Collin Cowgill

{{Infobox baseball biography

| name = Collin Cowgill

| image = Collin Cowgill (17706153116).jpg

| image_size = 270px

| caption = Cowgill with the Los Angeles Angels in 2015

| position = Outfielder/Coach

| team = Cincinnati Reds

| number = 54

| bats = Right

| throws = Left

| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1986|5|22}}

| birth_place = Lexington, Kentucky, U.S.

| debutleague = MLB

| debutdate = July 26

| debutyear = 2011

| debutteam = Arizona Diamondbacks

| finalleague = MLB

| finaldate = April 19

| finalyear = 2016

| finalteam = Cleveland Indians

| statleague = MLB

| stat1label = Batting average

| stat1value = .234

| stat2label = Home runs

| stat2value = 12

| stat3label = Runs batted in

| stat3value = 57

| teams =

;As player

Arizona Diamondbacks ({{mlby|2011}})
Oakland Athletics ({{mlby|2012}})
New York Mets ({{mlby|2013}})
Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim ({{mlby|2013}}–{{mlby|2015}})
Cleveland Indians ({{mlby|2016}})

;As coach

Cincinnati Reds ({{mlby|2023}}–present)

}}

Collin Brannen Cowgill (born May 22, 1986) is an American former professional baseball outfielder and current major league coach. He played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Arizona Diamondbacks, Oakland Athletics, New York Mets, Los Angeles Angels, and the Cleveland Indians. Prior to his professional career, Cowgill played college baseball for the University of Kentucky. Cowgill was the manager of the Arkansas Travelers, the Double-A affiliate of the Seattle Mariners, and is currently the first base coach for the Cincinnati Reds.

Amateur career

Cowgill attended Henry Clay High School in Lexington, Kentucky.{{Cite web|url=https://www.mlb.com/news/collin-cowgill-went-back-to-kentucky-home-to-mend/c-96608266|title=Cowgill went back to Kentucky home to mend|website=MLB.com|date=September 26, 2014 }} He then enrolled at the University of Kentucky, where he played college baseball for the Kentucky Wildcats baseball team. In his final season at Kentucky, he was named a third-team All-American by Rivals.{{citation needed|date=December 2012}} In 2006, he played collegiate summer baseball in the Cape Cod Baseball League for the Brewster Whitecaps, and returned to the league in 2007 to play for the Yarmouth-Dennis Red Sox where he was named a league all-star.{{cite web|author= |url=http://capecodbaseball.org.ismmedia.com/ISM3/std-content/repos/Top/2012website/archives/Current%20Year/All_Time_MLB_CCBL_Alumni.pdf |title=Major League Baseball Players From the Cape Cod League |publisher=capecodbaseball.org |date= |accessdate=September 25, 2019}}{{cite web|url=http://www.thebaseballcube.com/college/summer/stats.asp?Y=2006&T=Brewster%20Whitecaps |title=2006 Brewster Whitecaps |publisher=thebaseballcube.com |accessdate=September 23, 2021}}{{cite web|url=http://www.thebaseballcube.com/college/summer/stats.asp?Y=2007&T=Yarmouth-Dennis_Red_Sox |title=2007 Yarmouth-Dennis Red Sox |publisher=thebaseballcube.com |accessdate=September 23, 2021}}{{cite web|url=http://capecodbaseball.org/news/asgnews/index.html?article_id=526 |title=East All-Star Roster: All-Star Game 2007 |publisher=capecodbaseball.org |access-date=May 6, 2020}}

Professional career

File:Collincowgill1.jpg

=Arizona Diamondbacks=

The Arizona Diamondbacks drafted Cowgill in the fifth round of the 2008 Major League Baseball draft from Kentucky.{{cite web|url=http://mlb.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20080605&content_id=2847080&vkey=news_ari&fext=.jsp&c_id=ari|title=D-backs draft pitcher with pedigree|date=June 5, 2008|publisher=MLB|accessdate=May 28, 2010}}

On July 26, 2011, Cowgill was called up from the Triple–A Reno Aces.

