RHP Caleb Cotham
Of the four prospects mentioned here, Caleb Cotham is the only one of the four that has some Major League experience up to this point. Originally drafted in the 5th round (165th overall) of the 2009 draft, the 28-year-old right hander got his first taste the majors in 2015 after parts of seven seasons in the minor leagues. Cotham was never a top prospect, and has similarly had slow development like Davis, as mentioned above.
In 2015, Cotham spent time in Double A, Triple A, and with the big league club in the Bronx. In Double A, Cotham pitched 26 innings, finishing with a 2.77 ERA and a 2.42 FIP, with a K/9 of 10.73. Based on this performance, Cotham was quickly promoted to Triple A, where he threw 31 innings, good for a 1.74 ERA and 2.32 FIP. His K/9 fell to under 9 but his walk rate fell from near three to under two. Finally, Cotham was promoted to the Bronx, where he finished with a 6.52 ERA in just 9 and 2/3 innings at the big league level. Even with his struggles, Cotham still sported a K/9 over 10 and a BB/9 under 1.
After beginning his professional career as a starter, Cotham was used almost exclusively as a reliever in 2015. With a new team in Cincinnati, it is unclear whether the Reds will use him in that same capacity, or attempt to transition him back to a starting role going forward. Cotham sits in the low 90s with his fastball and has several strong secondary offerings. Cotham has greatly improved his overall control in a bullpen role, and should continue that success going forward.
