Billy Cook Bio
William Monroe Cook is an American professional baseball first baseman and outfielder for the Pittsburgh Pirates of Major League Baseball (MLB). Born on January 7, 1999, Cook played college baseball at Pepperdine before being drafted by the Baltimore Orioles in 2021. He reached the major leagues with the Pirates in 2024 and has continued to develop as a power-hitting corner player with speed on the basepaths.
Standing 6-foot-3, Cook bats and throws left-handed, giving him a profile that fits the modern corner-outfielder mold. After his college career at Pepperdine, where he earned All-West Coast Conference First Team honors, Cook advanced steadily through Baltimore’s farm system before being traded to Pittsburgh midseason in 2024.
Early Life and Background
Cook attended Lewis-Palmer High School in Monument, Colorado, where he played baseball and grew into a college recruit. His time at Lewis-Palmer helped lay the foundation for his transition to elite-level amateur baseball on the West Coast.
After high school, Cook committed to Pepperdine University in Malibu, California, where he played college baseball from 2018 to 2021. As a Wave, he developed into one of the program’s most productive hitters, combining power at the plate with the speed to impact the basepaths. In his senior season, he was recognized as one of the top players in the West Coast Conference (WCC).
Path to Baseball
Cook’s college trajectory at Pepperdine was steady and productive. Over his career with the Waves, he hit for a .286 batting average with 26 home runs, establishing himself as a middle-of-the-order bat with pop. In 2021, his senior year, Cook was named to the All-WCC First Team, a recognition that helped raise his profile ahead of the MLB Draft.
That summer, the Baltimore Orioles selected Cook in the 10th round, with the 287th overall pick, of the 2021 Major League Baseball Draft. The selection launched his professional career and gave him an organizational home with one of the most respected player-development systems in the sport.
Billy Cook Career
Early Career (2021–2022)
Cook began his professional career in the Baltimore Orioles system in 2021, splitting his first season between the rookie-level Gulf Coast League Orioles and the Single-A Delmarva Shorebirds. Across 29 total appearances, he hit .263 with six home runs, 29 runs batted in (RBI), and 10 stolen bases, flashing the offensive tools that had defined his college profile.
In 2022, Cook advanced to the High-A Aberdeen IronBirds, where he played a full 113-game season. He batted .221/.298/.422 with 15 home runs, 65 RBI, and 25 stolen bases, showing the power-speed combination that scouts had projected. The season gave him valuable everyday playing experience and prepared him for promotion to the upper minors.
Baltimore Orioles Era (2023–2024)
Cook spent the 2023 season with the Double-A Bowie Baysox, where he posted his strongest minor-league campaign to date. He slashed .251/.320/.456 and set career highs with 24 home runs, 81 RBI, and 30 stolen bases, demonstrating growth as a complete offensive player. The production at Bowie positioned him as a rising prospect within the organization.
He opened 2024 back with Bowie, hitting .255/.365/.392 with one home run and 10 RBI over 15 games before earning a promotion to the Triple-A Norfolk Tides in late April. In 70 games at Norfolk, Cook batted .279/.372/.485 with 11 home runs, 43 RBI, and 12 stolen bases, cementing himself as a 40-man roster candidate.
Pittsburgh Pirates Era (2024–Present)
On July 30, 2024, the Orioles traded Cook to the Pittsburgh Pirates in exchange for Patrick Reilly. After the deal, he reported to the Triple-A Indianapolis Indians, where he played 30 games and slashed .276/.389/.486 with five home runs, 21 RBI, and nine stolen bases. On September 8, the Pirates selected his contract to the 40-man roster and promoted him to the major leagues for the first time.
Cook made his MLB debut that September and quickly delivered a signature moment. On September 18, he hit his first career home run, a three-run shot off St. Louis Cardinals reliever Matthew Liberatore. In 16 games with the Pirates during his rookie campaign, Cook batted .225/.225/.449 with three home runs and eight RBI, striking out 19 times in 49 at-bats.
To begin 2025, the Pirates optioned Cook to Triple-A Indianapolis, where he continued to refine his approach at the plate. He remains a depth option at first base and in the outfield corners for Pittsburgh, valued for his left-handed power and athleticism.
Notable Events and Milestones
Cook’s most memorable early moment came on September 18, 2024, when he launched his first MLB home run against the Cardinals. His trade to the Pirates on July 30, 2024, marked the start of his major-league chapter, and his September call-up confirmed his standing as a prospect on the rise within the organization.
Billy Cook Career Wins
Cook’s professional resume is built on offensive production rather than championship wins, with standout seasons at Single-A Delmarva, High-A Aberdeen, Double-A Bowie, and Triple-A Norfolk and Indianapolis. His career-high 24 home runs at Bowie in 2023 stands as his most prolific power season to date.
Minor League Highlights
Cook’s top minor-league seasons came in 2023, when he set career highs across the board with Bowie, and in 2024 at Norfolk, where he hit 11 home runs in 70 games. He also produced a .276/.389/.486 line with Indianapolis after his midseason trade, reinforcing his offensive identity as a power-speed threat.
MLB Highlights
Cook’s MLB highlights are anchored by his September 2024 debut with the Pirates and his first career home run against the Cardinals. Through his first major-league action, he collected three home runs and eight RBI while playing corner positions.
Billy Cook Family
Family Background and Racing Lineage
Publicly available information about Cook’s family background is limited, and no verified details about his parents or extended family have been confirmed for publication.
Personal Life
Cook, who goes by Billy in everyday settings, is in the early stages of his major-league career and is known primarily through his on-field accomplishments. No public details about a spouse or children are currently verified.
2025 Season Performance
Cook began the 2025 season with the Triple-A Indianapolis Indians after being optioned by the Pirates. The assignment gave him a chance to refine his plate discipline and on-base skills after his September 2024 debut in the majors. Through his early-season work at Indianapolis, he has continued to play both corner outfield and first base, giving Pittsburgh positional flexibility whenever he is recalled.
Cook’s role in 2025 is expected to evolve as the Pirates monitor his development against major-league pitching. With left-handed power and base-running ability still central to his profile, he represents a depth option who can be called up to fill in at first base or in the outfield corners.
Looking ahead, Cook’s priority is establishing the consistency needed to remain a factor in the Pirates’ plans. His combination of power and speed, demonstrated across multiple levels of the minors, gives him a foundation to build on as he pursues a more permanent place in Pittsburgh’s big-league lineup.
