The off-season is still about baseball for Cale Coshow, but with new meaning.
The pitcher, the Yankees 28th best prospect as ranked by MLB.com, traveled to Nicaragua, in the city of Susuma with his church mission group, in part, to give kids a chance to learn baseball from a professional.
Coshow split his time in 2015 playing with High-A Tampa and Double-A Trenton, after being drafted in the 13th round by the Yankees out of Oklahoma Christian in 2013. He’s often shared bible verses and uplifting thoughts on Twitter, so it’s likely no surprise to those that know him that he’d choose to participate in a faith-based endeavor.
Coshow spoke about his mission experience so far (he arrived Monday and leaves Saturday), as well as what the driving factors were in making his decision:
How Trip Transpired: The head of missions at my church had been wanting to do something that involved baseball here in Matagalpa, Nicaragua. I prayed about it and thought it would be a fantastic place to serve. Really an eye opening experience.
"The main focus of the work is to just spend time with the people and share love. My church is helping with a church and school here in Susuma, Nicaragua and I got to spend hours just hanging out with the kids and parents, walking through their streets in the mountain, playing catch and ground balls with them and even doing a little dancing with the girls."
Baseball-Motivated: That's why I was brought here. Baseball is the national sport and the professional team in Matagalpa actually just won the championship for their league. And sports is one of the easiest ways to reach kids.
Winter Workouts: Yes, I am still able to keep up with my off season program. Still keeping the arm fresh, and I got to run around with Manny and Rolando, 2 and 10 year old boys and they wore me out.
"What I hope with my time is to simply show the love that God has shown me. I'm not forceful with it, but all these people in tough countries are looking for one thing, and that's love. I strive to make at least five people smile or laugh a day, and here it's the exact same principle. People no matter was race, ethnicity, background, rich/poor deserved to be loved."
You can follow Coshow on Twitter @c_coshow
Find past stories on this blog about Coshow by searching his name in the archive.