From the Bartlesville Examiner...
Way sees blessing in season-ending injury last year
There’s the easy way.
There’s the hard way.
There’s the rugged way.
And, there’s the Cole Way.
Destiny has not been easy for Way — a former Tulsa Union and University of Tulsa football player — in his pursuit of a Major League dream.
Hard and rugged — but rewarding — has defined Way’s twisting and rocky path the past two years in minor league baseball.But, instead of being dejected, Way has been energized by adversity.
The 6-foot-10 lefthander spoke both about last year’s challenges — and his future hopes — during a visit Tuesday to the Bartlesville Adult Chapter of the Fellowship of Christian Athletes.
Despite missing most of last season in Class A ball — in the Kansas City Royals’ farm season — due to an arm injury, Way is completely recovered and looking forward next month to reporting back for his third year with the Royals’ organization.
“Hopefully, I’ll finish this next season with the high ‘A’ club (Wilmington, Del.), “ said Way, who has labored the past two years with the Royals’ rookie ‘A’ team in Burlington, N.C.
During the 2014 campaign, Way pitched just 10 innings and came away with an 0-1 record in seven relief appearances.
Going into the 2015 summer, the Royals switched Way’s assignment to a starting pitcher.
He collected a win in just his second outing at Burlington. But, during the third start, he noticed something wrong and …
Well, more about that in a minute.
Way’s internal fire burns as hot as ever to make it to the Big Show.
“I love Kansas City,” he said. “I’d love to be in the big leagues at Kansas City. I love everything about Kansas City. Kauffman Stadium is awesome. … I want to spend five to seven years in the big leagues and be a history teacher.”
The unbroken thread through Way’s endeavors is his religious faith.
It’s what sustained him — and defined his circuitous journey to his current profession.
As an older teenager, he suffered an arm condition that seemed to permanently derail his yearnings to play baseball for pay and he switched athletic gears to college football — as a kicker — at Tulsa.
But, on a trip a few years ago to California — to serve as best man at his brother Tress Way’s wedding — Way met a Royals’ scout, who also happened to be Tress’ new father-in-law.
That chance — or destined? — encounter resulted in a look by the Royals at Cole’s pitching.
And, that led to him being drafted — in the 38th round — in 2014, by the Royals.Way had to surrender his senior year of college football in order to begin his pro baseball career.
Following limited action in 2014, Way received an invitation to return last year.
On July 3, 2015, he earned his first minor league win, in four innings of two-hit, one-run ball.
Way then made his first start on July 8.
“Things were going great,” said Way, adding the scripture he had chosen as his personal theme for the summer was Isaiah 6:8: “Also I heard the voice of the Lord, saying, Whom shall I send, and who will go for us? Then said I, Here am I; send me.” (KJV).
In fact, he scratched out that scripture on the dirt behind the mound during his appearances.
During that third start, Way said he sensed something was wrong when a batter fouled off his inside fastball.
He learned later his hummer had creased the air at only 81 miles per hour — more than 10 miles slower than normal.
“I threw 81 when I was 14 years old,” he told the FCA audience. “My next three pitches went maybe 55 feet. I couldn’t get it there (to the plate).”
As Way left the mound, his left arm locked up and remained for five days at a 74-degree angle.
The medical staff determined Way didn’t require surgery, but he was sent to Arizona for several months of rehabilitation.
“I thought, ‘This isn’t fair,’” he said about his situation. “I remember looking back at the verse I had chosen. … I was looking for a blessing coming out of it.”
The blessing — at least most of it — ended up being embodied in the person of Mark Davis. Davis — a former Cy Young Award winner — spent every day with Way during the healing process.
“I learned more about pitching from hanging out with Mark Davis than I had in my life,” Way said. “I also got to catch with a big league guy. … I got so much better with rehab than I would have had pitching a full season. … It was a huge blessing.”
At the end of his rehabilitation, Way threw 10 recovery innings to prove to the Royals he was healthy.
“That was probably the best I’ve pitched since I’ve been with the organization,” he said. “The rehab experienced changed my whole approach to pitching.”
In fact, Way said he may be ahead of the track that could see him land in the majors.
He challenged the people in the Bartlesville audience that when they bump against a painful obstacle to “be still and know the Lord is doing something.”
Way — who will turn 25 next October — estimated that if everything goes well he could make it in two or three years to the Major Leagues.
He said he wants to have that experience “even if its just one pitch.”
Way also spoke about his brother Tress, who is the star punter for the Washington Redskins.
Tress — an undrafted free agent who was cut twice before he caught on with Washington — is averaging 46.6 yards per punt through his first two years in the NFL. He also serves as team captain, Cole said.
