Collin Brannen Cowgill (born May 22, 1986) is an American former

professional baseball Professional baseball is organized baseball in which players are selected for their talents and are paid to play for a specific team or club system. It is played in baseball league, leagues and associated farm teams throughout the world. Mod ...

outfielder An outfielder is a person playing in one of the three defensive positions in baseball or softball, farthest from the batter. These defenders are the left fielder, the center fielder, and the right fielder. As an outfielder, their duty is to cat ...

and current major league coach. He played in

Major League Baseball Major League Baseball (MLB) is a professional baseball organization and the oldest major professional sports league in the world. MLB is composed of 30 total teams, divided equally between the National League (NL) and the American League (AL), ...

(MLB) for the

Arizona Diamondbacks The Arizona Diamondbacks (colloquially known as the D-backs) are an American professional baseball team based in Phoenix. The Diamondbacks compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the National League (NL) West division. The f ...

Oakland Athletics The Oakland Athletics (often referred to as the A's) are an American professional baseball team based in Oakland, California. The Athletics compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the American League (AL) West division. The te ...

New York Mets The New York Mets are an American professional baseball team based in the New York City borough of Queens. The Mets compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member of the National League (NL) East division. They are one of two major league ...

Los Angeles Angels The Los Angeles Angels are an American professional baseball team based in the Los Angeles metropolitan area. The Angels compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the American League (AL) West division. Since 1966, the team ha ...

, and the

Cleveland Indians The Cleveland Guardians are an American professional baseball team based in Cleveland. The Guardians compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the American League (AL) Central division. Since , they have played at Progressive F ...

. Prior to his professional career, Cowgill played

college baseball College baseball is baseball that is played on the intercollegiate level at institutions of higher education. In comparison to football and basketball, college competition in the United States plays a smaller role in developing professional pl ...

for the

University of Kentucky The University of Kentucky (UK, UKY, or U of K) is a Public University, public Land-grant University, land-grant research university in Lexington, Kentucky. Founded in 1865 by John Bryan Bowman as the Agricultural and Mechanical College of Kentu ...

. Cowgill was the coach for the

Arkansas Travelers The Arkansas Travelers, also known informally as The Travs, are a Minor League Baseball team based in North Little Rock, Arkansas. The Travelers are affiliated with the Seattle Mariners as members of the Texas League. History The team succeeded ...

, the Double-A affiliate of the

Seattle Mariners The Seattle Mariners are an American professional baseball team based in Seattle. They compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the American League (AL) American League West, West division. The team joined the American League ...

, and is currently the first base coach for the

Cincinnati Reds The Cincinnati Reds are an American professional baseball team based in Cincinnati. They compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the National League (NL) National League Central, Central division and were a charter member of ...

Amateur career

Cowgill attended the

, where he played

for the

Kentucky Wildcats The Kentucky Wildcats are the men's and women's intercollegiate athletic squads of the University of Kentucky (UK), a founding member of the Southeastern Conference. The Kentucky Wildcats is the student body of the University of Kentucky. 30,473 ...

baseball team. In his final season at Kentucky, he was named a third-team

All-America The All-America designation is an annual honor bestowed upon an amateur sports person from the United States who is considered to be one of the best amateurs in their sport. Individuals receiving this distinction are typically added to an All-Am ...

n by Rivals. In 2006, he played

collegiate summer baseball Collegiate summer baseball leagues are amateur baseball leagues in the United States and Canada featuring players who have attended at least one year of college and have at least one year of athletic eligibility remaining. Generally, they operat ...

in the

Cape Cod Baseball League The Cape Cod Baseball League (CCBL or Cape League) is a collegiate summer baseball wooden bat league located on Cape Cod in the U.S. state of Massachusetts. One of the nation's premier collegiate summer leagues, the league boasts over one thousan ...

for the

Brewster Whitecaps The Brewster Whitecaps are a collegiate summer baseball team based in Brewster, Massachusetts. The team is a member of the Cape Cod Baseball League (CCBL) and plays in the league's East Division. The Whitecaps play their home games at Stony Brook ...

, and returned to the league in 2007 to play for the Yarmouth-Dennis Red Sox where he was named a league all-star.

Professional career

Arizona Diamondbacks

The

drafted Cowgill in the fifth round of the

2008 Major League Baseball draft The 2008 Major League Baseball First-Year Player Draft continued Major League Baseball's annual amateur draft of high school and college baseball players, and was held on June 5 and 6, 2008. First round selections ;Key Supplemental first rou ...

from Kentucky. On July 26, 2011 Cowgill was called up from the AAA Reno Aces. He hit his first career major league home run as a Diamondback, on August 28, 2011 against the

San Diego Padres The San Diego Padres are an American professional baseball team based in San Diego. The Padres compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the National League (NL) West division. Founded in 1969, the club has won two NL penna ...

