Rico Brogna

Who is Rico Brogna?

Rico Joseph Brogna is a former Major League Baseball first baseman who played for the Detroit Tigers, New York Mets, Philadelphia Phillies, Boston Red Sox, and Atlanta Braves in his career starting in 1992, and from 1994 to 2001. He was drafted in the first round by the Tigers in 1988.

Brogna was recruited as a quarterback by Clemson University, but chose to pursue a career in baseball. In 1999, he hit a career high 24 home runs for the Phillies. He also hit the first home run out of Coors Field.

Brogna was diagnosed with ankylosing spondylitis, a form of spinal arthritis, in 1991, and had to take medication for the condition on a daily basis. Concerns surrounding his condition contributed to the decision of the Mets to trade him to the Phillies during the 1996 offseason, but he recovered sufficiently to be an offensive contributor for several seasons thereafter.

Brogna retired in 2001.

He coached for the Nonnewaug Chiefs, a high school football team in Woodbury, Connecticut. He coached the Watertown High School boys basketball team from 2006 to 2009. Overall in Watertown, Connecticut, his win–loss record was 10–41.