Aaron Cook

Aaron Cook
Cook warming up before a game.
Boston Red Sox – No. 35
Starting pitcher
Born: (1979-02-08) February 8, 1979 (age 33) 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) Boston Red Sox (2012–Present)
Career highlights and awards
2005 Tony Conigliaro Award All-Star selection (2008)

Aaron Lane Cook (born February 8, 1979) is an American professional baseball pitcher with the Boston Red Sox of Major League Baseball. 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.^[1]

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.^[2] 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.^[3]

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.^[4] 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.^[3]

Cook warming up in the bullpen

On June 27, 2007, Cook allowed Craig Biggio's 3,000th hit in Minute Maid Park.^[5]

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.^[6]

He won six consecutive starts from April 13, 2008 to May 9, 2008.^[7] 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).^[8]

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.^[9][10] 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.^[11] 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, 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^[12]. Cook will received 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 2 2/3 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.

References

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Aaron Cook (baseball)

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