Jharel Cotton

{{Infobox baseball biography

| name = Jharel Cotton

| image = Jharel Leandre Cotton Orix Buffaloes 20230430.jpg

| width = 250

| caption = Cotton with the Orix Buffaloes in 2023

| team = Free agent

| number =

| position = Pitcher

| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1992|1|19}}

| birth_place = Saint Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands

| bats = Right

| throws = Right

| debutleague = MLB

| debutdate = September 7

| debutyear = 2016

| debutteam = Oakland Athletics

|debut2league = NPB

|debut2date = April 25

|debut2year = 2023

|debut2team = Orix Buffaloes

|statyear = 2022 season

|statleague = MLB

|stat1label = Win–loss record

|stat1value = 17–12

|stat2label = Earned run average

|stat2value = 4.50

|stat3label = Strikeouts

|stat3value = 197

|stat2year = 2023 season

|stat2league = NPB

|stat21label = Win–loss record

|stat21value = 1–1

|stat22label = Earned run average

|stat22value = 5.89

|stat23label = Strikeouts

|stat23value = 22

| teams =

Oakland Athletics ({{mlby|2016}}–{{mlby|2017}})
Texas Rangers ({{mlby|2021}})
Minnesota Twins ({{mlby|2022}})
San Francisco Giants ({{mlby|2022}})
Orix Buffaloes ({{npby|2023}})

}}

Jharel Leandre Cotton (born January 19, 1992) is an American professional baseball pitcher who is a free agent. He has previously played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Oakland Athletics, Texas Rangers, Minnesota Twins, and San Francisco Giants, and in Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB) for the Orix Buffaloes. Cotton played college baseball at East Carolina University, and was drafted by the Los Angeles Dodgers in the 20th round of the 2012 MLB Draft.

College career

Cotton played college baseball at Miami Dade College in 2010 and 2011. After he was not taken in the 2010 Major League Baseball Draft, the Los Angeles Dodgers offered him a contract as an undrafted free agent, but he declined the offer and returned to Miami-Dade.{{cite web|url=http://www.dailypress.com/sports/dp-spt-cotton-says-no-to-dodgers-story.html|title=Jharel Cotton says no to Dodgers, will return to Miami-Dade|work=Daily Press|first=Dave|last=Johnson|date=August 17, 2010|accessdate=September 19, 2015}} He was then drafted by the New York Mets in the 28th round of the 2011 MLB Draft, but did not sign and transferred to East Carolina University.{{cite web|url=http://www.dailypress.com/sports/dp-spt-jharel-cotton-0401-20120331-story.html|title=Former Menchville star Jharel Cotton 'soaking it up' at ECU|work=Daily Press|first=Dave|last=Johnson|date=March 31, 2012|accessdate=September 19, 2015}}

