Dennis Cook
Dennis Bryan Cook (born October 4, 1962) is an American former professional baseball pitcher and coach who played fifteen seasons in Major League Baseball (MLB) from 1988 to 2002, primarily as a left-handed reliever and occasional starter.[1] Over his career, he appeared in 665 games across nine teams, recording a 64–46 win–loss record, a 3.92 earned run average (ERA), and 739 strikeouts in 1,001⅓ innings pitched.[2] Cook contributed to two World Series championships—as a key postseason performer for the 1997 Florida Marlins and as a regular-season member of the 2002 Anaheim Angels—while also reaching the playoffs with the 1996 Texas Rangers, 1999 New York Mets, and 2000 New York Mets.[1] Since retiring, he has pursued coaching roles, including as the manager of the Chatham Anglers in the Cape Cod Baseball League starting in 2025. In 2025, as manager, the Anglers concluded their season with notable individual awards but did not advance to playoffs.[3][4] Born in La Marque, Texas, Cook grew up in nearby Dickinson, where he excelled in baseball at Dickinson High School, graduating in 1981 under coach Dale Westmoreland.[1] He attended Angelina College in Lufkin, Texas, for two years before transferring to the University of Texas at Austin, where he played as a pitcher and outfielder from 1983 to 1985.[1] During his time with the Longhorns, Cook earned All-Southwest Conference honors as a utility outfielder and participated in the College World Series in both 1984 and 1985.[1] Selected by the San Francisco Giants in the 18th round of the 1985 MLB Draft (446th overall), he signed and began his professional career in the minors, debuting in MLB with the Giants on September 12, 1988.[2] Cook's MLB journey spanned multiple franchises, reflecting his versatility as a swingman capable of starting or relieving.[1] He spent his first two seasons with the Giants (1988–1989), including their National League Championship Series appearance, before trades took him to the Philadelphia Phillies (1989–1990, 2001), Los Angeles Dodgers (1990–1991), Cleveland Indians (1992–1995), Chicago White Sox (1994), Texas Rangers (1995–1996), Florida Marlins (1997), New York Mets (1998–2001), and Anaheim Angels (2002).[2] One of his standout seasons came in 1998 with the Mets, where he led the team with 73 appearances and a 2.38 ERA.[1] In the 1997 postseason with the Marlins, Cook made 7 appearances across three series, posting a 2–0 record with a 0.00 ERA over 10⅓ innings, including crucial relief outings that helped secure the franchise's first World Series title against the Cleveland Indians.[5] Following his playing career, Cook transitioned to coaching, initially serving as a volunteer assistant at the University of Texas in 2003 and later at Lake Travis High School in Austin.[1] He gained international experience as a coach for the Swedish national team at the 2009 World Baseball Classic, the 2010 and 2012 European Championships, and the 2014 European Championship.[1] Cook also consulted for Germany's pitching staff during their 2017 World Baseball Classic qualifier and returned to the Cape Cod League as pitching coach for the Chatham Anglers starting in 2018.[1] In 2025, he was promoted to manager of the Anglers, bringing stability to the program after prior managerial turnover and leveraging his four years of prior experience with the team.[4] A resident of the Austin area, Cook is married to Tammy since 1992 and has three children, including triplets born in 1998; his sons Asher and Dawson have pursued college baseball.[1]Early life and amateur career
Early life and family
Dennis Cook was born on October 4, 1962, in La Marque, Texas, a small city in the Houston metropolitan area.[1] His parents were William Robert Cook and Janet Esther (Winquest) Cook.[1] Janet's grandparents had immigrated from Sweden to the United States, giving her full Swedish heritage.[6] The Cook family came from a working-class background in the Houston area, where opportunities for young athletes like Dennis were shaped by local resources and community influences rather than extensive early scouting.[1] He grew up in nearby Dickinson, where he developed an initial interest in sports, particularly baseball, beginning at around age eight through neighborhood play and local exposure.[1] This family-supported foundation in athletics naturally progressed into organized baseball during his high school years.[1]High school and junior college
