White Sox Rehire Man Who Wrongly Spent Decades in Prison

Coleman is scheduled to return to the baseball field Monday.

CHICAGO — The Chicago White Sox have welcomed back a former groundskeeper who spent 23 years in prison for a crime he didn't commit.

The Chicago Tribune reports that DNA evidence led prosecutors last year to vacate the conviction of Nevest Coleman, 49. He had been convicted in a 1994 rape and murder.

He was released from prison in November, and this month, a Cook County judge granted him a certificate of innocence.

Coleman's friends and family reached out to the White Sox after his release. The team offered him a job interview and then welcomed him back to the job. Coleman is scheduled to return to the baseball field Monday.

The team says it is grateful "justice has been carried out" and thrilled to welcome Coleman "back to the White Sox family."