Professional career

=Los Angeles Dodgers=

After one year at East Carolina, Cotton was drafted by the Dodgers in the 20th round of the 2012 MLB Draft.{{cite web|url=https://www.dailypress.com/2012/07/10/former-monarch-jharel-cotton-to-sign-with-dodgers/|title=Former Monarch Jharel Cotton to sign with Dodgers|work=Daily Press|first=Dave|last=Johnson|date=July 10, 2012|access-date=September 19, 2015}}{{cite web|url=http://virginislandsdailynews.com/sports/dodgers-sign-cotton-1.1343382|title=Dodgers sign Cotton|work=Virgin Island Daily News|date=July 14, 2012|accessdate=September 19, 2015|first=Aaron|last=Gray|archive-date=June 23, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150623212958/http://virginislandsdailynews.com/sports/dodgers-sign-cotton-1.1343382|url-status=dead}} He signed this time and made his professional debut with the Ogden Raptors. Cotton spent 2013 with the Great Lakes Loons, Rancho Cucamonga Quakes and Double-A Chattanooga Lookouts.{{cite web|url=http://www.mlive.com/loons/index.ssf/2013/04/los_angeles_dodgers_jharel_cot.html|title=Los Angeles Dodgers Jharel Cotton brings island flavor to Great Lakes Loons rotation|work=mlive.com|first=Hugh|last=Bernreuter|date=April 6, 2013|accessdate=September 19, 2015}} Cotton missed the first two months of the 2015 season, recovering from a broken left wrist.{{cite web|url=http://virginislandsdailynews.com/sports/cotton-back-from-injury-for-quakes-1.1892252|title=Cotton back from injury for Quakes|work=Virgin Island Daily News|date=June 3, 2015|author=Daily News Staff|accessdate=September 19, 2015|archive-date=June 23, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150623220906/http://virginislandsdailynews.com/sports/cotton-back-from-injury-for-quakes-1.1892252|url-status=dead}} He pitched in one game for the Great Lakes and four for Rancho Cucamonga before being promoted to the Double-A Tulsa Drillers. In late August, he was promoted to the Triple-A Oklahoma City Dodgers and tried out for a potential bullpen callup to Los Angeles.{{cite web|url=https://www.espn.com/blog/los-angeles/dodger-report/post/_/id/16483/dodgers-looking-at-two-minor-leaguers-for-bullpen-roles|title=Dodgers looking at two minor-leaguers for bullpen roles|work=ESPN Los Angeles|first=Mark|last=Saxon|date=August 25, 2015|access-date=July 19, 2015}} Between the four levels, he appeared in 21 games (with 11 starts) and was 6–2 with a 2.45 ERA.{{cite web|url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/register/player.cgi?id=cotton000jha|title=Jharel Cotton minor league statistics & history|work=Baseball Reference}} The Dodgers added Cotton to their 40-man roster after the season.{{cite web|url=http://m.dodgers.mlb.com/news/article/157798348/jharel-cotton-ross-stripling-added-to-40-man|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151121140311/http://m.dodgers.mlb.com/news/article/157798348/jharel-cotton-ross-stripling-added-to-40-man|url-status=dead|archive-date=November 21, 2015|title=Cotton, Stripling added to 40-man roster|work=mlb.com|first=Ken|last=Gurnick|date=November 20, 2015|accessdate=November 22, 2015}} He began 2016 in the starting rotation for Oklahoma City, and was selected to participate for the world team at the 2016 All-Star Futures Game.{{cite web|url=http://www.truebluela.com/2016/6/28/12054236/willie-calhoun-jharel-cotton-mlb-futures-game-2016-all-star-game-dodgers|title=Jharel Cotton, Willie Calhoun named to 2016 MLB Futures Game rosters|work=SB Nation|first=Eric|last=Stephen|date=June 28, 2016|accessdate=June 28, 2016}} During the game, Cotton only faced one batter, Phillies outfielder Dylan Cozens. Cozens flied out, and Cotton picked up the win after teammate Yoan Moncada hit a game-winning home run for the World Team.{{Cite web|url=http://www.truebluela.com/2016/7/10/12116220/jjharel-cotton-willie-calhoun-futures-game-dodgers-minor-league-report|title = Cotton earns the 1-batter win in Futures Game|date = 10 July 2016}}

=Oakland Athletics=

On August 1, 2016, the Dodgers traded Cotton, Grant Holmes, and Frankie Montas to the Oakland Athletics in exchange for Rich Hill and Josh Reddick.{{cite web|url=http://m.dodgers.mlb.com/news/article/192999766/dodgers-acquire-josh-reddick-rich-hill/|title=Dodgers acquire Reddick, Hill from A's|last=Gurnick|first=Ken|work=MLB.com|date=August 1, 2016|accessdate=August 1, 2016|archive-date=November 7, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171107024724/http://m.dodgers.mlb.com/news/article/192999766/dodgers-acquire-josh-reddick-rich-hill/|url-status=dead}} He was assigned to the Triple-A Nashville Sounds. Cotton retired the first 26 Round Rock Express batters he faced on August 9, but allowed a triple with two outs in the ninth inning, just missing a perfect game.{{cite web|url=https://www.milb.com/news/gcs-194691204|title=Cotton Just Misses Perfect Game in Sounds Win|work=Minor League Baseball|date=August 10, 2016|access-date=August 10, 2016}} He was called up to the Athletics on September 7 to make his major league debut.{{cite web|last=Slusser|first=Susan|url=http://www.sfgate.com/athletics/article/Neal-keeps-A-s-in-game-late-rally-beats-Angels-9206615.php|title=Zach Neal strong in A's win; Jharel Cotton set for debut|work=San Francisco Gate|date=September 6, 2016|accessdate=September 7, 2016}} Cotton began the season in the A's rotation, but after starting off slowly, he was sent down to Triple-A. He was soon after called up again, but was sent down back to Triple-A. Cotton's splits between home and road were drastically apart, as at home he was 4–6 with 6.98 ERA while on the road he was 5–4 with a 3.94 ERA.{{Cite web|url=https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2018/03/al-west-notes-ohtani-vogelbach-whalen-as-cotton-puk.html|title = AL West Notes: Ohtani, Vogelbach, Whalen, A's, Cotton, Puk}} On March 22, 2018, Cotton underwent Tommy John surgery and missed the 2018 season.{{cite web|title=Jharel Cotton has Tommy John surgery|date=22 March 2018|url=https://www.espn.com/mlb/story/_/id/22871134/jharel-cotton-oakland-athletics-tommy-john-surgery|publisher=ESPN|access-date=March 22, 2018}} In 2019, Cotton began his rehab by pitching for the Single-A Stockton Ports but was set back in May by a hamstring injury and elected to have surgery to resolve the issue. Cotton returned to the mound in July and pitched for the Triple-A Las Vegas Aviators.

