Two-Time Draftee Transfers to BYU

Hard-throwing pitcher Taylor Cole is transferring to BYU for his sophomore season after serving a mission.

The 6-2, 210 righthander from Las Vegas was drafted in the 26th round by the Los Angeles Dodgers in 2007 and returns the end of this month from a mission to Toronto, Ontario.

Cole originally signed a letter of intent out of Bishop Gorman High as a pitcher/shortstop with BYU in 2006, then opted to play for the College of Southern Nevada after being recruited by Arizona State, Arizona, Pepperdine, Hawaii and Kansas State.

“We are ecstatic to have Taylor Cole join our baseball team," said BYU coach Vance Law. "He has such great natural ability and a great work ethic to become the best that he can be that I have confidence that he will step right in and make a major contribution to our program.

"He is the kind of young man who will make others around him better as well. Fans will be just as excited once they see him take the mound for the Cougars this year. By him choosing to attend BYU, we now have an even more experienced and talented pitching staff. He has the ability to dominate games.”

At CSN he compiled a 10-3 record with a 1.37 ERA in 92 innings, striking out 87 batters in 16 appearances. In that freshman 2008 season he was the Scenic West Conference Pitcher of the Year and was a Second Team All-American, having been clocked at 96 mph. Following that season he was also drafted by the Arizona Diamondbacks in the 31st round of 2008.

Cole was the 2007 Nevada State Gatorade Player of the year and his prep team was two-time state champion.