With the success of the “Where are they now?” series, every so often here at Cat Scratches, we’re going to (try to) post an update on a former Kentucky Wildcat in the professional ranks. Because there are so many former Cats playing in the pros, we’ve decided to pick one a week and offer a brief highlight of what they’re doing. The updates will generally coincide with each season’s sport. Even though we’ve already profiled him in the “Where are they now?” series, first up is Collin Cowgill.
The skinny Collin Cowgill, a former UK baseball first-team All-America outfielder, was recently called up to the playoff-contending Arizona Diamondbacks and made his big-league debut last week.
UK background A native of Lexington, Ky., and the 2004 Kentucky High School Mr. Baseball out of Henry Clay High School. Cowgill played four years at Kentucky, helping the program to its first Southeastern Conference championship as a sophomore in 2006, when he hit .298 with 16 home runs and 61 RBI. After missing 2007 due to a hand injury, Cowgill returned for an All-America campaign in 2008, joining fellow All-America selection Sawyer Carroll in the outfield. A first-team Academic All-America selection, Cowgill batted .361 in 2008 with 15 doubles, two triples and 19 home runs, adding 60 RBI, stealing 23-of-27 bases in 2008. Following the 2008 season, Cowgill earned first-team All-America honors from the National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association and second-team honors from Rivals.com and Baseball America. During his UK career, Cowgill batted .306 (171-for-558) in 165 games, totaling 166 runs, 35 doubles, 37 homers, 140 RBI and 32 stolen bags.
Professional update After a brief struggle in his first week in the big leagues, Cowgill collected his first hit over the weekend, a line drive to center field off Scott Elbert of the Los Angeles Dodgers. Since going 0 for his first 11, Cowgill has collected two hits in his last four at-bats. Overall, he is 2 for 14 with an RBI, three walks and two stolen bases. Prior to his promotion, Cowgill was on a tear in the Pacific Coast League, hitting .354 with 24 doubles, eight triples, 13 homers, 70 RBI and 30 stolen bases. In 353 career minor-league games after signing as a fifth-round pick of the Diamondbacks in 2008, Cowgill has totaled 46 homers and 225 RBI, stealing 70-of-86 stolen bases with a .299 career average.
What they’re saying about CowgillCowgill keeps things in perspective (Guy Ramsey, Cat Scratches)D’backs look for a boost from Cowgill callup (Steve Gardner, USA Today)
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