5 Questions With Zack Cozart

The Cincinnati Reds Caravan stopped in Cool Springs last week and we sat down with Reds shortstop and Williamson County resident Zack Cozart. A native of Collierville, Cozart turned down the MLB out of high school to play baseball at Ole Miss, where he led the Rebels to four NCAA tournament appearances and three NCAA Super Regional appearances. After his collegiate career, Cozart was drafted by the Reds in the 2007 MLB Draft. Cozart would make his major league debut in 2011. 2014 would see Cozart be nominated for the Gold Glove for National League shortstops. Last season was his best statistical season in the majors before a slide into first would cause Cozart to tear ligaments and tendons in his right knee and undergo season-ending surgery.

1.We have a good number of major league players the area. What brought you to Williamson County?

Well, I’m from Memphis, so I’m a Tennessee boy anyways. My best friend [former UT baseball player] Andy Simunic lives here. I wanted to come up here and hang out with him. We fell in love with Nashville. We love Cool Springs. We live in Brentwood. I like the fact you can kind of be out in the country, but you can come to Cool Springs and have everything you want. It’s a good spot to be.

2.Last year, you had a good start to the season before your injury. How’s your recovery been?

Recovery’s good. I’m good. I do everything. I run, take ground balls, hit, lift heavy. I feel better now than I have in a long, long time. It’s been a long process, but I’m feeling really good.

3.You personally played in college. The NCAA adopted a new rule this year where drafted players could speak with agents without affecting their collegiate eligibility. What do you think about these rules?

I hope the agents don’t talk the guys into going pro when they don’t need to go pro. I don’t know if that’s going to Zack Cozarthappen. That’s the only thing I could see is the agents going , “Hey, I think you need to do this,” and they might persuade a young 18-year old that might not sign for as much to go pro. I loved college. I tell kids all the time if they ask me about the experience, I say go to college, hands down.

4.There have been talks of Major League Baseball expansion. Nashville is on the short list of potential new cities. Do you think Nashville will ever get a team?

I wish. I think the city does great with the Predators and they would draw well in baseball. The city loves its sports with the Titans and Predators. It’s a great city. I know a lot of guys who would want Nashville to have a team. I think it’s a good market in a good location. Tennessee doesn’t have a major league team. You have the Braves, the Reds, and the Cardinals. It’s time to make Nashville have a big league team. I’d be up for it. It’d be awesome.

5.Finally, what are your predictions for the team and yourself this season?

I think we’re going to surprise some people. We have a lot of young guys. Young guys can surprise you in the right way. We had guys last year that got really valuable experience that can prove themselves again this year, so I think we could surprise some people. We’re in a tough division, no doubt. But it’s a challenge for us we’re ready to accept.

As for myself, I expect to pick up where I left off. I feel great physically, now it’s just getting back into baseball shape and getting out to Arizona and getting after it.