Cole Sturgeon: 2014 MLB Draft 10th Round

mabrowndog

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Cole Sturgeon, OF/LHP, Louisville
Selected: 10th round (#314 overall)
B/T: L/L
H/W: 6'0"/180
Hometown: Owensboro, KY
 
Named Most Outstanding Player at last weekend's NCAA Regional (hosted by Louisville), and he was playing in the opener of the Super Regionals when the Sox selected him ... A "premium defensive center fielder" per Baseball America, and I saw his cannon of an arm first hand when he played for Wareham in the Cape League ... Also displayed a smooth uppercut swing on the Cape, skillfully took outside offerings to the opposite field, and showed occasional gap power to the alleys ... Patient plate approach ... Joins Mike Carp & Mike Trout in the MLB All-Fish Outfield.
 

 

 

 
 
Chris Hatfield, Louisville Cardinals writer (not the SoxProspects editor)
 

In his first at-bat after being drafted by the Red Sox, Cole Sturgeon works an 8 pitch count. But has single stolen from him on web gem.
 
 

Alex Speier, WEEI
 

 
The left-handed hitting, left-handed throwing Sturgeon hit .325 with a .410 OBP, .468 slugging mark, two homers and 18 steals as a senior, wrapping up a four-year career in which he showed consistently solid averages and OBPs as well as low strikeout numbers.
 
He also proved a strong mound contributor as a left-handed pitcher, going 3-0 with a 2.06 ERA in 24 games, with 35 strikeouts and 14 walks in 34 innings while holding opponents to a .161 average. However, his pick was announced as an outfielder (though it’s worth noting that the selection of Alex Hassan in 2009 was announced as a pitcher, but he ultimately signed as an outfielder).
 
As a college senior, he lacks negotiating leverage, meaning that the Red Sox can likely sign him for less than the slot recommendation and thus reallocate some of the bonus pool money available to them (a figure determined by the recommended slot bonuses of the first 10 rounds of the draft) for other picks.
 
From Baseball America, an anonymous scout breaks down the Louisville club prior to this weekend's NCAA Super Regionals:
 
 
“Sturgeon is a ballplayer, in every aspect of it. Another lefthanded hitter for them, a senior out there, obviously can steal some bases, can run, put some pressure on you. He’s a spark plug for those guys in so many different ways, and has a great arm on the mound."
 
Eric Crawford, WDRB sports columnist:
 
 
Eric Crawford ‏@ericcrawford  Jun 2
Cole Sturgeon: “Three great starts and great defense. That’s how you win championships."
 

Trivia/Likes/Dislikes
 
 
Post-collegiate Ambition: play baseball
 
Person with Greatest Influence on Athletic Career: my father
 
Biggest Thrill in Sports: day piling on a bus
 
Athlete You Most Admire: Michael Jordan
 
What Impresses You Most About Your Coach: his commitment to excellence
 
Hobbies and Outside Interests: friends and family
 
Favorite Professional Team: Boston Red Sox
 
Favorite Movie: Step Brothers, Pitch Perfect
 
Favorite TV Shows: Duck Dynasty
 
Favorite Foods: Macaroni and cheese
 
Favorite Professor: Jim Baumann
 
Favorite Class: CLAW 301 - Legal Environment of Business
 
Person You Would Most Like to Meet: Bob Knight
 
Best Advice I Have Gotten in Sports: it's how you come back after failure
 
If They Made a Movie of Your Life, Who Would Star in it: Ben Stiller
 
If You Could Have Dinner With Three People, Who Would It Be? Michael Jordan, Babe Ruth, and George Washington
 
Why I Chose UofL: the people here
 
What Is Your Favorite Place You Have Ever Visited: London
 
Favorite Season: Spring 
 

mabrowndog

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A short clip from the Cape League two summers ago:
 
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1P8kFmuHTFk
 

mabrowndog

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How's this for two-way dominance:
 
At the plate, you go 3-for-4 with a run, a steal of 2nd, and 3 RBI.
 
On the mound, you pitch 1.1 perfect relief innings including 3 strikeouts -- one of which gets out of a 1st & 2nd jam that you didn't create.
 
