All-Decade Team (2010-19): Outfield - Jason Coats

Leading into what would have been Opening Day of the 2020 season for the Charlotte Knights (April 9), the team's VP of Communications, Tommy Viola, will unveil the Charlotte Knights All-Decade Team (2010-19). Check back each weekday to see who made the team.

OUTFIELD: JASON COATS

Drafted by the Chicago White Sox in the 29th round of the 2012 First-Year Player Draft out of Texas Christian University (TCU), Jason Coats made his way to Uptown Charlotte in 2015 after a solid 2014 season in Winston-Salem and in Birmingham. He was a 2014 Carolina League Postseason All-Star after compiling a .291 batting average with 15 home runs and 72 RBIs with the Dash and finished out the season by hitting .265 with the Barons in 19 games.

In 2015, after raking with the Barons (he hit .340 through 12 games), Coats was promoted to the Charlotte Knights on April 23 and excelled. In his first year with the club, Coats hit .270 (132-for-489) with 56 runs scored, 29 doubles, one triple, 17 home runs, 81 RBIs, and 11 stolen bases in 122 games with the Knights. He finished first on the team in hits, first in doubles, first in RBIs, second in games played, and third in home runs.

A year later, Coats was back in Uptown Charlotte and took his game to an even higher level. The Dallas, TX native batted .330 (98-for-297) in 78 games during his second season with the Knights in 2016. He also produced 22 doubles, two triples, 10 home runs, 38 RBIs, and 44 runs scored with Charlotte in between a chance to play at the major league level. He even helped contribute to Charlotte's late-season playoff run.

MAJOR LEAGUE DEBUT
The Chicago White Sox selected the contract of Coats from the Knights on June 4, 2016 and made his major league debut later that night with the Chicago White Sox against the Detroit Tigers. At the time of his promotion -- his first of four promotions that season -- he was hitting .335 (55-for-164) with 13 doubles, seven home runs, 24 RBIs and 26 runs scored over 43 games with the Knights. He was leading the International League in average and ranked third in on-base percentage (.399), slugging percentage (.567) and OPS (.966) at the time of the promotion. Coats was optioned back to the Knights on June 7, but he was recalled again on June 10, August 9, and September 6.

CHARLOTTE CAREER
In two seasons with the Knights, Coats hit a combined .293 (230-for-786) with 100 runs scored, 51 doubles, three triples, 27 home runs, and 112 RBIs in 200 games.