​After two fantastic seasons in Baton Rouge, Zac Cowan’s collegiate career came to a close. On Sunday afternoon, the Cleveland Guardians selected him 573rd overall in the 19th round. After spending his first two years at Wofford, Cowan transferred to LSU for his junior season in 2025, where he became instrumental in the Tigers’ push to Omaha. He followed in the footsteps of Kade Anderson and Anthony Eyanson, picking up where each left off and forming a lethal combination with either of the future big‑league pitchers on LSU’s staff.
In a postgame press conference earlier this season, I asked Jay Johnson about Cowan’s importance to the team. Johnson gestured toward the National Championship trophies perched atop our team meeting room and said, “Zac Cowan is a top‑three reason that we have one of those trophies up there.” That comment underscored Cowan’s impact, not just in the moment but in the broader arc of LSU’s most successful seasons.
Although 2026 presented its challenges for the team, Cowan remained true to his identity as a pitcher. The senior experienced a slow start, but he found his footing during SEC play and reaffirmed himself as one of LSU’s most dependable arms. For a stretch of the season, he posted the lowest ERA in league play among all pitchers, a testament to his consistency and the trust his coaches placed in him when the stakes were highest.
In two seasons with the Tigers, Cowan compiled a 6-6 record across 96.0 innings pitched, recording a 4.03 ERA. He fanned 111 hitters while walking just 24, highlighting his control and strike-throwing ability. Style-wise, Cowan embodies the classic, old‑school pitcher. He didn’t blow people away with a blazing fastball, sitting in the 90–92 mph range, but he paired that velocity with a devastating changeup—the best off-speed offering on LSU’s staff—and used it to keep hitters off balance.
Looking ahead, Cowan will likely need to add an extra pitch to his repertoire if he hopes to reach the MLB level with greater consistency. Nevertheless, the Guardians are acquiring a competitor with an exceptional mindset and a proven track record of stepping up when it matters most. They’re getting a player who embraces the mental side of the game, carries leadership traits, and has repeatedly shown the ability to close gaps and deliver when called upon.
Cowan’s journey—from Wofford to LSU and onto professional baseball with Cleveland—speaks to a blend of perseverance, poise, and preparation. It’s the story of a pitcher who refined his craft, maximized his strengths, and thrived in high‑pressure environments. As he begins the next chapter, Cowan’s combination of discipline, competitive fire, and a refined pitching IQ should serve him well in the Guardians’ development system and beyond.