Cowart was transferred to Double-A Somerset on Friday.
Cowart hasn't appeared in the minors since 2019 due to an unspecified injury, but he began a rehab assignment in mid-July and will now join the Yankees' Double-A affiliate. The 30-year-old was a first-round pick by the Angels in 2010 but has been unable to secure a significant role over five years of major-league action.
Cowart agreed to a minor-league contract with the Yankees earlier this month, Chris Hilburn-Trenkle of Baseball America reports.
After working primarily as an infielder since being drafted by the Angels in 2010, Cowart dabbled as a two-way player in 2019, but his pitching results were nothing to write home about, as he compiled a 10.19 ERA and 2.32 WHIP across 17.2 innings between two minor-league stops. Expect the 27-year-old to turn his focus to a utility role in 2020 as he moves on to a new organization. Since he boasts 171 games' worth of MLB experience, Cowart should get an invite to the Yankees' big-league camp, but he'll most likely be headed to Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre when spring training concludes.
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Kaleb Cowart: Chooses free agency
Rotowire
Cowart elected free agency rather than accepting an assignment to Triple-A Salt Lake on Monday.
Cowart appeared in just nine games at the big-league level in 2019, spending most of the season in the minors working on becoming a two-way player. There's little evidence that the pitching side of things is working, however, as he recorded a 10.19 ERA and a 16:15 K:BB in 17.2 innings in the upper minors.
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Angels' Kaleb Cowart: Sitting out Sunday
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Cowart is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Astros, Fabian Ardaya of The Athletic reports.
Cowart had started at either third or second base in each of the past five games, going 3-for-17 with three doubles during that stretch. Though he'll be out of the lineup for the series finale, Cowart could still see work as a pinch hitter or make his first MLB appearance as a pitcher.
Cowart could be called upon to pitch in lopsided games, Maria Torres of the Los Angeles Times reports.
Cowart was added to the 40-man roster Wednesday and entered in the ninth inning against the Yankees as a defensive replacement at third base. Though he's likely to be used almost exclusively as a position player, Cowart's experience pitching in the minors this season gives the Angels the option of putting him on the mound in potential blowout games in order to preserve the arms of their usual relief corps. Cowart hit .276 with nine homers in the minors this season while posting a 10.19 ERA in 17 appearances as a relief pitcher.
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Angels' Kaleb Cowart: Back in big leagues
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Cowart has been selected to the Angels' 40-man roster, Fabian Ardaya of The Athletic reports.
Cowart was called up prior to Wednesday's game against the Yankees and listed on the lineup card as a position player, per Lindsey Adler of The Athletic. Cowart last played in the majors in 2018, when he hit .134 in 112 at-bats with the Angels. He has been experimenting with transitioning to a two-way player in the minors in 2019, though the results have been less than promising as he posted a 10.19 ERA and 2.32 WHIP with a 16:15 K:BB in 17.2 innings. Luis Rengifo (hand) was placed on the 60-day IL in a corresponding move.
Cowart cleared waivers and was outrighted to Triple-A Salt Lake on Wednesday.
Cowart remains more interesting for his status as a two-way project than for anything he's actually done on the field, as he's hit just .177/.241/.293 in 162 career games. He'll continue to work as a two-way player in the minors but has a ways to go before he's a weapon on either side of the ball.
Cowart went 1-for-2 with a grand slam Monday against the White Sox.
Cowart collected his first hit of the spring and it turned out to be a big one. He sent a ball over the fence in right field during the fourth inning to give the Angels a 6-2 lead. Although the two-way player is reportedly focusing on pitching during camp, he put on a display of power at the dish Monday.
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Angels' Kaleb Cowart: Remains focused on pitching
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Cowart's primary focus this spring will remain on the pitching side now that he's back with the Angels, Jeff Fletcher of The Orange County Register reports.
Cowart was first listed as a two-way player by the Mariners, who claimed him off waivers from the Angels in December. He's since passed through the Tigers and back to the Angels, who will keep the same plan. The fact that he's focusing on pitching this spring could indicate that he'll be primarily a pitcher in 2019, though it's more likely that he simply needs more work pitching than hitting due to his inexperience on the mound.
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Angels' Kaleb Cowart: Winds up back with Angels
Rotowire
Cowart was claimed off waivers by the Angels on Saturday.
Cowart had spent the entirety of his professional career with the Angels but spent time with Seattle and Detroit over the offseason. He's been working to prepare for a two-way role and was focusing mainly on pitching with the Tigers, though it remains to be seen how the Angels will deploy him. JC Ramirez (elbow) was placed on the 60-day injured list in a corresponding move.
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Tigers' Kaleb Cowart: Focusing mainly on pitching in camp
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Manager Ron Gardenhire said Tuesday that he plans on using Cowart primarily as a pitcher during spring training, Chris McCosky of The Detroit News reports. "We want him to get more involved in the pitching part of it right now," Gardenhire said. "We know what he can do defensively."
When Detroit claimed Cowart off waivers in late January, it was expected that he would report to camp in preparation for a two-way role. That still looked to be the plan when Cowart took part in all infield drills Monday, but Gardenhire instead decided he wanted to get a longer look at the 26-year-old on the mound. Given that Cowart primarily played the infield along with some spot duty in the corner outfield since turning pro in 2010, it makes sense for the Tigers to use the spring to see if deploying him as a two-way player is even a feasible plan. Coming out of high school, Cowart sported a fastball that sat around 92-to-95 miles per hour, so he'll at least have a good foundation with which to start from.
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Tigers' Kaleb Cowart: Scooped up by Tigers
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Cowart was claimed off waivers by the Tigers on Thursday, Chris McCosky of The Detroit News reports.
Cowart has yet to put it together at the highest level, evidenced by his career .177/.241/.293 slash line across parts of four major-league seasons (162 games). The utility man will need to improve at the dish if he wants to stick with the rebuilding Tigers. According to McCosky, it sounds like Cowart will get a chance to continue his development as a two-way player with Detroit.
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Mariners' Kaleb Cowart: Designated for assignment
Rotowire
Cowart was designated for assignment by the Mariners on Monday.
Cowart, who owns a career .177/.241/.293 slash line across parts of four big-league seasons, was dropped from Seattle's 40-man roster in order to free up a spot for prospect Shed Long, who was acquired in a three-team trade Monday. He'll take a spin through waivers for the second time this offseason.
