Hard work paying off for Latrobe’s Kokoska
Stretching back to his early playing days, Zach Kokoska can’t remember ever playing just one position in baseball.
When he was younger, he’d pitch and play some first base. Now a senior at Latrobe, the left-handed two-way prospect pitches and plays outfield for the Wildcats. Having bounced around the diamond since he was 7, pulling double duty doesn’t throw him off.
“My head’s always in it, and I know what each player on the field should be doing in certain situations,” Kokoska said. “It’s not really a challenge to me — I kind of like it.”
Kokoska, who signed with Virginia Tech in November, hit .367 and seven triples his sophomore season with a 3.18 ERA in 24.2 innings. He added a .456 average and two home runs his junior year with a 3.46 ERA in 30.1 innings. Kokoska was invited to the 2017 Super 60 showcase in February, running a 6.59 60yard dash, throwing 90 mph from the outfield and a 90 mph fastball.
Kokoska sees playing both outfield and pitcher as an advantage when considering his 2017 MLB draft odds in June. Through Latrobe’s first seven games this year, he’s hitting .600 with 14 RBIs and has a 1.75 ERA through eight innings.
“It definitely doubles the chances of draftability,” Kokoska said. “I think a lot of scouts like the idea of an athlete and not just a machine to do the work, and being able to play any position they put you in.”
According to Latrobe coach Matt Basciano, Kokoska’s work ethic allows him to continue as a two-way player. In addition to his own practice time, Kokoska volunteers to help younger players work out and improve.
“He’s never satisfied, he’s always working to improve, and that’s really come through this season and shown that leadership to the underclassmen,” Basciano said.
As a small business owner, Kokoska’s dad, Scott, can remember skipping lunch on work days to take his son to the baseball fields to practice. He’d never turn Kokoska’s request for a workout down, but Kokoska would have to come to him of his own volition.
Having hard work translate to success was ingrained in Zach from a young age, his dad said.
“It has its ups and downs and everything else and in life, nothing’s really handed to you,” Scott said. “You earn everything. Nobody’s going to give you everything. He’s always had a really strong work ethic.”
Virginia Tech coaches have discussed Kokoska playing two ways in college, his dad said, along with professional scouts approaching him for both positions. The Dodgers local scout likes him as a position player, but a director-level scout liked him as a pitcher, he said.
So no matter Kokoska’s position or next stop, his philosophy shouldn’t really change. That mindset makes it easier to play normally when there are five guys with radar guns watching Kokoska’s games.
“Just go play,” Scott tells him. “Just have fun. You have a good home to go to in Virginia Tech, everything else is gravy. If you have a really great year and somebody makes you an offer you can’t refuse, then you’ve got to basically consider it, because that’s what you want to do, ultimately.”
Meanwhile, until someone tells Kokoska to stick to one position, he’ll keep doing what he’s done for as long as he can remember.
“I really like doing both, so I want to continue to do both until someone tells me to do a single position,” Kokoska said.