Oakland Athletics

On December 9, 2011, Cowgill was part of a trade along with

Jarrod Parker Jarrod Parker (born November 24, 1988) is an American former professional baseball pitcher. He was drafted by the Arizona Diamondbacks as the 9th overall pick in the 2007 Major League Baseball Draft from Norwell High School in Ossian, Indiana. H ...

and Ryan Cook, in which the Diamondbacks acquired

Trevor Cahill Trevor John Cahill (born March 1, 1988) is an American professional baseball pitcher who is currently a free agent. He has played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Oakland Athletics, Arizona Diamondbacks, Atlanta Braves, Chicago Cubs, Sa ...

and

Craig Breslow Craig Andrew Breslow (pronounced BREHZ-loh; born August 8, 1980) is an American baseball executive and former professional baseball pitcher in Major League Baseball. He is currently the Assistant General Manager/Vice President, Director of Pitch ...

from the

New York Mets

On December 18, 2012, the Athletics traded Cowgill to the

for Jefry Marté. Cowgill hit the first

grand slam Grand Slam most often refers to: * Grand Slam (tennis), one player or pair winning all four major annual tournaments, or the tournaments themselves Grand Slam or Grand slam may also refer to: Games and sports * Grand slam, winning category te ...

for the Mets on Opening Day in 18 years when he hit one in the 7th inning against the

. Cowgill was named the starting

center fielder A center fielder, abbreviated CF, is the outfielder in baseball who plays defense in center field – the baseball and softball fielding position between left field and right field. In the numbering system used to record defensive plays, the c ...

for the Mets for 2013 after an impressive

spring training Spring training is the preseason in Major League Baseball (MLB), a series of practices and exhibition games preceding the start of the regular season. Spring training allows new players to try out for Schedule (workplace), roster and position spo ...

. After a poor start to the season, Cowgill was set to platoon in

center field A center fielder, abbreviated CF, is the outfielder in baseball who plays defense in center field – the baseball and softball fielding position between left field and right field. In the numbering system used to record defensive plays, the c ...

with

Jordany Valdespin Jordany V. Valdespin (born December 23, 1987) is a Dominican professional baseball player who is currently a free agent. He has played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the New York Mets and Miami Marlins. He was suspended for 50 games during th ...

. Cowgill was optioned to Triple-A

Las Vegas Las Vegas (; Spanish for "The Meadows"), often known simply as Vegas, is the 25th-most populous city in the United States, the most populous city in the state of Nevada, and the county seat of Clark County. The city anchors the Las Vegas ...

on May 3 when the Mets recalled Andrew Brown. On June 18, 2013, Cowgill was

designated for assignment Designated for assignment (DFA) is a contractual term used in Major League Baseball (MLB). A player who is designated for assignment is immediately removed from the team's 40-man roster, after which the team must within seven days, return the pla ...

by the Mets.

Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim

On June 24, 2013, the Mets traded Cowgill to the Angels in exchange for minor league outfielder Kyle Johnson. On June 10, 2014, Collin Cowgill hit his first

walk-off home run In baseball, a walk-off home run is a home run that ends the game. For a home run to end the game, it must be hit in the bottom of the final inning of the game and generate enough runs to exceed the opponent's score. Because the opponent will not ...

in the bottom of the 14th inning to beat the Oakland A's 2-1.

Cleveland Indians

Cowgill was traded from the Angels to the

for cash considerations on December 2, 2015. He played in nine games for the Indians, including opening day, before being optioned to the minor league

Columbus Clippers The Columbus Clippers are a Minor League Baseball team of the International League (IL) and the Triple-A (baseball), Triple-A affiliate of the Cleveland Guardians. They are located in Columbus, Ohio, and are named for speedy Merchant ship, mercha ...

. The Indians designated Cowgill for assignment on September 1, 2016 and outrighted him to Columbus on September 2. Cowgill elected free agency on October 5, 2016.

San Diego Padres

Cowgill signed a minor league contract with the

in 2017, that included an invitation to spring training. He was released on August 12, 2017.

Philadelphia Phillies

On February 8, 2018, Cowgill signed a minor league deal with the

Philadelphia Phillies The Philadelphia Phillies are an American professional baseball team based in Philadelphia. They compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member of the National League (NL) National League East, East division. Since 2004, the team's home sta ...

. He elected free agency on November 2, 2018.

Washington Nationals

On February 21, 2019, Cowgill signed a minor league deal with the

Washington Nationals The Washington Nationals are an American professional baseball team based in Washington, D.C.. They compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member of the National League (NL) East division. From 2005 to 2007, the team played in RFK Stadiu ...

. He became a free agent following the 2019 season.

Seattle Mariners

On February 17, 2020, Cowgill signed a minor league deal with the

. Cowgill became a free agent after the season.

Coaching career

Collin_Cowgill_manages_the_Arkansas_Travelers

On January 27, 2021, Cowgill was announced as the manager for the

, the Double-A affiliate of the

, effectively ending his playing career.

References

External links

* {{DEFAULTSORT:Cowgill, Collin 1986 births Living people Baseball players from Lexington, Kentucky Major League Baseball outfielders Arizona Diamondbacks players Oakland Athletics players New York Mets players Los Angeles Angels players Cleveland Indians players Kentucky Wildcats baseball players Brewster Whitecaps players Yarmouth–Dennis Red Sox players South Bend Silver Hawks players Yakima Bears players Visalia Rawhide players Mobile BayBears players Reno Aces players Bravos de Margarita players American expatriate baseball players in Venezuela Sacramento River Cats players Stockton Ports players Las Vegas 51s players Salt Lake Bees players Inland Empire 66ers of San Bernardino players Columbus Clippers players El Paso Chihuahuas players Arizona League Padres players Lehigh Valley IronPigs players Fresno Grizzlies players