Cole Sands
{{Short description|American baseball player (born 1997)}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=April 2025}}
{{Infobox baseball biography
|name = Cole Sands
|image =
|team = Minnesota Twins
|number = 44
|position = Pitcher
|birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1997|7|17}}
|birth_place = Tallahassee, Florida, U.S.
|bats = Right
|throws = Right
|debutleague = MLB
|debutdate = May 1
|debutyear = 2022
|debutteam = Minnesota Twins
|statleague = MLB
|statyear = June 12, 2025
|stat1label = Win–loss record
|stat1value = 12–6
|stat2label = Earned run average
|stat2value = 4.01
|stat3label = Strikeouts
|stat3value = 155
|stat4label = Saves
|stat4value = 7
|baseball_ref= s/sandsco01
|teams =
- Minnesota Twins ({{mlby|2022}}–present)
}}
Bryson Cole Sands (born July 17, 1997) is an American professional baseball pitcher for the Minnesota Twins of Major League Baseball (MLB). He made his MLB debut in 2022.
Amateur career
Sands attended North Florida Christian School in Tallahassee, Florida, where he played baseball.{{cite web |last=Liscio |first=Tom |date=February 21, 2016 |title=High Heat: Cole Sands |url=https://247sports.com/article/high-heat-cole-sands-43838789/ |accessdate=February 25, 2025 |website=247sports.com}} As a senior, he pitched to a 0.32 ERA.{{cite web |last=Shackelford |first=Harlen |date=February 16, 2016 |title=Cole Sands excited to start at FSU |url=https://www.fsunews.com/story/sports/2016/02/16/cole-sands-excited-start-fsu/80481070/ |accessdate=May 2, 2021 |website=FSU News}} Following his senior year, he was drafted by the Houston Astros in the 22nd round of the 2015 Major League Baseball draft, but he did not sign, and instead enrolled at Florida State University (FSU) where he played college baseball.{{Cite web |date=June 15, 2015 |title=North Florida Christian Pitcher Says "Plan is to Become a 'Nole" |url=https://www.wtxl.com/sports/north-florida-christian-pitcher-says-plan-is-to-become-a/article_884d17a0-13b4-11e5-8374-fb417b1432c4.html |access-date=February 25, 2025 |website=WTXL}}
In 2016, as a freshman at FSU, Sands appeared in 18 games (17 starts) in which he pitched to a 6-7 record with a 4.13 ERA over {{fraction|69|2|3}} innings.{{cite web |author=Clark |first=Corey |date=February 12, 2018 |title=FSU's Sands hopes subtle adjustment pays off in a big way |url=https://floridastate.rivals.com/news/fsu-s-sands-hopes-subtle-adjustment-pays-off-in-a-big-way |accessdate=February 25, 2025 |website=TheOsceola}}{{cite web |last=Ferrante |first=Bob |date=February 17, 2017 |title=A year wiser, Jenkins grad leads Seminoles' pitching staff |url=https://www.theledger.com/story/sports/college/baseball/2017/02/17/year-wiser-jenkins-grad-leads-seminoles-pitching-staff/22443705007/ |accessdate=May 2, 2021 |website=The Ledger |publication-place=Lakeland, Florida}} As a sophomore at FSU, Sands once again pitched in 18 games (making 17 starts), going 6-4 with a 5.40 ERA.{{cite web |last=McGahee III |first=Wayne |date=February 16, 2018 |title=Florida State baseball preview: Pitching |url=https://www.tallahassee.com/story/sports/college/fsu/baseball/2018/02/16/florida-state-baseball-preview-pitching/340252002/ |accessdate=May 2, 2021 |website=Tallahassee Democrat}} In 2016 and 2017, he played collegiate summer baseball for the Falmouth Commodores of the Cape Cod Baseball League.{{cite web |author=Bruce |first=Philip and Gabriele |date=July 28, 2016 |title=This rivalry is on hold for the summer |url=https://www.wickedlocal.com/story/falmouth-bulletin/2016/07/28/this-rivalry-is-on-hold/27417334007/ |accessdate=February 25, 2025 |website=The Bourne Courier}}{{cite web |title=#42 Cole Sands |url=https://baseball.pointstreak.com/player.html?playerid=897281&seasonid=29795 |accessdate=April 9, 2022 |website=Pointstreak}}{{cite web |title=#44 Cole Sands |url=https://baseball.pointstreak.com/player.html?playerid=1088891&seasonid=30631 |accessdate=April 9, 2022 |website=Pointstreak}} In 2018, his junior season, he made 14 starts and compiled a 7-4 record with a 4.54 ERA, striking out 88 over 75 innings.