Junior pitcher Chris Cotton has never cracked 90 mph.
Against Kentucky last weekend, he hit 89 mph, respectable for the soft-throwing lefty, but not quite the number he wants to reach. His teammates were quick to point that out, encouraging him on Twitter to get that extra digit added to his pitch speed.
Even though Cotton doesn’t light up the radar gun, his speed hasn’t hindered him from experiencing his most successful season at LSU. Through 41 games, Cotton has set career highs with 22 appearances, four victories and 20 strikeouts. His 2.11 ERA ranks No. 2 among relievers with more than 10 appearances.
His change of pace and illusive breaking pitches shield him from hitters teeing off on his leisurely fastball.
“He throws all of his pitches for strikes,” said senior utility player Grant Dozar. “You can’t just sit on a certain thing, because he’s deceptive. He throws that off-speed stuff, so that 88-mph fastball looks a lot harder than 88.”
For left-handed hitters, Cotton is especially tough. The pitches come from a different angle than hitters are used to seeing. A left-handed slider starts inside to a left-handed batter, then breaks away, something those hitters rarely see.
Cotton retired the first 28 left-handed batters he faced this season before allowing consecutive RBI-doubles to lefties Sunday against Kentucky.
“I noticed it, but I didn’t think about it,” Cotton said of his success against lefties. “It’s tough giving up those hits. They were good hitters, but I didn’t get ahead. I ended up throwing the pitches right down the middle, and they got a hold of them.”
After joining the Tigers as a walk-on before the 2010 season, Cotton never really stood out among the other arms in the bullpen. He had a 4.62 career-ERA after his first two seasons, and many expected him to be just another face in the LSU bullpen this year.
Cotton took advantage of the opportunities he received early in the season. He only allowed one run in his first eight appearances, many times coming in to face opponents’ left-handed hitters.
But LSU coach Paul Mainieri doesn’t consider Cotton a lefty specialist.
“He’s very capable of pitching a couple of innings,” Mainieri said. “He’s not going to strike a lot of guys out, but if he’s getting his pitches over, and he’s changing speeds, they don’t usually make solid contact against him.”
As the season has progressed, Cotton has evolved into one of the more consistent arms in LSU’s pitching arsenal. The reason is simple: He throws “the best pitch in baseball” – a strike.
“Chris has always been a strike thrower,” Mainieri said. “That’s the thing that endeared him to me right from the start, his awesome ability to just throw it over the plate.”
To Mainieri, that consistency trumps speed, but if Cotton continues to progress, he may have the velocity to go with the accuracy. Since going under the tutelage of pitching coach Alan Dunn, Cotton has seen his pitch speed increase.
Cotton has his velocity knocking on the 90 mph doorstep thanks to a steady workout routine with emphasis on the legs and core,
“If I crack 90, that will be the day,” Cotton said. “It’s been a fun season so far, and hopefully in succeeding I’ll maybe touch 90.”
Cotton paused and added one more detail about that hypothetical 90-mph pitch.
“As long as it’s a strike,” he said.
 
 
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Contact Hunter Paniagua at [email protected]