Sports
Dearborn Native Plays Ball in Japan
From T-ball games in his yard, Alex Cowart has taken his love of baseball all the way to a position on the Tokushima Indigo Sox.
For one graduate, Opening Day had a whole new meaning this April.
While his family back in Dearborn watched the Tigers play their first game of the season, 23-year-old Alex Cowart was playing his own first game–for the Tokushima Indigo Sox in Japan.
It's been a lifelong goal for Cowart to play baseball professionally.
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"I was first interested in playing baseball when I was very young," Cowart said. "My dad would set up a tee that I would hit off of or a tennis ball attached to a string that I would hit–as young as two or three years old."
David Cowart, Alex's father, said he "definitely pushed him when he was young" to pursue baseball.
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And sports run in the family. Sister Danielle plays basketball at the . Brother Cody is involved in sports at Edsel. And David Cowart has some baseball history of his own: he was a bat boy for the Detroit Tigers in the '80s, including when they won the 1984 World Series.
Cowart clearly passed his love of baseball down to his son, who has played nearly his whole life.
Alex Cowart played on Edsel's team until graduating in 2006; as well as at Adrian College, where he graduated from in 2010. He played several positions, but particularly shined as a pitcher, throwing as fast as 93 miles per hour.
His arm took him to several stints on teams in California and Louisiana, and got him in front of a Boston Red Sox scout, who said he had potential as a pitcher. Then he got the offer that took him to Japan.
"I decided to go to Japan because I met a very trustworthy, honest Japanese person, who is currently my agent, that offered me a opportunity in Japan," Cowart said. "I had other offers in the United States but I trust my Japanese friend and the goals we set."
Cowart said he may have other dreams, too.
"I wouldn't mind playing in the MLB," he said, "but I just want to play in the big leagues every day–whether it's in Japan or America."
David Cowart said that while he would love to see his son in the MLB, he and wife Rochelle are just happy to see Alex play–albiet not at live games, lately.
"I wish he was a little closer to home, but it’s pretty cool," he said. "My wife watches every game on the Internet."