Cotton was designated for assignment on November 20, 2019.{{cite web|url=https://www.cbssports.com/fantasy/baseball/news/athletics-jharel-cotton-removed-from-40-man-roster/|title=Athletics' Jharel Cotton: Removed from 40-man roster|website=CBSSports.com|author=RotoWire Staff|date=November 20, 2019|accessdate=November 20, 2019}}

=Chicago Cubs=

On November 23, 2019, Cotton was traded to the Chicago Cubs in exchange for cash considerations.{{cite web|url=https://www.mlb.com/press-release/press-release-cubs-acquire-rhp-jharel-cotton|title=Cubs acquire RHP Jharel Cotton from Oakland|website=MLB.com|date=November 23, 2019|accessdate=November 23, 2019}} On August 16, 2020, Cotton was designated for assignment. He cleared waivers and was assigned to the team's alternate training site in South Bend, but was released by the organization on September 5.{{Cite tweet|author= Chicago Cubs|user=Cubs|number=1302322037768237056|date=5 September 2020|title=Today's #Cubs roster moves: - Recalled RHP Adbert Alzolay from the South Bend Alternate Site to serve as 29th man for the doubleheader - Claimed INF Ildemaro Vargas off waivers from the Twins - Released RHP Jharel Cotton}}

=Texas Rangers=

On December 14, 2020, Cotton signed a minor league contract with the Texas Rangers organization.{{Cite web|last=Harrigan|first=Thomas|date=December 14, 2020|title=Rangers sign revival project Cotton, 2 others|url=https://www.mlb.com/news/jharel-cotton-minor-league-deal-rangers|access-date=2021-07-30|website=MLB.com|language=en}} He began the 2021 campaign with the Triple-A Round Rock Express. On July 30, 2021, Texas selected Cotton's contract and promoted him to the active roster.{{Cite web|title=Rangers Select Contracts of RHP's Drew Anderson and Jharel Cotton from Triple-A Round Rock; Activate RHP Josh Sborz from Paternity List|url=https://www.mlb.com/press-release/rangers-select-contracts-of-anderson-and-cotton|access-date=2021-07-30|website=MLB.com|language=en}} Cotton finished the 2021 season with Texas, going 2–0 with a 3.52 ERA and 30 strikeouts over {{fraction|30|2|3}} innings.{{Cite web|last=Weaver|first=Levi|date=October 4, 2021|title=Grading the 2021 Texas Rangers: Pitchers edition|url=https://theathletic.com/2863303/2021/10/04/grading-the-2021-texas-rangers-pitchers-edition/|access-date=2021-10-05|website=The Athletic}}

=Minnesota Twins=

On November 5, 2021, Cotton was claimed off waivers by the Minnesota Twins.{{Cite web|url=https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2021/11/twins-claim-jharel-cotton-outright-rob-refsnyder.html|title = Twins Claim Jharel Cotton, Outright Rob Refsnyder}} On November 30, Cotton signed a $700,000 contract with the Twins, avoiding salary arbitration.{{Cite web|url=https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/arbtracker2022|title=Arbitration Tracker For 2022|access-date=March 23, 2022|website=MLBTradeRumors}}

