Bats/Throws: L/L

Height/Weight: 6’2”/195

Acquired: 12^th rd 2008 (North Central Texas College)

Born: 9/15/87 (Burleson, TX)

2010 Rank: NR

Why Ranked Here: Cohoon earns is ranking simply because he was very effective in 2010. The Mets’ Sterling Organizational Pitcher of the Year was lights out in a-ball in Savannah in the first half, and after an adjustment period, in AA Binghamton as well.  Other younger pitchers might have higher ceilings, but few match his actual success on the field in 2010.  Cohoon is now at a point where his results cannot be overlooked.

How does Cohoon do it?  He attacks the zone with a four-seam fastball that he can cut. His fastball sits around 87-88 mph.  He will mix in a two-seamer a few miles per hour slower that he’ll sink to try to get ground balls.  His changeup has good arm speed and deception and can be a major league average or better pitch.  He throws a slider that’s a little soft, but is a strike, usually at the bottom of the zone.

Cohoon won’t overpower hitters, but lefties can certainly get by in the big leagues on guile.  Cohoon has excellent control, and was regularly cited by the Savannah staff as having the best work ethic among the team’s pitchers. He’s articulate about his pitching and nuanced in his approach.  Cohoon’s delivery is simple and repeatable.  There’s a chance that he could stick at the back of a big league rotation as a durable, strike-throwing machine.

2010: Cohoon was, statistically, the best pitcher in the South Atlantic League in the season’s first half in helping the Gnats to the Half Championship.  He finished his time in the SAL with three straight complete game shutouts with a crazy 10 hits, four walks and 22 strikeouts in 27 innings.  After allowing Cohoon to compete in the SAL All-Star game, the Mets skipped the 22-year old over the Florida State League straight to double-A Binghamton.

Cohoon had trouble with the aggressive assignment in his first month in double-A, but recovered with a very strong finish. After his first seven starts for Binghamton, he owned a 7.24 ERA and was giving up 12.2 hits per nine innings with a walk rate of 2.8 BB/9.  Cohoon’s final six starts were overwhelming: 1.63 ERA, 38.2 IP, 30 H, 5 BB and 30 strikeouts.  He dropped his walk rate to 1.2 BB/9 and returned to his stingy ways in the hit department with 7.0 H/9.  All the while, his strikeout rate remained consistent in the 7 K/9 range.

Dr. Pangloss Says: Durable, back-end lefty starter.

Debbie Downer Says: Up and down guy who never holds a lengthy MLB job on a winning team.

Projected 2011 Start: AA-Binghamton.

MLB Arrival: The bet here is that Cohoon will be very effective in AA in 2011, just as he was to end 2010.  He’ll be pitching in AAA before the minor league all-star break. It really is possible, depending on the Mets playoff possibilities, other injuries and everything else that happens in a baseball season, that he gets a look this September 2011.  Otherwise, he’ll see Citi Field in 2012.