Sox take a juco player, Edward "Jake" Cosart, RHP from Seminole State CC in Florida.
After going undrafted as a 6-foot-1, 145-pound outfielder out of Texas, Cosart attended Duke, where he redshirted and then did not throw a pitch in game action before transferring to Seminole State. Jake’s older brother Jarred was a teammate of Astros lefthander Brett Oberholtzer, who attended Seminole and helped the younger Cosart reach campus. Cosart, a plus athlete who has gained strength to be 6-foot-2, 175 pounds, has elite arm speed and touched 98 mph in the fall, though his fastball has played at 92-95 with life this spring. His curveball shows above-average potential at its best, but has not been consistent and offers a large velocity separation. Given Cosart’s hand speed, some evaluators believe his newly added slider could become his best breaking ball. Both pitches have a ways to come. He offers a changeup that gives him enough of a secondary mix to be sent out in the minors as a starter, though some believe his best long-term role will be in the bullpen. Improved strike-throwing ability will also be a key for the 20-year-old, but he is an athlete with bloodlines and has some of the best arm strength in the class.