{{cite web|url=http://content.usatoday.com/communities/fantasywindup/post/2011/07/dbacks-look-for-a-boost-from-putz-return-cowgill-callup/1|title=D-backs look for a boost with Putz return, Cowgill callup.|date=July 26, 2011|work=USA Today|accessdate=July 27, 2011}}

He hit his first career major league home run as a Diamondback, on August 28, 2011, against the San Diego Padres.{{cite web|url=http://arizona.diamondbacks.mlb.com/mlb/gameday/index.jsp?gid=2011_08_28_sdnmlb_arimlb_1&mode=recap&c_id=ari|title=Hill, Cowgill backs Kennedy's NL-best 17th win|first=Anthony|last=Fenechlast|date=August 28, 2011|accessdate=October 28, 2011|publisher=MLB|archive-date=October 6, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121006001714/http://arizona.diamondbacks.mlb.com/mlb/gameday/index.jsp?gid=2011_08_28_sdnmlb_arimlb_1&mode=recap&c_id=ari|url-status=dead}}

=Oakland Athletics=

On December 9, 2011, Cowgill was part of a trade along with Jarrod Parker and Ryan Cook, in which the Diamondbacks acquired Trevor Cahill and Craig Breslow from the Oakland Athletics.{{cite news|last=Gilbert|first=Steve|title=D-backs pick up Cahill, Breslow from A's|url=http://mlb.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20111209&content_id=26140316&vkey=news_mlb&c_id=mlb|accessdate=December 10, 2011|newspaper=MLB.com|date=December 9, 2011|archive-date=January 7, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120107173255/http://mlb.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20111209&content_id=26140316&vkey=news_mlb&c_id=mlb|url-status=dead}}

=New York Mets=

On December 18, 2012, the Athletics traded Cowgill to the New York Mets for Jefry Marté.{{Cite web|url=http://www.nj.com/mets/index.ssf/2012/12/mets_trade_for_outfielder_coll.html|title = Mets trade for outfielder Collin Cowgill|date = December 18, 2012}}

Cowgill hit the first grand slam for the Mets on Opening Day in 18 years when he hit one in the 7th inning against the San Diego Padres.

File:Collin Cowgill on April 1, 2013.jpg]]

Cowgill was named the starting center fielder for the Mets for 2013 after an impressive spring training. After a poor start to the season, Cowgill was set to platoon in center field with Jordany Valdespin. Cowgill was optioned to Triple-A Las Vegas on May 3 when the Mets recalled Andrew Brown. On June 18, 2013, Cowgill was designated for assignment 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 the bottom of the 14th inning to beat the Oakland A's 2–1.

=Cleveland Indians=

Cowgill was traded from the Angels to the Cleveland Indians 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 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 San Diego Padres 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 contract with the Philadelphia Phillies organization. In 93 games for the Triple–A Lehigh Valley IronPigs, he batted .230/.309/.408 with 12 home runs and 41 RBI. Cowgill elected free agency following the season on November 2.{{Cite web|title=Minor League Free Agents 2018|url=https://www.baseballamerica.com/stories/minor-league-free-agents-2018/|access-date=May 20, 2024|website=baseballamerica.com|language=en}}

=Washington Nationals=

On February 21, 2019, Cowgill signed a minor league contract with the Washington Nationals. In 84 games for the Triple–A Fresno Grizzlies, he slashed .228/.330/.440 with 12 home runs, 34 RBI, and eight stolen bases. Cowgill elected free agency following the season on November 4.{{cite web|url=https://www.baseballamerica.com/stories/minor-league-free-agents-2019/|title=Minor League Free Agents 2019|author=Matt Eddy|website=Baseball America|date=November 7, 2019|accessdate=November 7, 2019}}

On February 17, 2020, Cowgill signed a minor league deal with the Seattle Mariners. Cowgill became a free agent after the season.

Coaching career

=Seattle Mariners=

On January 27, 2021, Cowgill was announced as the manager for the Arkansas Travelers, the Double-A affiliate of the Seattle Mariners.{{Cite web|url=https://sports.mynorthwest.com/1284701/mariners-2021-player-development-minor-league-coaching-staffs/|title = Mariners announce player development and minor league coaching staffs|date = January 27, 2021}}

File:Collin_Cowgill_manages_the_Arkansas_Travelers.jpg

=Cincinnati Reds=

The Cincinnati Reds named Cowgill their first base coach before the 2023 season.{{Cite web|url=https://www.mlb.com/news/reds-promote-joel-mckeithan-to-primary-hitting-coach|title=Reds shake up coaching staff, promote McKeithan|website=MLB.com}}

Personal life

Cowgill and his wife, Alyson, have two children.{{Cite web|url=https://www.arkansasonline.com/news/2021/aug/05/cowgill-settling-into-first-year-in-managerial/|title=Cowgill settling into first year in managerial role|date=August 5, 2021|website=Arkansas Online}}