SAN ANTONIO — M.P. Cokinos is starting to become a common name in the minors.
The former Rattler Baseball star earned a spot on the California League Postseason All-Star Team after playing a lights-out season for the Lancaster JetHawks, the Houston Astros' Class Advanced-A affiliate.
Cokinos, who was named All-American for his one season behind the plate for the Rattlers in 2012, is wrapping up his second season in the minors, leading the California League as one of its top players.
In June and July this summer, he led all of Minor League Baseball for RBIs and had the highest batting average for the month of June after smacking .392. During his spree in June, Cokinos earned the California League's Offensive Player of the Week award.
Cokinos earned a spot on the All-Star Team because of his power at the plate, as he became a regular starter for the JetHawks, frequenting the designed hitter hole. But he also showcased his versatility throughout the season, playing several positions — from catcher to first base to left field — to earn the utility spot on the All-Star Team.
Picked up by the Astros in the 31st round of the First-Year Player Draft in 2012, the Houston native finished the 101-game Cal League season batting .304 with a stout 90 RBIs. He smacked 13 home runs on the season, totaled 26 doubles and 68 runs scored.
Before advancing to the Lancaster JetHawks, Cokinos played for the Tri-City Valley Cats for one season.
St. Mary's University, as a Catholic Marianist University, fosters the formation of people in faith and educates leaders for the common good through community service, integrated liberal arts and professional education, and academic excellence. The University has six athletic national titles: men's basketball (1989–NAIA), baseball (2001–NCAA Div. II), softball (1986–NAIA and 2002–NCAA Div. II) and an individual national champion in men's golf (2006–NCAA Div. II) and a national academic championship in men's golf (2009–NCAA Div. II). St. Mary's also had more than 40 percent of its athletes named to conference, regional and/or national honor rolls this past year. St. Mary's student–athletes graduation rate is 65 percent, higher than the NCAA Division II average of 55 percent. To learn more about St. Mary's, visit www.rattlerathletics.com.