Way sees blessing in season-ending injury last year
There’s the easy way.
There’s the hard way.
There’s the rugged way.
And, there’s the Cole Way.
Destiny has not been easy for Way — a former Tulsa Union and University of Tulsa football player — in his pursuit of a Major League dream.
Hard and rugged — but rewarding — has defined Way’s twisting and rocky path the past two years in minor league baseball.But, instead of being dejected, Way has been energized by adversity.
The 6-foot-10 lefthander spoke both about last year’s challenges — and his future hopes — during a visit Tuesday to the Bartlesville Adult Chapter of the Fellowship of Christian Athletes.
Despite missing most of last season in Class A ball — in the Kansas City Royals’ farm season — due to an arm injury, Way is completely recovered and looking forward next month to reporting back for his third year with the Royals’ organization.
“Hopefully, I’ll finish this next season with the high ‘A’ club (Wilmington, Del.), “ said Way, who has labored the past two years with the Royals’ rookie ‘A’ team in Burlington, N.C.
During the 2014 campaign, Way pitched just 10 innings and came away with an 0-1 record in seven relief appearances.
Going into the 2015 summer, the Royals switched Way’s assignment to a starting pitcher.
He collected a win in just his second outing at Burlington. But, during the third start, he noticed something wrong and …
Well, more about that in a minute.
Way’s internal fire burns as hot as ever to make it to the Big Show.
“I love Kansas City,” he said. “I’d love to be in the big leagues at Kansas City. I love everything about Kansas City. Kauffman Stadium is awesome. … I want to spend five to seven years in the big leagues and be a history teacher.”
The unbroken thread through Way’s endeavors is his religious faith.
It’s what sustained him — and defined his circuitous journey to his current profession.
As an older teenager, he suffered an arm condition that seemed to permanently derail his yearnings to play baseball for pay and he switched athletic gears to college football — as a kicker — at Tulsa.
But, on a trip a few years ago to California — to serve as best man at his brother Tress Way’s wedding — Way met a Royals’ scout, who also happened to be Tress’ new father-in-law.
That chance — or destined? — encounter resulted in a look by the Royals at Cole’s pitching.
And, that led to him being drafted — in the 38th round — in 2014, by the Royals.Way had to surrender his senior year of college football in order to begin his pro baseball career.
Following limited action in 2014, Way received an invitation to return last year.
On July 3, 2015, he earned his first minor league win, in four innings of two-hit, one-run ball.
Way then made his first start on July 8.
“Things were going great,” said Way, adding the scripture he had chosen as his personal theme for the summer was Isaiah 6:8: “Also I heard the voice of the Lord, saying, Whom shall I send, and who will go for us? Then said I, Here am I; send me.” (KJV).
In fact, he scratched out that scripture on the dirt behind the mound during his appearances.
During that third start, Way said he sensed something was wrong when a batter fouled off his inside fastball.
He learned later his hummer had creased the air at only 81 miles per hour — more than 10 miles slower than normal.
“I threw 81 when I was 14 years old,” he told the FCA audience. “My next three pitches went maybe 55 feet. I couldn’t get it there (to the plate).”
As Way left the mound, his left arm locked up and remained for five days at a 74-degree angle.
The medical staff determined Way didn’t require surgery, but he was sent to Arizona for several months of rehabilitation.
“I thought, ‘This isn’t fair,’” he said about his situation. “I remember looking back at the verse I had chosen. … I was looking for a blessing coming out of it.”
The blessing — at least most of it — ended up being embodied in the person of Mark Davis. Davis — a former Cy Young Award winner — spent every day with Way during the healing process.
“I learned more about pitching from hanging out with Mark Davis than I had in my life,” Way said. “I also got to catch with a big league guy. … I got so much better with rehab than I would have had pitching a full season. … It was a huge blessing.”
At the end of his rehabilitation, Way threw 10 recovery innings to prove to the Royals he was healthy.
“That was probably the best I’ve pitched since I’ve been with the organization,” he said. “The rehab experienced changed my whole approach to pitching.”
In fact, Way said he may be ahead of the track that could see him land in the majors.
He challenged the people in the Bartlesville audience that when they bump against a painful obstacle to “be still and know the Lord is doing something.”
Way — who will turn 25 next October — estimated that if everything goes well he could make it in two or three years to the Major Leagues.
He said he wants to have that experience “even if its just one pitch.”
Way also spoke about his brother Tress, who is the star punter for the Washington Redskins.
Tress — an undrafted free agent who was cut twice before he caught on with Washington — is averaging 46.6 yards per punt through his first two years in the NFL. He also serves as team captain, Cole said.