For an NCAA Division I team. In an NCAA Super Regional. In a game that clinches your school a berth in the College World Series -- if your team wins. Which it does. Because you kicked ass in every way, shape & form.
 
Well, that's what Cole Sturgeon's afternoon was like.
 

mabrowndog

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BUMP
 
Sturgeon and his fellow Louisville Cardinals are playing Vanderbilt in their College World Series opener right now. He grounded to 2nd in the first, playing CF and batting in the 2-hole.
 
It's on ESPN2, and a live box score is here.
 

mabrowndog

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Sturgeon went 0-for-4 today as he and his Louisville teammates had their season ended by Texas in the College World Series, 4-1. A hard liner to short for a DP in the 1st, a ground-out fielder's choice with 2 on ending the 3rd, a nubber at the plate fielded by the catcher, and a grounder to 2nd to knock in the Cardinals' only run of the day.
 
On Saturday he went 1-for-5 with a single and a strikeout in a 5-3 loss to Vanderbilt.
 
He'll now have 32 days before the July 18 signing deadline to ink a deal with the Sox.
 

mabrowndog

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After a dismal first 14 games following his promotion (.224/.246/.241/.487 in 62 PA), he's had a nice 4-game run while going 6-for-17 with 3 BB (.353/.450/.529/.979).
 
Sturgeon's also striking out less. He went down swinging in 11 of 50 PA in his first 11 G for Greenville (with just 1 BB and a .239/.265/.261/.526 line). But in his last 33 PA Cole's whiffed just 3 times (with 3 BB and a .276/.344/.379/.723 line). That's a drop from 22% to 9.1% in his K rate.
 

terrynever

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Cole Sturgeon hit 3 homers today in a 2019 finale at McCoy, including a walk-off two-run shot that beat Lehigh 5-4 in 10 innings. The Lehigh pitcher, a lefty named Tols, had recorded five outs, using a 67-mph curveball to great effect. And then he hung one shoulder high. Sturgeon sent everyone home happy.
This was Sturgeon’s sixth season in the minors. He hit around .280 with 10 homers. Sturgeon ran down one line drive in right-center. He’s 27 now and maybe this is a good time to retire. He will never duplicate what he did today. But the game will probably bring him back.
 

Cesar Crespo

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Cole Sturgeon hit 3 homers today in a 2019 finale at McCoy, including a walk-off two-run shot that beat Lehigh 5-4 in 10 innings. The Lehigh pitcher, a lefty named Tols, had recorded five outs, using a 67-mph curveball to great effect. And then he hung one shoulder high. Sturgeon sent everyone home happy.
This was Sturgeon’s sixth season in the minors. He hit around .280 with 10 homers. Sturgeon ran down one line drive in right-center. He’s 27 now and maybe this is a good time to retire. He will never duplicate what he did today. But the game will probably bring him back.
I dunno. The average AAA player gets $10,000 a month so I imagine he'll stick around as long as he can unless there's something better out there.
 

terrynever

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I dunno. The average AAA player gets $10,000 a month so I imagine he'll stick around as long as he can unless there's something better out there.
Continuing to play is a choice a lot of these guys make. Everyone is different. Sturgeon went to U. of Louisville. Maybe he continued to work on his degree. No matter his situation, there is no endeavor besides sports that could provide the opportunity for a Frank Merriwell performance like the one Cole Sturgeon put on yesterday. 4 hits, 3 homers. Walkoff homer. Mobbed at the plate by delirious teammates, most of whom are heading back home to family after seven months of minor league life. The few thousand fans were rewarded for sticking around, and elated by what they had just seen.
 

Brohamer of the Gods

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Continuing to play is a choice a lot of these guys make. Everyone is different. Sturgeon went to U. of Louisville. Maybe he continued to work on his degree. No matter his situation, there is no endeavor besides sports that could provide the opportunity for a Frank Merriwell performance like the one Cole Sturgeon put on yesterday. 4 hits, 3 homers. Walkoff homer. Mobbed at the plate by delirious teammates, most of whom are heading back home to family after seven months of minor league life. The few thousand fans were rewarded for sticking around, and elated by what they had just seen.
I was one of them, more importantly so was my seven year old. It's gonna build great memories in two years when we go up to Worcester to throw eggs at Larry's car.