Orioles' No. 29 prospect has officialy graduated the Double-A Bowie Baysox
Utility man Billy Cook has become a fan-favorite within the Bowie Baysox family over the past year. Now, they will salute him farewell (for now) as he packs his bags and heads on down to Norfolk, Virginia.
The 25-year-old has been promoted from the Double-A Baysox to the Triple-A Tides.
This is actually his second stint with the Tides this season, as he made their Opening Day roster and appeared 2 games and went 4-for-8 (.400). At the time, Norfolk's roster was crowded with an overflow of top tier Minor League talent that needed to see everyday playing time in preparation for a big league promotion. Those names included MLB's No. 1 prospect Jackson Holliday, No. 30 prospect Coby Mayo, and No. 32 prospect Heston Kjerstad. Thus, Cook was reassigned to Bowie in order for him to keep getting everyday at-bats as opposed to seeing limitted playing time with Norfolk.
Now that Holliday and Kjerstad have joined the Orioles and with other players like Diego Castillo (trade) and Peyton Burdick (designated for assignment) departing the roster, Cook may have a direct shot at everyday playing time with Norfolk.
A native of Layton, Utah, Cook has nothing left to prove at Double-A Bowie. Ranked the Orioles' No. 29 prospect according to MLB Pipeline, he learned to play everywhere on the field. He can take control of all three outfield positions as well as all four infield positions. Cook has built a very versatile defensive resume that will allow him to slide into the lineup more frequently.
That is a good thing because Cook can swing one heck of a bat. He posted a .776 OPS last season while hitting .251 with 81 RBI. His 24 home runs and 30 stolen bases put him in Bowie's record books, as he became just the second Baysox player ever to have a 20/20 season for them. DJ Stewart was the first Baysox player to do it back in 2017.
This year, Cook picked up right where he left off last season. Prior to being promoted, he was batting .255 with a home run and 10 RBI in 15 games for Bowie. He had also stole 4 bases and posted a .757 OPS.
Needless to say, Cook is quite comfortable in the Eastern League and AA baseball after having spent over a year there. Now, he will get his chance at the next level in the International League as he deserves to. Cook's first weekend of action with the Tides in March was just a brief sample size, but it was a good enough preview as to what Tides fans can expect from their newest addition. This is a guy who has great confidence at the plate, has a great batter's eye, and will come through in the clutch when the opportunity is given. In addition, he embraces the love from the fans and does not hesitate to interact those who come out to support him and his teammates.
The Tides are getting a talent on the rise in Cook, and Norfolk fans should welcome and embrace him with open arms.
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