Vinessa Needham
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Cosart’s Transition:

Spinners starter progresses from outfield to the mound

By: Vinessa Needham

LOWELL, MASS. – Top pitching prospect Jake Cosart hasn't held his position on the mound for long.

   Cosart began playing baseball as an outfielder, only pitching a few innings in high school. After high school, Cosart made the decision to attend Duke University in hopes of playing the outfield, but he was red-shirted at the start of the season.

   “I hit in the fall and pitched as well [at Duke practices], but Christmas break rolled around and they told me that I wasn't going to be hitting anymore, so I thought that then I'd be able to pitch a lot,” said Cosart. “Then spring rolls around and I don't get to play for the first quarter of the season. I had to make a difficult decision whether I wanted to go back to Duke just to go to school or continue playing baseball.”

   Cosart made the choice to continue to further his baseball career and transferred to Seminole State College, where he made the transition from position player to full-time pitcher.

   “I got to Seminole through my brother [Miami Marlins starting pitcher Jarred],” Cosart said. “One of his old teammates at the time heard my story and he gave me a connection to the coach at Seminole.”

   While Cosart was happy to be playing college ball, transitioning to pitching after being a position player for so long can be a challenge.

   “It was definitely an adjustment,” Cosart said. “With outfield, you are playing every single day, pitching it's only once every five days, and it’s [pitching] obviously a little more taxing on my arm because that's all you're focusing on. Also, knowing how to take care of yourself—when to let it loose, when to lob it, playing catch outside, working in the bullpen—it was something all brand new to me.”

   Despite the difficult adjustment, Cosart is determined to move forward as a pitcher.

   “I miss the outfield every now and then, but I know my future is pitching,” Cosart said. “I always knew I had a good arm and if worked at it I could translate it on the mound. That's what really made the jump when I got to solely focus on pitching.”

    Playing baseball at a higher level, especially pitching, is not something new for the Cosart family. Jake’s brother Jarred is a starting pitcher for the Miami Marlins. Interestingly, Jarred also made the transition from fielder to pitcher when he got drafted by the Philadelphia Phillies out of high school.

   “He has been a pretty big influence because he went through the same transition,” Jake said. “He knew he was going to be a pitching when he signed right out of high school, but it still was a transition for him and he has just been giving me some ideas and tips on how to adjust to it.”

   The best advice Jake received from his brother was to make sure that the game is his main focus.

   “He said since this is your job now, try to really focus on it, try to really pick the coaches brain, even other pitchers on the team that have pitched longer than you, see what works for them and try to pick details along the way and see what works for you.” Jake said.

   It has been an up and down start for Cosart this year in Lowell. He consistently throws in the low-to-mid nineties, has held opponents to a .109 average, and has a knack for having them go hit-less, but he has also walked more batters (14) than he’s struck out (11) through 13⅓ innings.

   “There are a lot of aspects that go into not giving up hits and striking people out,” Cosart said. “There's got to be deception, it’s not only velocity and stuff, you have to hide the ball, and I think I might be doing something like that and its been showing last year a little bit and this year as well.”

   Cosart has learned a lot from first-year pitching coach, Lance Carter.

   “He has probably been the biggest influence since I have signed by far,” Cosart said. “He has been with me since the beginning of spring training. He's taken me under his wing with everything you can think of from pregame and bullpen, to how to block out fans, and then all the mechanical aspects. He's been a huge help and I can't thank him enough.”

   Although he is still learning and adjusting, Cosart hopes to keep pitching for a long time. Spinners fans who have seen him pitch at LeLacheur Park are witness to the beginning of a unique baseball journey. If it is ultimately a successful one, the major leagues will see its second Cosart brother soon enough.