Cogbill focusing on his World Series debut

by Glenn Miller
Roy Hobbs Baseball

Every player, manager and fan will notice a change at the 2026 Roy Hobbs World Series.

We have a new photographer. His name is Jeff Cogbill.

For more than 30 years, Greg Wagner has been a Roy Hobbs World Series fixture, an institution as timeless as Terry Park. Or so it seemed

Wagner retired from Roy Hobbs work after the 2025 World Series.

Cogbill, 48, is coming on board for the 2026 World Series.

Unlike most Roy Hobbs players, Cogbill did not play baseball in high school or college. His journey took a different route.

“I was a farm boy,” Cogbill said. “We were too busy with that, and college didn’t really suit me. I started my own business doing tile and hardwood flooring at age 19. So, it kind of suited me a lot better.”

His business now is photography – Highlight Reel Photography. From the Cogbill’s “About” page on his website, highlightreelphotography.smugmug.com

“I specialize in capturing the raw energy, emotion, and intensity of athletic performance with a keen eye for detail and a passion for sports. I provide dynamic, high-impact imagery that tells the story behind every play, every athlete, and every moment.”

The farm was in Wisconsin. Cogbill now has a home in Fort Myers.

As a farm boy he helped work the dairy farm of more than 300 acres. An aunt and uncle also had what Cogbill described as a “tiny little ranch where we had steer.”

“I was always out there helping with everything,” Cogbill said.

They also raised pigs. Cogbill took pigs to the state fair and almost won a championship. There were also donkeys and chickens.

“And all sorts of little fun stuff,” Cogbill said.

He didn’t have time for much baseball. Cogbill played until about sixth grade and then focused on basketball and played at Clear Lake High School.

But baseball remained an interest and he became a student of the game. Then years later when his son, Aries, started playing at about age 5, Cogbill’s baseball focus intensified.

“I really dug in deep,” he said.

Really deep. His son is now 25.

“I go all-in,” Cogbill said. “I don’t half-ass do anything. So, if I’m gonna learn something, I go after it. I dissect every inch of the subject.”

How did he get into photography?

Cogbill traces the story back about 21 years.

“I was actually head of security at a very big nightclub/concert venue and so the photographer was always backstage,” Cogbill said. “And we just got talking.”

Cogbill had dabbled in photography as an amateur.

“But nothing on a professional level,” he said.

Gradually, he morphed from amateur to professional doing portraits and landscape. Then came sports with youth travel baseball.

“I started to find out that’s where the money was in sports because parents have all this money for little Johnny to have a $500 bat or whatever,” Cogbill said. “They’re willing to spend money to have photos taken.”

That’s not all.

“This is where I need to be,” Cogbill said “And I like sports. I like shooting them. I like seeing excitement and you know just everything that goes with it. And so here I am.”

A Twins fantasy camp in Fort Myers led him to Roy Hobbs. That’s where he met Wagner, who was also working the camp and was impressed with Cogbill’s work and told him “I think I have something for you.”

Then Cogbill met with Roy Hobbs Baseball president Tom Giffen after Wagner recommended him.

“So, I went to the Twins camp and met with him and talked with him a little bit and we came to an agreement,” Giffen said. “I told him what I needed and he said what he needed. I said I wouldn’t stick my nose in his business, and he’ll just take care of me.”

Wagner told him the Roy Hobbs World Series involves a lot of work for a photographer.

“But I’m not allergic to hard work,” Cogbill said.

Somebody who started a tile and hardwood flooring business at 19 clearly is not allergic to hard work.

Check out Jeff Cogbill’s work at highlightreelphotography.smugmug.com