Gamecocks’ hard-throwing baseball signee ready for draft possibilities, future
Michael Lewis didn’t have a chance to coach Magdiel Cotto for long, but it was long enough to make a big impression.
Lewis was the junior varsity baseball coach at Nation Ford High School last year when Cotto moved back from Pittsburgh to South Carolina before the start of the season. In the offseason, Lewis was moved to varsity coach and watched Cotto, who hasn’t turned 18 yet, blossom during a coronavirus-shortened season and emerge as a Major League Baseball Draft prospect with plenty of potential.
“He is just starting. There is plenty more in the tank,” Lewis said. ”I think somebody is going to take a chance and I don’t think it would be a big chance. Nothing but upside.”
In a normal year, there would be no debate that the 6-foot-4, left-handed Cotto would be selected in the MLB Draft, which is usually 40 rounds. But it’s been anything but a normal spring with the COVID-19 pandemic shutting sports around the country since March.
Cotto’s senior season at Nation Ford ended early because of the coronavirus.
Last month, MLB announced the draft will be five rounds. The first round of the draft is Wednesday, with rounds two through five on Thursday.
“My world was kind of rocked when my high school season ended, so I knew some drastic things were going to change with draft,” Cotto said. “It is exciting and any kid’s dream to hear their name called for the MLB Draft — all these hours, days and months of countless work I put in.”
“It will pay off either three years down the line playing in college at one of the best teams in the SEC, or it is in a few days. I am excited for whatever opportunity arises.”
Cotto is ranked No. 189 on MLB Pipeline’s Top 200 best prospects for this year’s draft.
If Cotto isn’t drafted, he will enroll at South Carolina in August where he plans to room with Chapin pitcher Cade Austin and South Aiken’s Sam Swygert. He committed to the Gamecocks in the summer of 2018 before his junior year.
Cotto said he’s put a high value on the college experience and playing for the Gamecocks, but that would change if he’s drafted.
Cotto has been in contact with USC coach Mark Kingston and pitching coach Skylar Meade during this process. If he ends up at USC, he is part of a talented incoming class that is ranked No. 7 nationally by Perfect Game.
“Whenever you step foot on campus, you will know that you want to be there. I went to coach Kingston and I thought I can definitely see myself playing here. Had a visit and went to a game,” Cotto said. “(Coach Meade) sees me as a guy that I can get innings as a freshman. I’m a hard worker and understand there are guys that have been there. But I am going to go in there, put my work in and get my innings as a freshman. That is my plan.”
Cotto had a breakout performance at the Super 60 Showcase in February, where his fastball was clocked between 92-94 mph. During a recent throwing session, Cotto hit 95 mph on several occasions.
Cotto also spent time during the quarantine working on his body. He lost eight pounds and is down to 230 to go along his 6-foot-4 frame.
He said he grew up idolizing lefties Clayton Kershaw and Chris Sale, and describes himself as a power pitcher who likes to go at hitters and not pitch around them.
“He is a competitor, period,” said Spring Valley baseball coach Matthew Hill, who faced Cotto this year. “Big league slider from the left slide. Easy, effortless delivery with a fastball that he can put on both sides of the plate.”
Cotto appeared in six games on the mound in his junior year and was off to a good start for his senior year before the season got canceled. He had a 1.54 ERA in four games and struck out 27 of the 53 batters he faced.
MLB scouts attended all four games Cotto pitched this season. He had in-home visits with 12 teams, including the Chicago White Sox, Chicago Cubs, Pittsburgh Pirates, Seattle Mariners and Cleveland Indians.
“Scouts I have met are great people, and they care to get to know you on a personal level,” Cotto said. “This whole process has been enjoyable and I’m excited to see what the future holds.”
Watch: 2020 Major League Baseball Draft
When: Wednesday-Thursday
TV: 7 p.m. on Wednesday (ESPN, MLB Network), 5 p.m. Thursday (ESPN2, MLB Network). MLB.com will stream both days of the draft.
This story was originally published June 10, 2020 at 1:49 PM.
