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Biography
Caleb Kent Cotham (born November 6, 1987) is an American professional baseball former pitcher and current coach. He is the assistant pitching coach and director of pitching for the Cincinnati Reds of Major League Baseball (MLB). Cotham played for the New York Yankees in 2015 and the Reds in 2016.
Early life
Cotham attended Mount Juliet High School in Mount Juliet, Tennessee. He graduated in 2006. Cotham then enrolled at Vanderbilt University, where he played college baseball for the Vanderbilt Commodores. In 2008 and 2009, he played collegiate summer baseball with the Brewster Whitecaps of the Cape Cod Baseball League.
Professional career
New York Yankees
The New York Yankees selected Cotham in the fifth round of the 2009 Major League Baseball Draft. He became a relief pitcher in 2015, recording a 2.21 earned run average in 57 innings pitched in the minor leagues.
The Yankees promoted Cotham to the majors for the first time on July 29, 2015. On the same day he made his Major League debut with the Yankees, pitching one and two third innings, giving up two hits, and striking out four.
Cincinnati Reds
On December 28, 2015, the Yankees traded Cotham, Eric Jagielo, Rookie Davis, and Tony Renda to the Cincinnati Reds in exchange for Aroldis Chapman. He made the Reds' Opening Day roster in 2016. He underwent season-ending knee surgery in August, finishing the 2016 season with an 0–3 win-loss record and a 7.40 earned run average. The Reds outrighted Cotham from their 40-man roster after the season. He opted to become a free agent.
Seattle Mariners
On February 28, 2017, Cotham signed a minor league deal with the Seattle Mariners. On March 10, 2017, Cotham announced his retirement via his Twitter account.
Coaching career
The Reds hired Cotham as their assistant pitching coach before the 2019 season. He will work with Derek Johnson, his pitching coach at Vanderbilt. The Reds gave Cotham the added title of director of pitching following the 2019 season.
