LSU senior Chris Cotton has dominated opposing batters all season long without the luxury of an overpowering fastball.
Armed with a heater that tops out in the mid-to-upper -80s, Cotton has put together one of the best statistical seasons a relief pitcher has ever had at LSU. In his first season as the Tigers’ closer, the soft-tossing lefty has recorded 16 saves, tying the single-season school record set by Matty Ott in 2009.
With the absence of great stuff, Cotton said he relies on his composure on the mound and his command of the strike zone to get the job done.
“I think my best characteristic is poise,” Cotton said. “I’m able to be out there in stressful situations with the game on the line every time I’m out there, and I’m able to keep calm and throw strikes.”
In 36 games this season, Cotton has a 4-1 record with a 1.23 ERA. He has allowed just six earned runs on 24 hits in 44 innings pitched.
LSU coach Paul Mainieri said Cotton is able to be so effective because he has great command of all three of his pitches — fastball, curveball and change-up — and will throw any of them at any time in the count.
“When a pitch is called, it’s like a video game,” said junior catcher Ty Ross. “Whatever pitch you call is exactly where he is going to throw it. He can put it in, out, up or down, and he is very effective with hitting his spots.”
The ability to control all three of his pitches allows Cotton to change speeds and keep the hitter off balance at the plate. He said that ability is why he can record strikeouts without being able to overpower the hitter.
“I’m able to mix in both my curve ball and my changeup then come back with an 89- mph fastball late in the count, which looks a little harder after a 75-mph change-up,” Cotton said.
The result has been dominance. Cotton has struck out 45 batters this season against only three walks, good for a team-best strikeout-to-walk ratio of 15:1. For some perspective, more batters have struck out against Cotton, 45, than have safely reached base, 27.
Cotton got even tougher as the season went on. He was named the SEC Tournament MVP after tossing 5.2 perfect innings, recording three saves and getting the win in the Tigers’ 5-4 victory over Vanderbilt in the championship game.
His dominance at the SEC Tournament was part of a streak of 23 consecutive batters retired that stretched from May 11 until he issued a walk in the regional game against Sam Houston State on June 1.
“I might not throw the hardest, but I throw every pitch as hard as I can,” Cotton said. “I’m out there with intensity. I keep my calm, fill the strike zone up and try to get them out.”
Mainieri tapped Cotton as his closer after he compiled a 7-0 record and a 1.59 ERA in 36 relief appearances as a junior last season. As a result, LSU is 46-0 when leading after 8 innings this year.
“That was a major decision we made back at the beginning of the year to use him in that role, and he hasn’t disappointed anybody,” Mainieri said. “He’s been absolutely phenomenal.”
