s most memorable moment as a Cub – and possibly in his career – would happen in 2011 versus the Cincinnati Reds when he hit his first (and currently only) major league home run off pitcher Mike Leake in the first inning of the game.  The amazing part of this is that this home run was an inside-the-park home run.

Campana was eventually sent back to the minors.  Even with his blazing speed, it was hard for him to be a mainstay with the Cubs with his inability to get on base.  In two seasons with the Cubs, he had a batting average of .262 in 347 plate appearances.

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Campana’s work ethic and never say never attitude has helped him stay in professional baseball, but more importantly it helped him in the most important battle in his life.  Campana as a child was diagnosed with Hodgkins Lymphoma.  He was in treatment for ten years and is currently in remission.

I personally would like to wish Tony Campana all the best and a speedy recovery with the hopes to see him again stealing bases in a major league uniform next season.

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