Kyle Cofield

KYLE COFIELD
RIGHT HANDED PITCHER
Born: January 23, 1987
Height: 6’5″
Weight: 220
Bats: Right
Throws: Right
Drafted: 8th Round, 257th overall, 2005 (Braves)
How Acquired: Minor League Free Agent
High School: Southside (AL) HS
Agent: N/A

WTM’S PIRATE PLAYER PROFILES
The Braves drafted Cofield in the 8th round out of high school after a disappointing senior season caused him to drop out of the early rounds.  When he’s healthy, he throws a sinking fastball in the low 90s, reaching 95.  He also has a good curve.  He’s been a strong groundball pitcher most of his career, but he’s also struggled with his control and, in recent years, with elbow problems.  The Braves thought highly enough of him to add him to their 40-man roster in 2009, then traded him to the White Sox a year later for Scott Linebrink.  The Sox outrighted him off their 40-man roster in October 2011 and he became a minor league free agent.  The Pirates signed him for 2012.

2005
R:  0-0-2, 7.31 ERA, 1.34 WHIP, 16.0 IP, 3.4 BB/9, 8.4 K/9

Cofield had a bad ERA in a brief rookie ball debut, but his other numbers were fine.

2006
R+:  2-3-0, 6.21 ERA, 1.71 WHIP, 42.0 IP, 4.7 BB/9, 6.2 K/9

In the advanced rookie Appalachian League, Cofield struggled with his control and got hit hard.

2007
A:  4-8-1, 3.86 ERA, 1.36 WHIP, 112.0 IP, 4.5 BB/9, 7.2 K/9

Pitching both as a starter and reliever, Cofield continued to have control problems in low A, but opponents hit only .236 against him and he got his K rate up a little.

2008
A+:  8-6-0, 3.26 ERA, 1.54 WHIP, 116.0 IP, 5.1 BB/9, 6.2 K/9

Cofield had a good ERA in high A, but his other numbers were much weaker.  He allowed a lot of baserunners and walked nearly as many as he fanned.  He helped himself by allowing only two HRs all year, although the difficult hitting environment at Myrtle Beach probably played a role in that.  He started in all but two of his 24 appearances.

2009
AA:  10-5-0, 3.90 ERA, 1.50 WHIP, 140.2 IP, 5.7 BB/9, 5.6 K/9

In AA, Cofield had a similar season, posting a good record and solid ERA, but poor numbers otherwise.  He walked more than he fanned and had his highest walk rate to date.

2010
AA:  1-4-0, 4.47 ERA, 1.47 WHIP, 58.1 IP, 3.7 BB/9, 6.3 K/9
AAA:  0-1-0, 6.00 ERA, 1.67 WHIP, 3.0 IP, 3.0 BB/9, 9.0 K/9

Cofield missed the first two months of 2010 with elbow problems.  He ended up making ten starts and eight relief appearances in AA, plus two brief appearances in AAA.  He made progress with his control.  The Braves traded him after the season.

2011
AA:  1-2-0, 2.89 ERA, 1.39 WHIP, 28.0 IP, 4.2 BB/9, 7.4 K/9
AAA:  0-0-0, 9.00 ERA, 1.00 WHIP, 2.0 IP, 0.0 BB/9, 9.0 K/9

The White Sox moved Cofield to the bullpen full-time and he made progress, especially with his K rate.  He missed much of the season, though, due to multiple disabled list stints.

The Pirates assigned Cofield to Altoona.  He started off in the bullpen, but could eventually see some time in the rotation.
STATS
Baseball Reference–Minors
Fangraphs
MiLB.com
CONTRACT INFORMATION
2012: Minor league contract
PLAYER INFORMATION
Signing Bonus: N/A
MiLB Debut: 2005
MLB Debut: N/A
MiLB FA Eligible: 2012
MLB FA Eligible: N/A
Rule 5 Eligible: Eligible
Added to 40-Man: N/A
Options Remaining: 2 (USED:  2010, 2011)
MLB Service Time: 0.000
TRANSACTIONS
June 7, 2005: Drafted by the Atlanta Braves in the 8th round, 257th overall pick; signed on June 8.
November 19, 2009: Contract purchased by the Atlanta Braves.
December 3, 2010: Traded by the Atlanta Braves to the Chicago White Sox for Scott Linebrink.
October 14, 2011: Outrighted to AAA by the Chicago White Sox.
November 2, 2011: Became a free agent.
November 22, 2011: Signed as a minor league free agent by the Pittsburgh Pirates.