The New York Yankees promoted former Oklahoma Christian University baseball player Cale Coshow to their Triple-A affiliate, the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders Aug. 17. With this promotion, Coshow becomes the first Oklahoma Christian player to reach the Triple-A level, which is one step down from the Major League.
Coshow, originally from Edmond, OK, signed to play baseball for Oklahoma Christian in 2013 after his release from the baseball program at the University of Oklahoma.
“After being cut, it definitely tore me apart,” Coshow said. “I was really thankful when coach Cobble ended up calling me on my way home, right after I got cut. I think I knew then that Oklahoma Christian was the place for me.”
While pitching at Oklahoma Christian, Coshow appeared 13 times on the mound, recording 69 strikeouts and two complete games. He boasted a 4.56 ERA his 2013 season, leading the Eagles to a National Christian College Athletic Association Central Region title and a NCCAA World Series appearance.
“I definitely grew to respect the game because, after being released, I thought for sure the game was being taken away from me forever,” Coshow said. “One of the best things about Oklahoma Christian was how tight knit the team was. When I got to actually play for OC, the team welcomed me with open arms.”
In June 2013, after pitching one season for Oklahoma Christian, the New York Yankees selected Coshow in the 13th round of the Major League Baseball draft.
Coshow began his minor league career at Yankee’s Class-A affiliate Staten Island. In June 2014, he advanced to pitch for the Charleston RiverDogs, where he recorded his first professional win against the Rome Braves July 6, 2014.
“Anytime a guy is throwing 97 mph in college, somebody is going to take a chance on him,” baseball head coach Lonny Cobble said. “You just can’t teach guys to throw that hard. Coshow worked hard and he’s gotten himself in so much better shape, even since he’s left here. He’s getting an opportunity, because Coshow is a hard worker.”
Moving to the Yankee’s Gulf Coast League rookie team, Coshow recorded 19 strikeouts and a 4.11 ERA. For the 2015 season, he pitched for mid-level Class A Charleston RiverDogs. Next, the Yankees promoted Coshow to their advanced Class A affiliate, the Tampa Yankees, where he remained until August 2015. After playing for the Double-A Trenton Thunder from August 2015 until August 2017, the New York Yankees advanced Coshow to pitcher for the Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders.
“He’s so close,” Oklahoma Christian pitcher coach Chance Stevens said. “I know for a fact that every year it hasn’t happened, that’s just added motivation to him.”
Coshow said it’s been his dream to play in the Major Leagues since he started playing baseball.
“After church on Sunday, I’m watching Sunday night baseball and that’s been my goal since day one to make the Major Leagues,” Coshow said. “Now that I’m this close, it definitely seems surreal. I just feel like I’m really, really close to obtaining that goal.”
Apart from his great success on the baseball field, Cobble and Stevens both attest to Coshow’s leadership qualities and willingness to give back to the community.
“He definitely has leadership in his blood,” Stevens said. “He’s just one of those players it’s a dream come true to have him around. He affects everybody in a positive way.”
“If Oklahoma Christian made a poster, Coshow would be on that poster for the type of person that you want here,” Cobble said. “He’s a good kid. He’s got a soft heart. He cares about people.”
The Trenton Thunder named Coshow the recipient of the 2017 Samuel J. Plumeri Sr. Community Service Award for the second-straight year. With this recognition, Coshow becomes the first two-time honoree of the award.
Currently, Coshow said he hopes to inspire young Oklahoma Christian athletes as he awaits a call to pitch for the New York Yankees.
“I really hope that I’m not the only Oklahoma Christian guy to play in the Major Leagues,” Coshow said. “I hope that I pave the way. I hope they see, ‘Hey, this guy was cut from his university, came to Oklahoma Christian and ended up making the major leagues.’”
Cobble said he believes Coshow has the ability to be a major league pitcher and hopes he gets the opportunity.
“He’s a great kid and he works hard,” Cobble said. “I hope the Yankees figure out this is a kid of good Christian character and give him a shot and see what happens. I don’t want him to have that regret, ‘I wish I had just got that opportunity.’”
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