"He has tremendous speed, very strong and he has a tremendous arm," Smallwood told The Times-Journal. "His weakest point is his hitting, but he can improve on that as time goes on."
Cofer played at that point as an infielder. But the Indians tested out Cofer's arm, turning him into a pitcher. His pitching career lasted three seasons. He made high-A.
Cofer's career began that year in 1988, signed by the Indians as an undrafted free agent out of the University of Montevallo in Alabama.
Cofer started with the Indians in the rookie Gulf Coast League, as an infielder. He hit .259 in 45 games.
Cofer then isn't credited as playing in 1989, but he returned for 1990, as a pitcher. He saw 15 appearances between the GCL and short-season Watertown. He went 1-2 over 15 games, two starts, with a 4.01 ERA.
He moved to single-A Columbus for 1991. He saw 41 relief outings there, with a 7-3 record and a 2.62 ERA. He also had 12 saves.
He picked up his sixth save that year in a May contest, getting it on a key sacrifice bunt attempt where he threw out the lead runner, The Columbus Ledger-Enquirer wrote.
"It wasn't routine," Cofer told The Ledger-Enquirer of the bunt play. "(But) I was a middle infielder, so I came up throwing."
Cofer started 1992 at high-A Kinston, but moved mid-season to the Brewers and single-A Beloit. He went 1-2, in 12 outings at Beloit, with a 5.09 ERA to end his career.
Cofer soon returned home to Alabama, coaching his children and others. In October 2023, he passed away at the age of 57.
Updated April 2024
Made the Majors:1,384-32.8%
Never Made Majors:2,835-67.2%-X
5+ Seasons in the Majors:562
10+ Seasons in the Minors:345
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