Aaron Cook (baseball)

This article is about the Major League baseball pitcher. For other uses, see Aaron Cook (disambiguation).

Aaron Cook
Colorado Rockies
Starting pitcher
Born: (1979-02-08) February 8, 1979 Fort Campbell, Kentucky
Bats: Right	Throws: Right
MLB debut
August 10, 2002 for the Colorado Rockies
Career statistics (through 2012 season)
Win-loss record	76-79
Earned run average	4.60
Strikeouts	578
Teams
Colorado Rockies (2002–2011) Boston Red Sox (2012)
Career highlights and awards
2005 Tony Conigliaro Award All-Star (2008)

Cook, with the Colorado Rockies, warming up before a game in 2008.

Aaron Lane Cook (born February 8, 1979) is an American professional baseball pitcher. He currently plays with the Colorado Rockies.

High school

In high school, while playing for Hamilton High, Cook allowed only one home run, to fellow Major Leaguer Kevin Youkilis, who was playing for Sycamore High School in suburban Cincinnati.

Professional career

Colorado Rockies

Cook was drafted by the Colorado Rockies in the 2nd round of the 1997 MLB Draft and made his Major League debut in 2002.

He saw his 2004 season come to an abrupt end when it was discovered that he suffers from pulmonary embolism, or blood clots. During an August 7 start against the Cincinnati Reds, Cook complained of dizziness and shortness of breath. After he was taken to a local hospital, doctors discovered blood clots had formed in his right shoulder. On September 10, Cook underwent extensive surgery at a St. Louis hospital during which the first rib on his right side was removed to relieve compression on a major blood vein.

He stayed on the disabled list until July 30, when he gave up seven runs and eleven hits in 4⅓ innings of a 9-2 loss to the Philadelphia Phillies at Coors Field. His first 2005 victory came in an 11-2 victory over the Milwaukee Brewers on August 15 when he pitched six innings and gave up two runs and nine hits. In his final 12 starts of 2005, Cook went 7-1 with a 3.07 ERA. For this outstanding recovery from his very serious condition, he was awarded the 2005 Tony Conigliaro Award.

On June 27, 2007, Cook allowed Craig Biggio's 3,000th hit in Minute Maid Park.

After the 2007 season, $4.5 million next year under an option the Rockies exercised and Cook signed a three-year contract extension worth a guaranteed $30 million and a team option for the 2012.

He won six consecutive starts from April 13, 2008 to May 9, 2008. He is one of only four Rockies pitchers to have won 11 games before the All Star break through 2010; the only others are Shawn Chacón (2003) Jason Marquis (2009)and Ubaldo Jiménez (2010).

On July 6, 2008, Cook was named an All-Star to the 2008 Major League Baseball All-Star Game. The All-Star selection was the first of his career. He pitched three scoreless innings in the All-Star Game, and at one point pitched out of a no-out, bases loaded jam after two errors and an intentional walk, avoiding the loss. Various broadcasters have stated that, had the National League won the game, he would have been named MVP of the All-Star Game that year.

Cook finished the 2008 season with a career high 16 wins and 96 strikeouts. He gave up 20 hits on 0-2 counts, more than any other pitcher in baseball.[3]

Boston Red Sox

On January 14, 2012, Cook signed a minor league deal with the Boston Red Sox that includes an opt-out clause if he does not make the Red Sox by May 1. Cook is recovering from shoulder and knee injuries that plagued him in 2010 and 2011. In five games with Triple-A Pawtucket, Cook went 3-0 with two complete games. On May 1, the day Cook chose to exercise his opt-out clause, it was announced he will be promoted to Boston to start in place of injured Josh Beckett. Cook will receive a pro-rated salary of $1.5 million plus incentives. He also has a second opt-out clause for June 1.

On May 5, 2012, Cook made his Red Sox debut against the Baltimore Orioles. He pitched only 2⅔ innings, as a result of an injured knee off the spikes of Orioles first baseman Chris Davis. After getting treatment in the clubhouse, Cook returned, only to then pitch a two-run home run from Adam Jones. Cook was placed on the disabled list the next day.

On June 29, 2012 against the Seattle Mariners Cook threw a complete game shutout against the team, allowing just two hits while walking none, notching his 74th victory of his career. Cook threw just 74 pitches.

Cook would struggle for the rest of the season, finishing with a 4-11 record and a 5.65 ERA. His 5.65 ERA was the third straight year having an ERA over 5.00 when in the previous 5 seasons he had managed to keep them under 4.25. He also had a K/9 of 1.9, the lowest of any starter with at least 85 innings of work in the Major Leagues.

Philadelphia Phillies

On January 16, 2013, Cook signed a minor league deal with an invitation to spring training with the Philadelphia Phillies. He was released by the Phillies on March 26, 2012 as he did not make the big league roster.

Colorado Rockies

On March 29,2013, Cook signed with the Colorado Rockies. He has signed to play with Colorado Springs Sky Sox, the Rockies Triple A Baseball team.

Scouting Report

Cook is a sinkerballer. Cook relies on a heavy sinker, which he throws more than 70% of the time and induces ground balls at an average 64% of the time. His sinker is considered by many hitters like trying to hit an anvil falling, as it bottoms out at the end. His response to his style of pitching has always been: "I'm a pitch to contact guy, I may not be a flashy pitcher because I don't get the K's. I work quick and I make hitters make contact on my sinker and induce the ground ball". His repertoire also includes a four seam fastball, a curveball, a changeup and a cutter he added in 2010.

External links

• Career statistics and player information from MLB, or ESPN, or Baseball-Reference, or Fangraphs, or The Baseball Cube, or Baseball-Reference (Minors)