"The next level is more of a mental grind than a physical one. It will test you."

Zach Cole, a product of Ball State University, joins Carter Mize to share his journey in professional baseball. Drafted by the Houston Astros in the 10th round of the 2022 MLB Draft, Zach's story is one of dedication and growth.

From Springfield, Missouri, Zach made frequent trips to St. Louis for summer baseball with the Rawlings Tigers during his high school years. "In Springfield, there weren't many high-level tournaments or clubs," he recalls. "I had to travel to Kansas City or St. Louis to compete."

Zach connected with the Rawlings Tigers through a high school teammate, leading him to meet with coaches Jaws, Dave Birkby, and Spiker. "We gelled really well, and the rest is history," he says.

From his first summer with the 17U Tigers squad with head coach Dave Birkby, Zach's talent along with the outreach of his Tiger coaches caught the attention of college scouts. "We attended numerous high-quality tournaments that significantly boosted my exposure. I was learning quickly from both the competition and my coaches. I had offers from Power Five schools, but I realized during that summer that a mid-major Division I program would be a great fit—ultimately, that was Ball State."

After three transformative years at Ball State, Zach found himself on MLB draft boards. Now in his second year as a professional, Zach spent most of the 2024 season playing for the Corpus Christi Hooks, the Double-A affiliate of the Houston Astros.

#Train #Educate #GrowTheGame

By: Carter Mize
Rawlings Tigers National Director - Player Development