{{cite web |last=McGahee III |first=Wayne |date=July 7, 2018 |title=Analyzing the Florida State baseball roster after MLB draft deadline |url=https://www.tallahassee.com/story/sports/college/fsu/baseball/2018/07/07/analyzing-florida-state-baseball-roster-after-mlb-draft-deadline/765259002/ |accessdate=May 2, 2021 |website=Tallahassee Democrat}} After the season, he was selected by the Minnesota Twins in the fifth round of the 2018 Major League Baseball draft.{{Cite web |last=Keel |first=Fletcher |date=June 5, 2018 |title=Minnesota Twins select Cole Sands in MLB Draft |url=https://www.wctv.tv/content/news/Minnesota-Twins-select-Cole-Sands-in-MLB-Draft-484613891.html |access-date=February 25, 2025 |website=www.wctv.tv}}{{cite web |last=Ferguson |first=Mike |date=June 5, 2018 |title=FSU P Cole Sands Drafted by Minnesota Twins |url=https://www.thedailynole.com/2018/06/05/fsu-p-cole-sands-drafted-minnesota-twins/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230701065535/https://www.thedailynole.com/2018/06/05/fsu-p-cole-sands-drafted-minnesota-twins/ |archive-date=July 1, 2023 |website=The Daily Nole}}{{cite web |last=Nee |first=Chris |date=June 5, 2018 |title=FSU's Cole Sands selected by Minnesota Twins in MLB Draft |url=https://247sports.com/college/florida-state/Article/FSU-Baseball-pitcher-Cole-Sands-selected-by-the-Minnesota-Twins-in-the-2018-MLB-Draft-118811237/ |accessdate=May 2, 2021 |website=247sports.com}}{{Cite web |last=Denney |first=Jarrid |date=June 5, 2018 |title=Twins take 3 RHPs in 7 picks on Draft Day 2 |url=https://www.mlb.com/news/twins-take-3-right-handers-on-day-2-of-draft-c279907158 |access-date=February 25, 2025 |website=MLB.com |language=en-US}} He signed for $600,000.{{Cite web |last=Parry |first=Roy |date=July 7, 2018 |title=Seattle Mariners, FSU's Cal Raleigh reach deal before deadline |url=https://www.orlandosentinel.com/sports/os-sp-fsu-cal-raleigh-signs-with-mariners-20180707-story.html |access-date=February 25, 2025 |website=Orlando Sentinel}}
Professional career
Sands made his professional debut in 2019 with the Cedar Rapids Kernels of the Single–A Midwest League.{{Cite web |date=April 7, 2019 |title=Twins' Cole Sands: Impressive Low-A debut |url=https://www.cbssports.com/fantasy/baseball/news/twins-cole-sands-impressive-low-a-debut/ |access-date=February 25, 2025 |website=CBSSports.com}}{{Cite web |last=Johnson |first=Jeff |date=May 5, 2019 |title=Cedar Rapids Kernels pitcher Cole Sands throws a beauty for first pro win |url=https://www.thegazette.com/minor-league-sports/cedar-rapids-kernels-pitcher-cole-sands-throws-a-beauty-for-first-pro-win/ |access-date=February 25, 2025 |website=The Gazette |language=en-US}} After eight starts, he was promoted to the Fort Myers Miracle of the High–A Florida State League. After nine starts with the Miracle, he earned another promotion, this time to the Pensacola Blue Wahoos of the Double–A Southern League.{{Cite web|url=https://www.milb.com/news|title=Baseball News|website=MiLB.com}} Over 18 starts between the three clubs, Sands went 7-3 with a 2.68 ERA, striking out 108 over {{fraction|97|1|3}} innings.{{Cite web |last=Braun |first=Matt |date=September 11, 2019 |title=Twins 2019 Minor League Starting Pitcher of the Year |url=https://twinsdaily.com/news-rumors/twins-minor-league/twins-2019-minor-league-starting-pitcher-of-the-year-r8400/ |access-date=February 25, 2025 |website=Twins Daily}} He did not play a minor league game in 2020 since the season was cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.