Cook graduated from Dickinson High School in Dickinson, Texas, in 1981, where he participated in baseball under coach Dale Westmoreland.[1] Although not heavily recruited coming out of high school due to limited scout attention, he demonstrated potential as a multi-position player during his time on the Gators' team.[1] Following high school, Cook enrolled at Angelina Junior College in Lufkin, Texas, spending two years there from 1981 to 1983 and playing for the Roadrunners.[1] As a standout performer, he honed his skills as both an outfielder and pitcher, developing versatility across positions that became a hallmark of his early career.[7] During his sophomore year, Cook's abilities caught the attention of professional scouts, leading to his selection by the San Diego Padres in the sixth round of the 1983 MLB January Draft-Regular Phase.[8] Opting not to sign with the Padres, Cook chose to remain in school, playing summer baseball with the Alaska Goldpanners before transferring to the University of Texas to elevate his competition level.[1]University of Texas career
Dennis Cook enrolled at the University of Texas at Austin in 1983 after two seasons at Angelina College, where he primarily played as a utility outfielder during his collegiate career from 1984 to 1985.[1] As a versatile contributor for the Longhorns, Cook saw significant playing time in the outfield while also beginning to develop his pitching skills, marking an early transition from position player to a dual-role athlete that would define his professional path.[1] In 1984, Cook earned first-team All-Southwest Conference (All-SWC) honors as an outfielder, helping Texas win the SWC championship and advance to the College World Series as runners-up.[9] He was named Most Valuable Player of the NCAA Central Regional that year after delivering key hits, including a sacrifice fly that propelled the Longhorns to the College World Series.[1] The following season, Cook repeated as a first-team All-SWC outfielder and contributed to another SWC title and College World Series appearance, where he pitched five scoreless relief innings against Arkansas, showcasing his growing effectiveness on the mound.[9][1] Cook's college performance culminated in his selection by the San Francisco Giants in the 18th round (446th overall) of the 1985 MLB Draft, leading to his signing and entry into professional baseball.[2]Professional playing career
Draft and minor leagues
Cook was first selected in the 1983 Major League Baseball January Draft by the San Diego Padres in the sixth round out of Angelina College, but he did not sign and instead attended the University of Texas.[2] In the 1985 June Amateur Draft, he was chosen by the San Francisco Giants in the 18th round (446th overall pick) as a left-handed pitcher from the University of Texas, and he signed with the team under scout Andy Korenek.[1][2] This marked his entry into professional baseball, where he began developing as a starter in the Giants' farm system, transitioning from his college role as a utility outfielder to a dedicated pitching prospect.[1] Cook's professional debut came in 1985 with the Single-A Clinton Giants of the Midwest League, where he made 13 starts and posted a 5-4 record with a 3.36 ERA over 83 innings, striking out 40 batters while allowing 81 hits.[8][1] He advanced to High-A Fresno Suns in the California League for the 1986 season, refining his command as a starter with a 12-7 mark, 3.97 ERA, and career-high 173 strikeouts in 170 innings across 27 appearances (25 starts).[8][1] In 1987, Cook progressed to Double-A with the Shreveport Captains of the Texas League, excelling with a 9-2 record and 2.13 ERA in 16 starts, totaling 105.2 innings and 98 strikeouts, which earned him a midseason promotion to Triple-A Phoenix Firebirds in the Pacific Coast League.[8][1] At Phoenix, he adapted to higher competition with a 2-5 record and 5.23 ERA in 12 games (11 starts), logging 62 innings and 24 strikeouts.[8][1] Returning to Phoenix for the full 1988 season, Cook solidified his readiness for the majors, achieving an 11-9 record with a 3.88 ERA in 26 appearances (25 starts) over 141.1 innings and 110 strikeouts, though he missed time after July 27 due to cracked ribs before making two more outings.[8][1] The following year, his minor league preparation culminated in a major league debut with the Giants on September 12, 1988.[1]| Year | Team (Affiliate) | Level | W-L | ERA | G | GS | IP | SO |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1985 | Clinton Giants | A | 5-4 | 3.36 | 13 | 13 | 83.0 | 40 |
| 1986 | Fresno Suns | A+ | 12-7 | 3.97 | 27 | 25 | 170.0 | 173 |
| 1987 | Shreveport Captains | AA | 9-2 | 2.13 | 16 | 16 | 105.2 | 98 |
| 1987 | Phoenix Firebirds | AAA | 2-5 | 5.23 | 12 | 11 | 62.0 | 24 |
| 1988 | Phoenix Firebirds | AAA | 11-9 | 3.88 | 26 | 25 | 141.1 | 110 |