SURPRISE, Ariz. — Jharel Cotton came within an out of throwing a perfect game in a start for Triple-A Nashville last season.
His outing Friday night in an 11-7 spring training win over the Kansas City Royals wasn’t quite as exciting, but was impressive nonetheless for the 25-year-old who now projects as the team’s No. 3 starter to open the year.
Cotton retired the first nine Royals he faced before walking Alex Gordon to lead off the fourth. He rebounded with a strikeout of Mike Moustakas — his fifth strikeout of the night — before departing following 3 1/3 innings of hitless work.