Cole RJ Irvin (born January 31, 1994) is an American professional

baseball Baseball is a bat-and-ball games, bat-and-ball sport played between two team sport, teams of nine players each, taking turns batting (baseball), batting and Fielding (baseball), fielding. The game occurs over the course of several Pitch ...

pitcher In baseball, the pitcher is the player who throws ("Pitch (baseball), pitches") the Baseball (ball), baseball from the pitcher's mound toward the catcher to begin each play, with the goal of out (baseball), retiring a batter (baseball), batter, ...

for the

Doosan Bears The Doosan Bears () are a South Korean professional baseball team based in Seoul. Founded in 1982, they are a member of the KBO League. The Bears have won six Korean Series titles (1982, 1995, 2001, 2015, 2016, and 2019) and play their home game ...

of the

KBO League The KBO League () is a professional baseball league in South Korea. The league comprises ten teams. The KBO League was founded with six franchises in 1982 and is the most popular sports league in South Korea. The Kia Tigers are the most success ...

. He has previously played in

Major League Baseball Major League Baseball (MLB) is a professional baseball league composed of 30 teams, divided equally between the National League (baseball), National League (NL) and the American League (AL), with 29 in the United States and 1 in Canada. MLB i ...

(MLB) for the

Philadelphia Phillies The Philadelphia Phillies are an American professional baseball team based in Philadelphia. The Phillies compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the National League (NL) East Division. Since 2004, the team's home stadium has ...

Oakland Athletics The Oakland Athletics (frequently referred to as the Oakland A's) were an American Major League Baseball (MLB) team based in Oakland, California from 1968 to 2024. The Athletics were a member club of the American League (AL) American League We ...

Baltimore Orioles The Baltimore Orioles (also known as the O's) are an American professional baseball team based in Baltimore. The Orioles compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the American League (AL) East Division. As one of the America ...

, and

Minnesota Twins The Minnesota Twins are an American professional baseball team based in Minneapolis. The Twins compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the American League (AL) American League Central, Central Division. The team is named afte ...

. Irvin was drafted by the Phillies in the fifth round of the

2016 MLB draft The 2016 Major League Baseball draft began on June 9, 2016, to assign amateur baseball players to MLB teams. The draft order is the reverse order of the 2015 MLB season standings. In addition, compensation picks were distributed for players who ...

, and made his MLB debut with them in 2019. He pitched for the Athletics from 2021 to 2022.

Early life and amateur career

Irvin is from

Yorba Linda Yorba Linda is a suburban city in northeastern Orange County, California, United States, approximately southeast of downtown Los Angeles. It is part of the Los Angeles metropolitan area, and had a population of 68,336 at the 2020 census. Yorb ...

California California () is a U.S. state, state in the Western United States that lies on the West Coast of the United States, Pacific Coast. It borders Oregon to the north, Nevada and Arizona to the east, and shares Mexico–United States border, an ...

. He graduated from

Servite High School Servite High School is a private, Catholic The Catholic Church (), also known as the Roman Catholic Church, is the List of Christian denominations by number of members, largest Christian church, with 1.27 to 1.41 billion baptized ...

Anaheim, California Anaheim ( ) is a city in northern Orange County, California, United States, part of the Greater Los Angeles area. As of the 2020 United States census, 2020 census, the city had a population of 346,824, making it the most populous city in Orang ...

. As a junior, he posted a 1.40 ERA. After graduating, he was drafted in the 29th round of the

2012 Major League Baseball draft The 2012 Major League Baseball draft was held from June 4 through June 6, 2012, from Studio 42 of the MLB Network in Secaucus, New Jersey. The Houston Astros, with the first overall pick, selected Carlos Correa from the Puerto Rico Baseball Ac ...

by the

Toronto Blue Jays The Toronto Blue Jays are a Canadian professional baseball team based in Toronto. The Blue Jays compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the American League (AL) American League East, East Division. Since 1989, the team has p ...

, but he did not sign. That summer, Irvin played for the

Cowlitz Black Bears The Cowlitz Black Bears is an amateur baseball team located in Longview, Washington. They play in the West Coast League, a collegiate summer baseball league. The league comprises teams from Canada, Oregon, and Washington. The team's home field ...

of the

West Coast League The West Coast League (WCL) is a collegiate summer baseball wooden bat league founded in 2005, comprising teams from Washington, Oregon, British Columbia, and Alberta. The WCL was previously named the West Coast Collegiate Baseball League (WCCB ...

