Catching Has Helped Cotter As A Pitcher

Tim Cotter C / 3B / Kingswood Oxford, CT / 2020

WEST HARTFORD, Ct. - The second-ranked 2020 catcher in New England has colleges showing an interest … as a pitcher.

Tim Cotter has been behind the plate most of his baseball playing days but that changed two years ago to the benefit of the Kingsford Oxford junior.

“I started pitching my freshman year and then pitched a lot my sophomore year and in the summer,” the 6-3 190-pounder noted. “My freshman year I was a four-seam and two-seam guy, nothing offspeed. I quickly realized that was not going to work down the road so I began to work on a change and curve and other offspeed. My curve has improved a good amount. My high school coach taught me the grip and feel.”

But more improvement is required in the eyes of Cotter, who has touched 86 with his fastball.

“Holding people on is something I need to get better at,” Cotter admitted. “Usually I take my time going to the plate. I also need to be more consistent and to be able to throw strikes when I need to.”

PBR New England Director of Scouting Trevor Brown sees Cotter with college potential at both pitching and in the field.

“He is a two-way player with a plus arm behind the plate,” Brown said of Cotter, a right-handed hitter. “He has gap power at the plate. On the mound, he’s a mid-to-high-80s guy, who may have to move to first base long term to save his arm so he can work off the mound. But he’s got raw ability with a high ceiling.”

Schools took notice this summer, first at the Connecticut Top Prospect Games and then at the Future Games as part of Team Connecticut.

“I’ve always wanted to play baseball at the college level, that’s been a goal of mine,” Cotter said. “This summer I began to realize I can do it and I’ve been working hard toward it.

“Going to Indiana for the Future Games gave me a lot of exposure. It was a great privilege to go there but when I got there it was kind of a reality check. I found out where I stand with all the other great players in the country in the rankings.”

There was more to be learned at Grand Park that week.