April 21, 2024
Right-handed pitcher Connor Cooke is looking to build off his 2024 spring training with Triple-A Buffalo. Cooke, who had the opportunity to play in big league camp this spring, as a non-roster invitee; really enjoyed the overall experience of playing with, and learning from the big leaguers.
“It was really fun, it was my first big league camp,” said Cooke. “Just being around all of those guys was pretty cool. I was picking brains when I can, but most of the time I was being a fly on the wall, trying to observe, and get what I can from those guys.”
Currently in his fourth season of pro ball, Cooke likes where his pitches are development wise.
“They’re good,” stated Cooke. “At this point it’s really about executing the pitches. I think my stuff itself is good enough to get outs but it’s executing those pitches and getting them to spots.”
The righty uses a three-pitch mix of: a 4-seam fastball, a slider, and a changeup in his repertoire.
One challenge of playing in Triple-A is the ABS system, “It’s tough sometimes,” explained Cooke. “It does help you out sometimes but I’m a big fan of the challenge system. The ABS is tough, it definitely gives a little bit of an advantage to the hitter. But it’s here, so we got to work with it.”
Climbing the levels at a steady pace, Cooke has gone from Low-A to Triple-A in less than two years.
“The hitters and the talent coming up,” Cooke said of the differences among the levels. “A lot more is expected up here. You’re expected to be ready pretty much every day to pitch. Down there, you get your off days, you kind of get ample time to recover, whereas up here it’s be ready every day.”
Be sure to follow Connor Cooke, as he looks to make the jump up to the big leagues in 2024.