Lafayette Drillers Flashback: John Yeglinski

The Lafayette Drillers, a Double-A affiliate of the San Francisco Giants, called Lafayette, Louisiana their home for two years, from 1975-1976.

The Drillers, who played their home games at Clark Field, were co-champions of the Texas League in 1975 with the Midland Cubs, finishing 72-57, before going 58-76 in 1976, the last year of affiliated professional baseball in Lafayette.

A number of outstanding players, who eventually made it into Major League Baseball ranks played at Clark Field in 1975 & 1976, including five former Lafayette Driller players.

All summer long, we’re taking a look back at some of the former players for the Drillers.

Today, John Yeglinski.

Yeglinski was a line drive, gap-hitting outfielder for the Drillers in both of their seasons in Lafayette, 1975-1976.

A native of Brooklyn, New York, Yeglinski was drafted by the Atlanta Braves in the 23rd round in 1969, before deciding to play college baseball at Long Island University.

In 1972, Yeglinski was drafted in the eighth round by the New York Yankees, and spent parts of three season in that organization, before the Giants picked him up, and sent him to Lafayette to begin the 1975 season.

Yeglinski was a key contributor in the Drillers' championship run in 1975, hitting a .287, along with 96 hits, two home runs, 48 runs scored, 23 doubles, 38 runs batted in, and five stolen bases.

The left-handed hitting outfielder was even better in 1976, hitting a .301, to go along with eight homers, 48 RBI's, 131 hits, 66 runs scored, 25 doubles, and three triples.

The Drillers left Lafayette following the 1976 season, and Yeglinski left the Giants' organization, ultimately finishing out his professional career with Charlotte, an affiliate of the Baltimore Orioles, in 1978.