In their 6-3 win last night against the Reading Fightin’ Phils at NYSEG Park, there were two B-Mets pitchers that officially etched their name into the record books. The first man to do so was Binghamton starting pitcher, Mark Cohoon.
The soon-to-be 26-year-old earned his first win since June 29th last night; he did so by allowing three runs (two earned) on five hits (one homer), one walk, and three strikeouts in seven strong innings pitched. He only allowed two hits over his last four innings of work to stifle the opposing lineup.
Last night’s outing gave Cohoon 353 career innings pitched in a B-Mets uniform, which is now a team record. The left-hander has spent parts of four seasons in Double-A, and has compiled a 19-21 record, 4.00 ERA, 1.32 WHIP, and 250 strikeouts in 63 appearances (59 starts).
Following getting selected by New York in the 12th round of the 2008 MLB draft out of North Central Texas College, the majority of his time has been spent in the Eastern League. He’s thrown 689 career innings in 123 appearances (116 starts), posting a 42-39 record, 3.85 ERA, and 1.30 WHIP.
I’m sure Cohoon would rather not have set this record last night while he was on the hill; there aren’t many ballplayers who plan on sticking around in one city long enough in the minor leagues to break a record such as that. However, it’s still nice to get recognized for all the effort he’s put in over the past four years with the B-Mets.
As for Jeff Walters, we mentioned yesterday how he was on the verge of breaking a 13-year-old team record, set by Jerrod Riggan back in 2000. It took him a full season to notch 28 saves for Binghamton that year, but it’s taken Walters just over half a season.
With a scoreless inning of work to close out the victory for Cohoon, Walters accumulated his league-leading 28th save of the season. After getting selected in the draft every year since 2006, he decided to sign with the Mets in 2010. New York picked him in the seventh round out of the University of Georgia.
Walters began his professional career as a starting pitcher, but the Mets switched him to a reliever in 2012, and the results have been immediate. Between Savannah and St. Lucie last season, he appeared in 36 games (22 games finished), putting together a 4-5 record, 2.30 ERA, 1.08 WHIP, and four saves in 54.2 innings pitched.
He was put into the closer’s role for the first time this season, and once again, he hasn’t disappointed. Through 43.1 innings pitched (40 appearances), Walters is 4-2 with a 2.08 ERA, 1.04 WHIP, 47 strikeouts, and those 28 saves. Like Cohoon, he’ll also be turning 26-years-old this winter. Out of the two, it looks like Walters has a clearer path to the majors, as the starting rotation in Flushing looks set for the foreseeable future, and the bullpen is well, you know, the bullpen. If Cohoon is able to successfully make the switch over to reliever, then that could be a different story.
Congratulations to these two on their special night!
(photo credit: Kelly Madden)
Ive been meaning to mention Jeff Walters and his success after being moved to the bullpen…He’s been outstanding throwing strikes not walking alot of guys etc.
Another guy in Bingo that has been killing it as of lately and has stayed healthy all season is “DARRELL CECILIANI.”
He can be an ideal leadoff guy in Citi Field…Has always been a high OBP guy and has speed to burn not a lot of power wont hit a lot of homers but has good pop gap power.
I dont put too much stock in the Den Dekker/Niuwenhuis’s of the world their K-rates are way too high. Cecciliani is no Jose Reyes but if he keeps this up he’ll be on the radar next year for possible leadoff hitter candidate sometime in 2014.