Tim Collins, a former Major League Baseball pitcher, is making a bid to return to the sport after a significant absence. The 36-year-old left-hander, who has not pitched in the majors since 2019, is scheduled to showcase his skills for scouts on March 15, 2024, during a pro day at Cressey Sports Performance in Palm Beach Gardens, Florida. Collins, who has spent the last two seasons as a minor league pitching coach with the Philadelphia Phillies, is stepping back into the spotlight after focusing on coaching and workouts over the past few years.
Collins gained attention for his time in the majors, having played in parts of six seasons with teams such as the Kansas City Royals, Washington Nationals, and Chicago Cubs. He made a total of 275 appearances, all in relief, with a career record of 12 wins and 17 losses, alongside a 3.60 earned run average (ERA) and 245 strikeouts over 242.1 innings. His most notable achievement came in the 2014 World Series, where he contributed to the Royals’ success by pitching five innings across three games and allowing only two runs.
Collins’ career faced significant challenges, including undergoing Tommý John surgery in March 2015. A subsequent revision of that procedure limited his ability to play until late in the 2017 season. He returned to the majors during the 2018 season with the Nationals and went on to appear in 68 games across both major and minor leagues. Following his stint with the Cubs in 2019, Collins opted out of the 2020 season after participating in spring training with the Colorado Rockies.
After stepping away from competitive play, Collins transitioned into coaching, providing private lessons and running youth baseball camps before joining the Phillies’ organization. Over the past two years, he has worked with the Phillies’ minor league system, including his most recent role with the advanced Class-A Jersey Shore BlueClaws.
The prospect of a comeback at this stage in Collins’ career is notable. A seven-year gap between major league appearances is rare, yet not unprecedented. Recent examples include former pitcher Daniel Bard, who experienced a similar journey while serving as a coach for the Arizona Diamondbacks before returning to the Boston Red Sox.
As Collins prepares for his upcoming showcase, the baseball community will be watching closely to see if he can translate his coaching experience back into competitive performance on the mound. The outcome of this pro day could open doors for his return to professional baseball, a journey that many athletes aspire to undertake.
