Aaron Cook (baseball)

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

Aaron Cook
Cook warming up before a game.
Boston Red Sox – No. 35
Starting pitcher
Born: February 8, 1979 (1979-02-08) Fort Campbell, Kentucky
Bats: Right	Throws: Right
MLB debut
August 10, 2002 for the Colorado Rockies
Career statistics (through 2011 Season)
Win-loss record	72-68
Earned run average	4.53
Strikeouts	558
Teams
Colorado Rockies (2002–2011)
Career highlights and awards
2005 Tony Conigliaro Award All-Star selection (2008)

Aaron Lane Cook (born February 8, 1979, in Fort Campbell, Kentucky) is a Major League Baseball right-handed starting pitcher for the Boston Red Sox. He has played most of his baseball career with the Colorado Rockies.

High school

In high school, while playing for Hamilton High, Cook allowed only one home run, to current Red Sox third baseman 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 4 1/3 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.

Cook warming up in the bullpen

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 Chacon (2003) Jason Marquis (2009)and Ubaldo Jimenez (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.[2]

Boston Red Sox

On January 14, 2012, it was reported that Cook had agreed to a minor league deal with the Boston Red Sox.

Personal life

Aaron Cook and his wife, Holly, have one stepdaughter, Alexis, and two sons, Elijah and Colton.

External links

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