Cotton made two scoreless appearances for the Twins in 2022 before he was designated for assignment on April 13, 2022, when Dereck Rodríguez was added to the roster.{{Cite web|title=Twins Outright Jharel Cotton|url=https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2022/04/twins-select-dereck-rodriguez-designate-jharel-cotton.html|access-date=January 15, 2025|website=mlbtraderumors.com|language=en}} He cleared waivers and was sent outright to the Triple-A St. Paul Saints on April 20.{{Cite web|title=Twins' Jharel Cotton: Remains with Minnesota|url=https://www.cbssports.com/fantasy/baseball/news/twins-jharel-cotton-remains-with-minnesota/amp/|access-date=2023-01-15|website=cbssports.com|language=en}} Cotton was re-selected to the active roster on May 10, but designated for assignment on May 17 when Dylan Bundy was activated from the injured list.{{Cite web|title=Reliever Jharel Cotton caught in the middle of Twins' roster fluctuations|url=https://www.startribune.com/reliever-jharel-cotton-caught-in-the-middle-of-twins-roster-fluctuations/600174193|access-date=January 15, 2025|website=startribune.com|language=en}} He cleared waivers and was sent outright to Triple-A on May 19. Furthermore, Cotton had his contract selected again on June 3, as a COVID-19 replacement player,{{Cite web|title=Twins Select Jharel Cotton, Ian Hamilton|url=https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2022/06/twins-select-jharel-cotton-ian-hamilton.html|access-date=January 15, 2025|website=mlbtraderumors.com|language=en}} and was returned to Triple-A on June 6.{{Cite web|title=Twins Sign Aaron Sanchez, Tyler Thornburg To Minors Deals|url=https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2022/06/twins-sign-aaron-sanchez-tyler-thornburg-to-minors-deals.html|access-date=January 15, 2025|website=mlbtraderumors.com|language=en}} He had his contract selected for a third time on June 8.{{Cite web|title=Twins Reinstate Carlos Correa, Select Jharel Cotton|url=https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2022/06/twins-reinstate-carlos-correa-select-jharel-cotton.html|access-date=January 15, 2025|website=mlbtraderumors.com|language=en}} Cotton was designated for assignment again on August 2 in a flurry of transactions that followed the trade deadline.{{Cite web|title=Twins Transfer Miguel Sano To 60-Day IL|url=https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2022/08/twins-transfer-miguel-sano-to-60-day-il.html|access-date=January 15, 2025|website=mlbtraderumors.com|language=en}} He cleared waivers and was again sent outright to St. Paul on August 5.{{Cite web|title=Twins' Jharel Cotton: Reporting to Triple-A|url=https://www.cbssports.com/fantasy/baseball/news/twins-jharel-cotton-reporting-to-triple-a/amp/|access-date=2023-05-27|website=cbssports.com|language=en}} Cotton had his contract selected for a fourth time on September 11.{{Cite web|title=Twins' Jharel Cotton: DFA'd by Minnesota|url=https://www.cbssports.com/fantasy/baseball/news/twins-jharel-cotton-dfad-by-minnesota/|access-date=January 15, 2025|website=cbssports.com|language=en}} In 25 total appearances for the team, he compiled a 2-2 record and 2.83 ERA with 31 strikeouts across 35 innings pitched. On September 16, Cotton was designated for assignment after Bailey Ober was activated from the injured list.{{Cite web|title=Twins Designate Jharel Cotton For Assignment|url=https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2022/09/twins-designate-jharel-cotton-for-assignment.html|access-date=January 15, 2025|website=mlbtraderumors.com|language=en}}

=San Francisco Giants=

On September 18, 2022, Cotton was claimed off waivers by the San Francisco Giants.{{Cite web|title=SF Giants claim former A's starter Jharel Cotton off waivers, DFA Willie Calhoun|url=https://www.si.com/mlb/giants/news/sf-giants-claim-jharel-cotton-willie-calhoun|access-date=January 15, 2025|website=si.com|language=en}} In 5 games for San Francisco, he logged a 2-0 record and 6.75 ERA with 8 strikeouts over 8 innings of work. On October 20, Cotton was removed from the 40-man roster annd outright to the Triple-A Sacramento River Cats. However, he rejected the assignment and subsequently elected free agency the following day.{{Cite web|title=Jharel Cotton Elects Free Agency|url=https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2022/10/jharel-cotton-elects-free-agency.html|access-date=January 15, 2025|website=mlbtraderumors.com|language=en}}

=Orix Buffaloes=

On December 19, 2022, Cotton signed with the Orix Buffaloes of Nippon Professional Baseball.{{cite web|url=https://www.buffaloes.co.jp/news/detail/202300199256.html|title=新外国人選手獲得のお知らせ|language=Japanese|publisher=Orix Buffaloes|date=2023-01-24|access-date=2023-01-24}} In 7 games for the Buffaloes, he posted a 1-1 record and 5.89 ERA with 22 strikeouts across {{fraction|18|1|3}} innings pitched. Cotton became a free agent following the 2023 season.

Personal life

His brother, Jamaine Cotton, pitched in the Houston Astros organization from 2010 to 2014.{{cite web|url=https://www.milb.com/news/gcs-83458490|title=Cotton brothers square off in Lancaster|work=Minor League Baseball|first=Kelsie|last=Heneghan|date=July 7, 2014|access-date=September 19, 2015}}{{cite web|url=http://virginislandsdailynews.com/sports/cotton-brothers-to-square-off-in-weekend-series-1.1674603|title=Cotton brothers to square off in weekend series|work=Virgin Island Daily News|first=Matt|last=Schoch|date=April 25, 2014|accessdate=September 19, 2015|archive-date=June 23, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150623215705/http://virginislandsdailynews.com/sports/cotton-brothers-to-square-off-in-weekend-series-1.1674603|url-status=dead}}