{{cite web | last=West | first=Jenna | title=Minor League Baseball's 2020 Season Canceled | website=SI.com | date=June 30, 2020 | url=https://www.si.com/mlb/2020/06/30/minor-league-baseball-season-canceled-2020-coronavirus | access-date=February 9, 2025}} For the 2021 season, Sands was assigned to the Wichita Wind Surge of the Double-A Central.{{Cite web |last=Eldridge |first=Taylor |date=May 3, 2021 |title=The five Wichita Wind Surge prospects who could reach the MLB’s Minnesota Twins |url=https://www.kansas.com/sports/mlb/article251113354.html |access-date=February 25, 2025 |website=The Wichita Eagle}} On June 22, he was placed on the injured list with an undisclosed injury, and was activated on July 14.{{Cite web |date=June 23, 2021 |title=Twins' Cole Sands: Placed on injured list |url=https://www.cbssports.com/fantasy/baseball/news/twins-cole-sands-placed-on-injured-list/ |access-date=February 25, 2025 |website=CBS Sports |language=en-US |agency=RotoWire}} Over 19 games (18 starts) for the 2021 season, Sands went 4-2 with a 2.46 ERA and 96 strikeouts over {{fraction|80|1|3}} innings.{{Cite web|url=https://www.milb.com/news/minor-league-baseball-double-a-playoffs-preview-2021|title=2021 MiLB playoffs preview: Double-A|website=MiLB.com|accessdate=June 21, 2023}}
On November 19, 2021, the Twins selected Sands' contract and added him to their 40-man roster to protect him from the Rule 5 draft.{{Cite web |last=Franco |first=Anthony |date=April 20, 2023 |title=Twins Designate Willians Astudillo, Charlie Barnes For Assignment |url=https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2021/11/twins-designate-willians-astudillo-charlie-barnes-for-assignment.html |access-date=February 9, 2025 |website=MLB Trade Rumors}} He was assigned to the St. Paul Saints of the Triple-A International League to begin the 2022 season.{{Cite web |date=April 5, 2022 |title=Saints Opening Day Roster Set, Features Top Prospect Lewis, Six Other Top 30 MLB Pipeline Prospects |url=https://www.milb.com/news/saints-opening-day-roster-set-features-top-prospect-lewis-six-other-top-30-mlb-p |access-date=April 30, 2022 |website=MiLB.com}} On April 30, Sands was called up to the major leagues for the first time.{{Cite web |last=Zencka |first=TC |date=April 30, 2022 |title=Twins Place Bailey Ober On Injured List, Recall Cole Sands |url=https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2022/04/twins-place-bailey-ober-on-injured-list-recall-cole-sands.html |access-date=April 30, 2022 |website=MLB Trade Rumors}} He made his MLB debut on May 1, giving up two runs on three hits and two strikeouts over two innings pitched in relief; he was subsequently optioned to St. Paul after the game.{{Cite web |date=May 2, 2022 |title=Twins' Cole Sands: Sent back down |url=https://www.cbssports.com/fantasy/baseball/news/twins-cole-sands-sent-back-down/ |access-date=February 25, 2025 |website=CBS Sports |language=en-US |agency=RotoWire}} On October 5, Sands allowed one run in four innings of relief in a 10–1 victory over the Chicago White Sox to earn his first career save.{{Cite web |date=October 6, 2022 |title=Twins' Cole Sands: Four-inning save |url=https://www.cbssports.com/fantasy/baseball/news/twins-cole-sands-four-inning-save/ |access-date=February 25, 2025 |website=CBS Sports |language=en-US |agency=RotoWire}}
References
{{reflist}}
External links
{{baseballstats|mlb=663485|espn=3983841|br=s/sandsco01|fangraphs=21461|brm=sands-000col|retro=S/Psandc001}}
{{Minnesota Twins roster navbox}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Sands, Cole}}
Category:Baseball players from Tallahassee, Florida
Category:Major League Baseball pitchers
Category:Minnesota Twins players
Category:Florida State Seminoles baseball players
Category:Falmouth Commodores players
Category:Cedar Rapids Kernels players
Category:Fort Myers Miracle players
Category:Pensacola Blue Wahoos players