Neal James Cotts is a left-handed Major League Baseball pitcher who is currently in the Texas Rangers organization. Cotts attended Illinois State University, and won first-team All-Missouri Valley Conference honors and was named to the ABCA All-Midwest Region team. He was drafted by the Oakland Athletics 69th overall in the 2nd round of the 2001 draft, becoming the second highest player drafted in the history of Illinois State. Neal finished his collegiate career ranked fifth all-time in strikeouts with 263 in just three seasons with the Redbirds. Cotts spent the 2002 season at Single-A... Modesto of the California League, winning 12 games in 28 starts. Over the off-season, Cotts was traded to the Chicago White Sox in a six-player deal involving relief pitchers Billy Koch and Keith Foulke. Cotts began the 2003 season ranked as the number three prospect in the White Sox farm system. He started his year at Double-A Birmingham, of the Southern League, going 9-6 with a 2.12 ERA, and 131 strikeouts. In July 2003, Cotts started for the United States in Major League Baseball's Futures Game.
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| Birthdate: | March 25, 1980 |
| Birthplace: | Lebanon, Illinois |
| Age: | 32 |
| Height: | 6' 2" |
| Weight: | 200 lbs. |
| All Positions Played: | Pitcher, Relief pitcher |