OKLAHOMA CITY (April 19, 2022) – Cale Coshow carried the Oklahoma Christian baseball banner farther than any former player in the professional ranks, making it all the way to the Triple-A level, one step from the major leagues.

But Coshow said Tuesday in posts on Facebook and Twitter he's ending his pro baseball career after nine seasons. The big-right handed pitcher played last season in the Detroit Tigers' minor-league system, spending the campaign with the Double-A Erie SeaWolves, but had found no takers this year for another run at making the big leagues.

In a letter titled, "Dear Baseball," the 29-year-old Coshow said he was blessed to have played in the "iconic pinstripes" of the New York Yankees and in the Tigers' system.

"I've gotten to play with some of the best in the game and I will miss all the moments with my teammates, from the daily competition grind, to the bus rides, way too many stories to tell," he said. "To all the coaches, development staff and other workers; I thank you for allowing me to become the best player I could possibly be.

"My only hope is that I impacted more lives off the field than I did on the mound, from the Miracle League in Trenton to reading to kids in Scranton; I thoroughly enjoyed every second. As of today, I'm walking away from that game I love. Not sure what my future holds, but I know Who holds it."

Coshow, a former star at Deer Creek High School in Edmond, went 2-0 as a freshman at Oklahoma in 2012 before transferring to OC. In 2013, he was one of new coach Lonny Cobble's prime additions to the Eagles' roster and became one of OC's top starters. He went 3-5 with a 4.56 ERA, helping the Eagles win the National Christian College Athletic Association Central Region title and qualify for the NCCAA World Series.

In 13 appearances (all starts) for the Eagles, he pitched 73 innings with 69 strikeouts, 28 walks and two complete games.

Selected out of OC by the Yankees in the 13th round of the 2013 Major League Baseball draft, Coshow spent seven years in their minor-league system, rising to the Triple-A level – just one step from the major leagues – in 2017, 2018 and 2019, when he played for the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders. Coshow, the first former OC player ever to play in both Double-A and Triple-A, was a non-roster invitee to the Yankees' spring-training camp in the latter two seasons.

While with the Yankees' Double-A affiliate, the Trenton Thunder, in 2016 and 2017, Coshow twice received the Samuel J. Plumeri, Sr. Community Service Award, recognizing the pitcher's service off the field. The Thunder's team management selected the winner and made Coshow the first two-time recipient of the honor, which has been presented annually since 1999.

He suffered a season-ending arm injury in May 2019 and underwent Tommy John surgery soon after. He briefly returned in 2020 for a stint in independent pro baseball with the Fargo-Moorhead RedHawks of the American Association.

In 2021, he spent the entire season in Erie, making 33 appearances (all in relief) and posting a 5-1 record with seven saves, a 4.13 ERA and 57 strikeouts in 48 innings. He recorded his most wins in a season since 2015 (when he had a total of nine with three teams) and his most saves since recording a total of 15 with two teams in 2017.

Over his minor-league career, Coshow made 224 appearances and posted a 23-29 record with 41 saves and a 3.73 ERA. He struck out 443 batters in 439 innings of work.

Since leaving OC, Coshow has been a loyal alum, often coming back to campus to work out or to help promote the program.

Coshow's retirement leaves only one former OC player in affiliated pro baseball – Hunter Markwardt, who now plays for the Philadelphia Phillies' Double-A affiliate, the Reading Fightin' Phils.