, pitching to 5-1 record with a 2.56 ERA. After not signing with Toronto, Irvin enrolled at the

University of Oregon The University of Oregon (UO, U of O or Oregon) is a Public university, public research university in Eugene, Oregon, United States. Founded in 1876, the university is organized into nine colleges and schools and offers 420 undergraduate and gra ...

where he played

college baseball College baseball is baseball that is played by Student athlete, student-athletes at institutions of higher education. In the United States, college baseball is sanctioned mainly by the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA); in Japan, ...

for the

Oregon Ducks The Oregon Ducks are the College sports in the United States, intercollegiate athletic teams that represent the University of Oregon, located in Eugene, Oregon, Eugene. The Ducks compete at the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) NCA ...

. In 2013, as a freshman, he went 12–3 with a 2.48 ERA in 116 innings (second most in school history) while striking out sixty batters, and was named a freshman All-American by

Louisville Slugger Louisville is the most populous city in the Commonwealth of Kentucky, sixth-most populous city in the Southeast, and the 27th-most-populous city in the United States. By land area, it is the country's 24th-largest city; however, by populatio ...

, ''

Baseball America ''Baseball America'' (BA) is a sports publication company that covers baseball at every level, including Major League Baseball (MLB), with a particular focus on up-and-coming players in Minor League Baseball (MiLB) college, high school, and inte ...

'', Perfect Game, and the

NCBWA The National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association (NCBWA) is an association of baseball writers, broadcasters, and publicists in the United States. It was founded in 1962. The NCBWA compiles a preseason ranking of the top 30 teams in the na ...

, along with earning

Pac-12 The Pac-12 Conference is a collegiate athletic conference in the Western United States. It participates at the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Division I level for all sports, and its football teams compete in the Football Bowl ...

honorable mention. Prior to the 2014 season, Irvin underwent

Tommy John surgery Ulnar collateral ligament reconstruction, sometimes referred to as Tommy John surgery is a surgical graft procedure where the ulnar collateral ligament in the medial elbow is replaced with either a tendon from elsewhere in the patient's body, ...

and was forced to miss the year. He returned to pitching in 2015, going 2–5 with a 4.10 ERA over 79 innings. In 2016, as a redshirt junior, he was named to the

Pac-12 Conference The Pac-12 Conference is a collegiate List of NCAA conferences, athletic conference in the Western United States. It participates at the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) NCAA Division I, Division I level for all sports, and its Co ...

First Team after compiling a 6–4 record with a 3.17 ERA while striking out 93 and walking only 16 over 105 innings.

Professional career

Philadelphia Phillies

Irvin was drafted by the

in the fifth round (137th overall) of the

2016 Major League Baseball draft The 2016 Major League Baseball draft began on June 9, 2016, to assign amateur baseball players to MLB teams. The draft order is the reverse order of the 2015 MLB season standings. In addition, compensation picks were distributed for players who ...

, signing for $800,000. After signing, he was assigned to the

Williamsport Crosscutters The Williamsport Crosscutters are a collegiate summer baseball team of the MLB Draft League. They are located in Williamsport, Pennsylvania, and play their home games at Journey Bank Ballpark at Historic Bowman Field. From 1994 to 2020, they w ...

and he spent the whole season there, going 5–1 with a 1.97 ERA in ten games (seven starts). In 2017, he pitched for both the

Clearwater Threshers The Clearwater Threshers are a Minor League Baseball team of the Florida State League and the Single-A affiliate of the Philadelphia Phillies. They are located in Clearwater, Florida, and have played their home games at BayCare Ballpark since 20 ...

and

Reading Fightin Phils The Reading Fightin Phils (also called the Reading Fightins) are a Minor League Baseball team based in Reading, Pennsylvania, playing in the Northeast Division of the Eastern League. The team plays their home games at FirstEnergy Stadium. The R ...

, compiling a 9–9 record and 3.39 ERA over 26 games (25 starts) between both teams. With Clearwater, he was named a

Florida State League The Florida State League (FSL) is a Minor League Baseball league based in the state of Florida. Having been classified at various levels throughout its existence, it operated at Class A-Advanced from 1990 until its demotion to Single-A following ...

All-Star. In 2018, Irvin played for the

Lehigh Valley IronPigs The Lehigh Valley IronPigs are a Minor League Baseball team of the International League (IL) and the Triple-A affiliate of the Philadelphia Phillies. They are located in Allentown, Pennsylvania, and they are named in reference to pig iron, used ...

, pitching to a 14–4 record (leading the

International League The International League (IL) is a Minor League Baseball league that operates in the United States. Along with the Pacific Coast League, it is one of two leagues playing at the Triple-A (baseball), Triple-A level, which is one grade below Major ...

