Pepperdine Graphic

Former Wave Makes Major League Debut

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Billy Cook, alumnus ('21) and former Pepperdine Baseball infielder ('18-'21), on the diamond playing first base for the Waves, at Eddy D. Field Stadium. Cook would also play first base in his Major League debut. Photos courtesy of Pepperdine Athletics
Billy Cook, alumnus ('21) and former Pepperdine Baseball infielder ('18-'21), on the diamond playing first base for the Waves, at Eddy D. Field Stadium. Cook would also play first base in his Major League debut. Photos courtesy of Pepperdine Athletics

Billy Cook, alumnus (’21) and former Pepperdine Baseball infielder (’18-’21), was called up to the Pittsburgh Pirates on Sept. 8.

Cook, a Utah native, arrived at Pepperdine in 2018 and had a productive rookie season. In his freshman season, he posted a .248 clip in 44 games with 29 hits and 13 RBI while slugging .325 in 117 at-bats, according to Pepperdine Athletics.

Each year he only got better. In his senior season, Cook played in 33 games posting a .298 average with 39 hits, 17 home runs and 42 RBI — all while slugging .725 by seasons end.

In his four seasons as a Wave, Cook played in 122 games, hit at a .286 average across 413 at-bats and held a slugging percentage of .552. He tallied 118 hits in that span with 26 homers and 90 RBI.

Cook preps his swing in a game against Gonzaga on April 17, 2021, at Eddy D. Field Stadium. The Waves walked this game off 4-3, and in the series Cook recorded a homer over the Bulldogs, ending his '21 season with 17 in total.
Cook preps his swing in a game against Gonzaga on April 17, 2021, at Eddy D. Field Stadium. The Waves walked this game off 4-3, and in the series Cook recorded a homer over the Bulldogs, ending his '21 season with 17 in total.

As a fielder, Cook was near perfect, posting a fielding percentage of .985 — even posting a flawless 1.000 in his final two seasons. Cook recorded 465 total putouts with 57 fielding assists and only eight errors in his entire Pepperdine career, according to Pepperdine Athletics.

In the 2021 MLB Draft, the Baltimore Orioles selected Cook in the 10th Round. In Baltimore’s system, Cook rose the ranks fairly quickly, and in 85 games between Double-A and Single-A in 2024, he posted a .275 average and a 120 WRC+, while being ranked the No. 28 prospect in their farm by MLB Pipeline.

In the middle of his great season, he was shipped off. On July 30, the Orioles and the Pirates agreed on a trade that would send Cook to the Pirates in exchange for Pittsburgh’s No. 20 prospect, right-handed pitcher Patrick Reilly, according to MLB.

Cook readies an explosive swing against the University of Akron on Feb. 20, 2020, at Eddy D. Field Stadium. Cook's swing resulted in a 389-foot homer, ending the short '20 campaign with four.
Cook readies an explosive swing against the University of Akron on Feb. 20, 2020, at Eddy D. Field Stadium. Cook's swing resulted in a 389-foot homer, ending the short '20 campaign with four.

A little over one month later, Cook got the call to the big leagues and suited up for the Pirates against the Washington Nationals on Sept. 8, at PNC Park.

In a 7-3 win over the Nationals, Cook went 2-4 with a ground-rule double, a base knock and two RBI. His double came in the first notching not only his first career MLB hit, but also his first two career RBI, helping the Pirates jump to a 4-1 lead.

He also made a sparkling catch while playing first base ending the day with a win in an impressive debut.

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Email Justin Rodriguez: justin.rodriguez@pepperdine.edu