Tom Cosgrove Bio
Thomas Cosgrove, known professionally as Tom Cosgrove, is an American professional baseball pitcher who is currently a free agent. Born on June 14, 1996, in Staten Island, New York, he has built his career as a left-handed relief pitcher in Major League Baseball (MLB), where he has pitched for the San Diego Padres and the Chicago Cubs. Cosgrove made his MLB debut in 2023 and has become recognized for his work out of the bullpen at the highest level of professional baseball in the United States.
Standing as a familiar name in the Padres organization from the 2017 MLB Draft through his trade in 2025, Cosgrove developed steadily through the minor leagues before earning a spot in the major leagues. His career path from a New York high school standout to a big-league reliever reflects years of perseverance across multiple levels of professional baseball.
Early Life and Background
Thomas Cosgrove was born and raised on Staten Island, New York, where he grew up surrounded by a strong baseball culture typical of the New York City region. He attended Monsignor Farrell High School, a well-known Catholic school on Staten Island with a long tradition of developing student-athletes. During his time at Monsignor Farrell, Cosgrove played on the school’s baseball team and began attracting the attention of college recruiters with his performance on the mound.
After completing high school, Cosgrove continued his education and athletic development at Manhattan College, a private institution located in The Bronx, New York. He played college baseball for the Manhattan Jaspers, the athletic program representing the school at the NCAA Division I level. His college experience allowed him to refine his pitching skills while competing against strong regional competition, preparing him for the next stage of his baseball career.
During the summer of 2016, Cosgrove played collegiate summer baseball in the prestigious Cape Cod Baseball League, one of the most respected amateur baseball leagues in the United States. He suited up for both the Wareham Gatemen and the Chatham Anglers, gaining valuable experience against top college talent from across the country. This summer exposure helped elevate his profile heading into his senior year at Manhattan College and the upcoming MLB Draft.
Path to Baseball
Tom Cosgrove’s path to professional baseball was shaped by consistent development at each level he played. Following his college career at Manhattan College and his summer in the Cape Cod League, he entered the 2017 Major League Baseball Draft as a polished left-handed pitcher with a strong track record. The San Diego Padres selected him in the 12th round, with the 348th overall pick, marking the official beginning of his professional career.
His progression through the Padres’ minor league system was gradual but steady, as he moved from the rookie-level Arizona League Padres to higher classifications each season. By 2022, after posting a strong 8-2 record with a 3.72 ERA across a career-high 48 appearances split between Double-A San Antonio and Triple-A El Paso, the Padres recognized his readiness for the major leagues. On November 15, 2022, the organization added Cosgrove to their 40-man roster to protect him from the Rule 5 Draft, signaling that his MLB debut was approaching.
Tom Cosgrove Career
Early Career (2017-2019)
Tom Cosgrove began his professional career in 2017 with the San Diego Padres organization after being drafted in the 12th round of that year’s MLB Draft. He split his first professional season between the rookie-level Arizona League Padres and the Low-A Tri-City Dust Devils, appearing in 13 games with 6 starts. In 44 and 2/3 innings pitched, he posted a 1-4 record with a 3.22 ERA and 41 strikeouts, showing flashes of his potential as a developing left-handed pitcher.
In 2018, Cosgrove advanced to the Single-A Fort Wayne TinCaps, where he took on a larger role as a starter. Across 24 appearances and 21 starts, he logged a 3-6 record with a 3.71 ERA and an impressive 122 strikeouts in 116 and 1/3 innings of work. His strikeout numbers highlighted his ability to miss bats consistently, though his win-loss record reflected the challenges of pitching for a developing team. The 2019 season was more limited for Cosgrove, as he made only 9 starts split between the AZL Padres and the High-A Lake Elsinore Storm before the year ended.
San Diego Padres Breakthrough (2020-2024)
The 2020 season brought an unexpected pause for Tom Cosgrove, as the minor league season was canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic, preventing him from making any official appearances that year. He returned to action in 2021 with the Double-A San Antonio Missions, where he appeared in 22 games and posted a strong 2.36 ERA with 32 strikeouts in 26 and 2/3 innings. The following year, in 2022, Cosgrove split the season between San Antonio and the Triple-A El Paso Chihuahuas, registering an 8-2 record and 3.72 ERA with 82 strikeouts across 48 appearances.
Cosgrove made his long-awaited Major League Baseball debut in 2023 after being promoted to the Padres on April 26 of that year. He went on to appear in 54 games during his rookie season, compiling a 1-2 record and an outstanding 1.75 ERA with 44 strikeouts and one save across 51 and 1/3 innings pitched. His excellent performance as a left-handed reliever made him a reliable option out of the San Diego bullpen during his first year in the big leagues.
In 2024, however, Cosgrove struggled to maintain his rookie success. He made 18 appearances for the Padres, posting an 0-1 record and an 11.66 ERA with 15 strikeouts over 14 and 2/3 innings. Despite the rough season, he remained a member of the Padres organization heading into the next year. Cosgrove was optioned to Triple-A El Paso to begin the 2025 season and made 4 appearances for the Chihuahuas, recording a 1-0 record and 7.36 ERA before being designated for assignment on April 6, 2025.