(IL) in wins, and setting a franchise record), leading all

Class AAA Triple-A (officially Class AAA) has been the highest level of play in Minor League Baseball in the United States since 1946. Currently, two leagues operate at the Triple-A level, the International League (IL) and the Pacific Coast League (PCL). ...

pitchers in both ERA (2.57) and WHIP (1.054) over 26 games (25 starts). He was named the International League's Most Valuable Pitcher, as well as a mid-season All-Star (starting the All-Star Game) along with being named Pitcher of the Week twice throughout the season. In 2019 with Lehigh Valley, Irvin was 6-1 with a 3.94 ERA, appearing in 17 games (16 starts), while pitching 93 innings, and yielding 14 walks. His 1.3 walks/9 innings ratio tied for the second-best in the International League. Irvin was promoted to the major leagues for the first time on May 12, 2019, and made his big league debut that day. He pitched seven innings, giving up one earned run, and earning his first MLB win. Irvin’s 2019 Phillies stat line included a 2-1 record with one save and a 5.83 ERA while appearing in 16 games (three starts), and pitching 41 innings. In 2020, Irvin only pitched in three games, notching a 17.18 ERA with four strikeouts over 3 innings pitched.

Oakland Athletics

On January 30, 2021, the Phillies traded Irvin to the

in exchange for cash considerations. In 2021, Irvin posted a 10–15 record with a 4.24 ERA in innings over 32 starts. He led the American League in losses (15) and hits allowed (195). The following year, he improved his ERA, lowering it to 3.98 over 181 innings.

Baltimore Orioles

On January 26, 2023, the Athletics traded Irvin to the

with right-handed pitcher Kyle Virbitsky in exchange for infielder Darell Hernáiz. Irvin began the season in the O's rotation but struggled and was ultimately sent down to the Triple-A

Norfolk Tides The Norfolk Tides are a Minor League Baseball team of the International League and the Triple-A (baseball), Triple-A affiliate of the Baltimore Orioles. They are located in Norfolk, Virginia, and are named in nautical reference to the city's loc ...

. He was brought back up, but as a reliever. He finished 1-4 in 24 games (12 starts) for Baltimore. During the 2024 season, Irvin was brought up from Triple-A as a reliever, but was added to the starting rotation after the Orioles lost several starters to injuries. In 21 games (14 starts), he compiled a 6–5 record and 4.85 ERA with 66 strikeouts across innings pitched. Irvin was

designated for assignment Designated for assignment (DFA) is a contractual term used in Major League Baseball (MLB). A player who is designated for assignment is immediately removed from the team's 40-man roster, after which the team must, within seven days, return the pla ...

by the Orioles on July 30, 2024. He cleared waivers and was sent outright to Norfolk on August 2. On August 21, the Orioles selected Irvin's, adding him to their active roster. After four more appearances for the Orioles, Irvin was designated for assignment on September 15.

Minnesota Twins

On September 16, 2024, Irvin was claimed off waivers by the

. In 4 games for the Twins, he struggled to a 12.27 ERA with 2 strikeouts over innings pitched. Irvin was designated for assignment by Minnesota on September 25. He cleared waivers and was sent outright to the Triple-A

St. Paul Saints The St. Paul Saints are a Minor League Baseball team of the International League and the Triple-A affiliate of the Minnesota Twins. They are located in Saint Paul, Minnesota, and have played their home games at CHS Field since 2015. They previ ...

on September 28. Irvin elected free agency on October 1.

Doosan Bears

On November 15, 2024, Irvin signed a one-year, $1 million deal with the

of the

Personal

Irvin completed his undergraduate degree in sociology in three and a half years. He is the owner of Swirvin Limited, which began as a maker of custom

fishing rod A fishing rod or fishing pole is a long, thin rod used by angling, anglers to fishing, catch fish by manipulating a fishing line, line ending in a fish hook, hook (formerly known as an ''angle'', hence the term "angling"). At its most basic ...

s but has branched out into apparel and other merchandise carrying the company's logo.Montemurro, Meghan (May 17, 2019)
"Meet 'Swirvin Irvin': How Phillies pitcher Cole Irvin connects through gaming, streaming and his brand"
''The Athletic''. Retrieved January 26, 2023.

References

External links

{{DEFAULTSORT:Irvin, Cole 1994 births Living people 21st-century American sportsmen American expatriate baseball players in South Korea Baltimore Orioles players Baseball players from Orange County, California Clearwater Threshers players Doosan Bears players Lehigh Valley IronPigs players Major League Baseball pitchers Minnesota Twins players Norfolk Tides players Oakland Athletics players Oregon Ducks baseball players Philadelphia Phillies players Reading Fightin Phils players Servite High School alumni Sportspeople from Yorba Linda, California Williamsport Crosscutters players