Mizzou Baseball Recruiting: Looking Back a Year

We're almost up to the deadline (August 17) for drafted players to sign with the MLB organizations that picked them this past June.

A year ago, the deadline was August 16th, and two of MU's recruits did not make it to campus: Jarred Cosart and David Rollins

■ Jarred Cosart, Mizzou's most highly touted pitching recruit, was drafted in the 39th round. No one (including me) really expected him to sign with the Phillies. But sign he did, in the last hour before the deadline:

Phillies sign Jarred Cosart, shouted Phuture Phillies:

As an outfielder, Jarred Cosart broke Jay Buhner’s Clear Creek High record for batting average this spring, hitting .506 to Buhner’s .480. But pro teams are more interested in Cosart as a loose, athletic 6-foot-3, 180-pound righthander. He reached 96 mph with his fastball in the fall, but he topped out at 92 this spring.

Cosart was expected to be the latest in the continuing pitching dynasty of Scherzer-Crow/Zagone-Gibson-Tepesch-Cosart!!!

But Cosart went the pro route instead. So where is Mr. Cosart now?

Cosart Back on the Mound (Galveston County Daily News, August 5, 2009 - Last week):

Creek grad Jarred Cosart made his long-awaited debut for the Philadelphia Phillies organization Friday. The results were not great.Cosart lasted just two-thirds of an inning for the Gulf Coast League Phillies, allowing two runs on two hits. Both of his outs were recorded via strikeout.Cosart made a relief appearance Monday and fared much better, throwing two perfect innings. He also had one strikeout.

And, from the Galveston County Daily News on Augst 12, 2009 (yesterday):

Creek grad Jarred Cosart is back on the seven-day disabled list for the GCL Phillies. He lasted four innings in his last start Friday, giving up two hits and one run with three strikeouts. Cosart was on the DL earlier this season with a shoulder injury.

And going back a little farther in the Galveston Daily News, to July 15th of this year:

Creek grad Jarred Cosart has yet to make his debut for the Rookie Gulf Coast League due to a lingering groin injury.Phillies minor league director Steve Noworyta said Cosart is still “pretty tender” and there is no immediate timetable for his return to the mound.

Apparently, Cosart has been battling injuries since he signed. He would not have been available for the Tigers in 2009, and his prospects at this point are obviously clouded by the shoulder problems.

■ David Rollins, another MU recruit, was drafted by the Dodgers in the 19th round. Rollins did not sign with the Dodgers last year, but also did not come to Mizzou.

He instead went to San Jacinto Community College, where he had a decent Freshman season (8-3, 4.61 ERA, 69 strikeouts in 66-1/3 innings).

Rollins played theis summer with current Tiger Russell LaFleur and MU recruit Brett Nicholas on the East Texas PumpJacks of the Texas Collegiate League, being named (along with LaFleur and Nicholas) to the All-League Team as a LHP.

Rollins was re-drafted in June of 2009 in the 23rd round by the Seattle Mariners. He has not yet signed.