From the ever so popular Bonner County Daily Bee...
Not many athletes get to choose between playing pro baseball or college football.
But there was Cole Way, sitting in his parents’ living room, wondering if he’d be selected in the 2014 MLB draft. If not, he’d likely return for his senior year at Tulsa. As a punter.
Way almost lost faith, but he finally heard his name called in the 38th round. The Kansas City Royals selected him, causing the living room to fill with hugs and tears.
“(The Royals) called me right after that and were like, ‘Hey, we’re serious about you,’ ” Way said. “I told them right there, ‘I’m in.’ ”
Two years and a $50,000 signing bonus later, Way is pitching for the Idaho Falls Chukars. At 24, the left-hander is one of the oldest players on I.F.’s roster. But in baseball years, he’s one of the youngest.
“I feel like I’m growing, maturing in the game like I need to be doing,” Way said.
Perhaps more surprising than Way’s path from punter to pitcher is that he was a punter to begin with. He’s 6-foot-11.
Way became a punter because of his brother Tress, who is heading into his third season as the starting punter for the Washington Redskins. Cole juggled baseball and football scholarship offers entering his senior year at Union High School in Tulsa, Okla. Watching Tress thrive at the University of Oklahoma helped sway Way toward football.
“Being a little brother, I was like, ‘Well if he can do it, I’m gonna do it,’ ” Way said.
A group of Way’s friends chose to attend Tulsa, so Way’s decision became easy. Tress believes Way could have gone to a bigger school if he attended more football camps in high school.
“Out of high school, Cole was probably the best punter in the country,” Tress said. “Cole was a better punter than I was.”
Way grew three inches after his junior season at Tulsa in 2013. In May 2014, he traveled to Corona, Calif., to visit Tress’ future in-laws, which included former Seattle Mariner Brian Turang. Turang, who owns a training facility in Corona, heard Way was a pitcher in high school and asked him to pitch for the first time in three years. Turang’s radar gun clocked Way’s fastball from 89 and 92 miles per hour.
Turang recommended Way to a Southern California-based Royals scout, who brought Way in for a workout, according to MLB.com. The scout was also impressed, and Way was invited to a Royals pre-draft workout.
A week after the workout, Way sat in his parents’ living room listening to the MLB draft feed on a laptop. If Way wasn’t drafted but signed as a free agent, he’d consider balancing baseball with his final season at Tulsa. That consideration went out the window when the Royals selected him.
Tress told his brother that baseball was a no-brainer. As impressive as Way was as a punter, Tress gushed even more about his pitching ability.
“I try telling people how good he was in high school. Anytime he stepped on the mound, guys never touched the ball,” Tress said. “We all had a pretty good idea what God created him to do.”
Last year with Burlington, Way overextended his elbow three weeks into last season and missed the rest of it. He entered this summer healthy, and he’s posted a 3.18 ERA in 5.2 innings so far.
Pitching coach Jeff Suppan is impressed with Way’s stuff and temperament. Way’s football career rarely comes up.
“He doesn’t really say he was a punter,” Suppan said. “He just says he was on the football team.”
Way knows he’s raw compared to most minor-league pitchers, so he’s patient. He’s just grateful the Royals gave him a shot.
“Hopefully I can live up to the expectations of what they saw,” Way said.
Not many athletes get to choose between playing pro baseball or college football.
But there was Cole Way, sitting in his parents’ living room, wondering if he’d be selected in the 2014 MLB draft. If not, he’d likely return for his senior year at Tulsa. As a punter.
Way almost lost faith, but he finally heard his name called in the 38th round. The Kansas City Royals selected him, causing the living room to fill with hugs and tears.
“(The Royals) called me right after that and were like, ‘Hey, we’re serious about you,’ ” Way said. “I told them right there, ‘I’m in.’ ”
Two years and a $50,000 signing bonus later, Way is pitching for the Idaho Falls Chukars. At 24, the left-hander is one of the oldest players on I.F.’s roster. But in baseball years, he’s one of the youngest.
“I feel like I’m growing, maturing in the game like I need to be doing,” Way said.
Perhaps more surprising than Way’s path from punter to pitcher is that he was a punter to begin with. He’s 6-foot-11.
Way became a punter because of his brother Tress, who is heading into his third season as the starting punter for the Washington Redskins. Cole juggled baseball and football scholarship offers entering his senior year at Union High School in Tulsa, Okla. Watching Tress thrive at the University of Oklahoma helped sway Way toward football.
“Being a little brother, I was like, ‘Well if he can do it, I’m gonna do it,’ ” Way said.
A group of Way’s friends chose to attend Tulsa, so Way’s decision became easy. Tress believes Way could have gone to a bigger school if he attended more football camps in high school.
“Out of high school, Cole was probably the best punter in the country,” Tress said. “Cole was a better punter than I was.”
Way grew three inches after his junior season at Tulsa in 2013. In May 2014, he traveled to Corona, Calif., to visit Tress’ future in-laws, which included former Seattle Mariner Brian Turang. Turang, who owns a training facility in Corona, heard Way was a pitcher in high school and asked him to pitch for the first time in three years. Turang’s radar gun clocked Way’s fastball from 89 and 92 miles per hour.
Turang recommended Way to a Southern California-based Royals scout, who brought Way in for a workout, according to MLB.com. The scout was also impressed, and Way was invited to a Royals pre-draft workout.
A week after the workout, Way sat in his parents’ living room listening to the MLB draft feed on a laptop. If Way wasn’t drafted but signed as a free agent, he’d consider balancing baseball with his final season at Tulsa. That consideration went out the window when the Royals selected him.
Tress told his brother that baseball was a no-brainer. As impressive as Way was as a punter, Tress gushed even more about his pitching ability.
“I try telling people how good he was in high school. Anytime he stepped on the mound, guys never touched the ball,” Tress said. “We all had a pretty good idea what God created him to do.”
Last year with Burlington, Way overextended his elbow three weeks into last season and missed the rest of it. He entered this summer healthy, and he’s posted a 3.18 ERA in 5.2 innings so far.
Pitching coach Jeff Suppan is impressed with Way’s stuff and temperament. Way’s football career rarely comes up.
“He doesn’t really say he was a punter,” Suppan said. “He just says he was on the football team.”
Way knows he’s raw compared to most minor-league pitchers, so he’s patient. He’s just grateful the Royals gave him a shot.
“Hopefully I can live up to the expectations of what they saw,” Way said.
