Jake Cousins to Become First Penn Alum in 112 Years to Play in World Series

Jake Cousins, a 2017 graduate of the University of Pennsylvania, is set to make history as the first Penn alum to play in a World Series in 112 years. The 30-year-old right-hander, who is now a pivotal member of the New York Yankees‘ bullpen, will take the field when the Yankees face the Los Angeles Dodgers in Game 1 of the World Series on Friday.

Cousins’ journey to the World Series has been marked by resilience and dedication. After being drafted in the 20th round by the Washington Nationals in 2017, his time with the Nationals was plagued by injuries, leading to his release in 2019. He then signed with the Schaumburg Boomers of the independent Frontier League, where he recorded a 0.47 ERA over 19⅔ innings, catching the attention of the Milwaukee Brewers. The Brewers called him up from triple-A Nashville in June 2021, and he did not allow a run in his first 17 appearances.

After being placed on waivers by the Brewers in July 2023, Cousins bounced between the Houston Astros and Chicago White Sox organizations before being traded to the Yankees for cash considerations in March. This move seems to have finally given him a stable position, as he has been a crucial part of the Yankees’ bullpen this season, posting a 2.37 ERA in 37 games and striking out 53 batters in 38 innings.

Cousins’ performance has been inspirational for the Penn baseball program. Penn baseball coach John Yurkow, who has 14 framed photos of his former players who signed Major League Baseball contracts in his office, will now be able to point to Cousins as an example of where the program can take its players. Current Penn senior pitcher Marshall Mott expressed excitement and inspiration from Cousins’ achievement, noting that it shows what a player from Penn can achieve.

The last Penn alum to play in a World Series was Stephen Yerkes, a Red Sox infielder who scored the winning run in Game 8 of the 1912 series. Cousins’ participation in the World Series is a significant milestone for both him and the Penn baseball program, highlighting the potential within collegiate programs like Penn’s).