Chicago Cubs Era (2025)
On April 10, 2025, Tom Cosgrove was traded from the San Diego Padres to the Chicago Cubs in exchange for cash considerations. Following the trade, he was optioned to the Triple-A Iowa Cubs, the Cubs’ top minor league affiliate. The move to Chicago offered Cosgrove an opportunity to reset his career with a new organization and contribute to a contending National League roster.
In his brief time with the Cubs at the major league level, Cosgrove appeared in two games and recorded a strong 2.25 ERA with three strikeouts over four innings of work. Despite the limited sample size, his performance suggested he could still be an effective left-handed reliever in the big leagues. However, on August 31, 2025, the Cubs designated Cosgrove for assignment. He cleared waivers and was sent outright to Triple-A Iowa on September 3, 2025. Following the conclusion of the season, on November 6, 2025, Tom Cosgrove elected free agency, becoming available to sign with any team.
Driving Style and Strengths
As a left-handed relief pitcher, Tom Cosgrove has built his professional reputation on his ability to generate strikeouts and keep his ERA low in high-leverage situations. His collegiate and minor league track record, including a 122-strikeout season in 2018 and a sub-2.00 ERA during his 2023 MLB debut year, demonstrates his swing-and-miss stuff and competitiveness on the mound. Throughout his minor league journey, he has shown the ability to handle multiple roles, including both starting and relieving, which has given him versatility as a pitching option.
Notable Events and Milestones
One of the most significant milestones in Tom Cosgrove’s career came on April 26, 2023, when he was promoted to the major leagues for the first time and made his MLB debut with the San Diego Padres. His standout 2023 rookie season, in which he posted a 1.75 ERA across 54 appearances, stands as a career-defining year that established him as a legitimate big-league reliever. The trade to the Chicago Cubs in April 2025 marked another notable moment in his career, providing him with a fresh start and the chance to contribute to a new organization.
Tom Cosgrove Career Wins
Throughout his professional career, Tom Cosgrove has accumulated wins across multiple levels of professional baseball, from the rookie leagues to Major League Baseball. While his most decorated win totals came during the minor leagues, his major league career has included memorable performances, including his MLB debut season with the Padres in 2023. His victories reflect the steady development of a left-handed pitcher who worked his way through the Padres’ farm system before reaching the highest level of the sport.
MLB Highlights
In Major League Baseball, Tom Cosgrove’s most notable win came during his 2023 rookie season with the San Diego Padres, where he appeared in 54 games and recorded his first major league victory. His overall MLB record includes time with both the Padres and the Chicago Cubs, though his wins at the highest level remain limited compared to his extensive minor league track record. His first MLB win remains a milestone moment in a career that began in the low minor leagues in 2017.
Other Wins and Performances
During his time in the minor leagues, Tom Cosgrove posted an 8-2 record in 2022 split between Double-A San Antonio and Triple-A El Paso, marking one of his most successful professional seasons. Earlier, in 2017, he recorded his first professional win with the rookie-level Arizona League Padres and Low-A Tri-City Dust Devils, beginning the win column of his professional career.
Tom Cosgrove Family
Family Background and Racing Lineage
Tom Cosgrove was raised on Staten Island, New York, in a community known for producing dedicated athletes across multiple sports. He attended Monsignor Farrell High School, a Catholic school with a strong athletic tradition, where he developed his baseball skills before continuing his career at Manhattan College. Details about his parents and immediate family remain limited in publicly available sources.
Personal Life
Tom Cosgrove was born Thomas Cosgrove on June 14, 1996, in Staten Island, New York, where he continues to maintain ties to his hometown community. Public information regarding his marital status, spouse, or children is not widely documented. As of late 2025, Cosgrove is a free agent, giving him the opportunity to evaluate his options for the next chapter of his professional baseball career.
2025 Season Performance
The 2025 season represented a transitional year for Tom Cosgrove, beginning with his time in the San Diego Padres organization before shifting to a new opportunity with the Chicago Cubs. He started the year with the Triple-A El Paso Chihuahuas, posting a 1-0 record and 7.36 ERA in 4 appearances before being designated for assignment by the Padres on April 6, 2025. Just days later, on April 10, 2025, the Chicago Cubs acquired him in exchange for cash considerations, providing him with a fresh start in a new organization.
With the Cubs, Cosgrove was optioned to the Triple-A Iowa Cubs, where he worked to re-establish his performance. He appeared in two games at the major league level for Chicago, recording a strong 2.25 ERA with three strikeouts over four innings of work. Despite the positive results, the Cubs designated him for assignment on August 31, 2025, and he was sent outright to Triple-A Iowa after clearing waivers.
Following the conclusion of the 2025 season, Tom Cosgrove elected free agency on November 6, 2025, officially ending his tenure with the Cubs organization. As he enters the next phase of his career as a free agent, Cosgrove will look to build on the encouraging performance he showed in his brief appearances with Chicago. His experience as a left-handed reliever with a strong 2023 debut season still positions him as a potential contributor for a club in need of bullpen depth.