PITTSBURGH – Billy Cook is proving to be a hit in Pennsylvania.
The former Thunder Bay Border Cats infielder on Sunday made his debut with the Pirates, becoming the 15th former Cats player to make the jump to the major leagues, though a round of Fortnite delayed the news he’d be going to Steel City.
According to MLB.com, the 25-year-old was playing the video game with a former teammate in the Baltimore Orioles organization and let the first call from Triple-A Indianapolis manager Miguel Perez go to voicemail.
Perez gave Cook a choice – guarantee a home run Sunday playing in the minors, or head to Pittsburgh to join the Pirates.
"It meant everything,” Cook told MLB.com. “This is what I worked really hard for, dreamed about as a little kid, talked to my family and friends about. It still feels surreal to be here, but I'm glad it happened. We'll keep going. You get one debut, that's what they all say. It was definitely one to remember."
Cook, acquired at the trade deadline from Baltimore, went 2-for-4 in his debut, driving in a pair of runs, helping the Pirates down the Washington Nationals 7-3.
He spent the 2017 and 2018 seasons in Thunder Bay, hitting .287 with five home runs, four triples and 21 doubles. He also played for Wisconsin Rapids in 2020.
The Pepperdine University graduate was a 10th-round draft pick of the Baltimore Orioles in 2021.
Cook spent most of his time in the minors playing in the outfield, but an injury to Connor Joe necessitated the call-up and put him at first base in his first major league game.
“If you told me I’d play first base in my Major League debut last year, I’d say you’re crazy,” Cook told mlb.com. “So, there’s that little bit of expecting the unexpected. Everybody’s debut, they say, isn’t exactly how you’d expect it to go. That was kind of the hiccup in mine: As a primary outfielder who can play first, I wouldn’t expect the first game to be there, but we’ll make it work.
“As a utility guy, they see me as someone who can move around, being able to be in the lineup. If that’s at first or in the outfield, then I’ll do it.”
