Associated Press fileLos Angeles Angels third baseman Kaleb Cowart fires a throw to first base against Seattle in Anaheim, Calif., on Sept. 26, 2015. Cowart, a former Cook High standout, will play in next week's Triple-A All-Star game.

VALDOSTA, Ga. — Less than two years ago, Kaleb Cowart thought his career was over.

Now, though, the former Cook High standout is a Triple-A All-Star. After enjoying a career resurgence in 2015 that included a promotion to the big leagues in August, Cowart’s continued success will not include a trip to Charlotte for Wednesday’s All-Star game.

“Tremendous amount. I thought my career was over,” Cowart said in a telephone interview about the boost he gained from last year’s reboot. “Yeah man, it’s a great honor. I’m excited to go represent the Salt Lake Bees in Charlotte.”

He gets that opportunity after a first half of the season that has the 24-year-old leading the Bees in four offensive categories. In addition to hitting .279, Cowart tops Salt Lake with 20 doubles, 36 RBIs, 76 hits and 114 total bases. He’s also hit four home runs with 39 runs scored.

The key to that success began with a rebuilt swing a year ago, when Cowart reconnected with the fundamentals he used to torment pitchers while at Cook when he was the Gatorade National Player of the Year and became the Los Angeles Angels’ first-round draft pick in 20XX.

But Cowart’s ascension through the Angels’ system had stalled. At Double-A Arkansas, the third baseman hit .221 in 2013 with six home runs, a triple and 20 doubles in 2013. He followed that with a .223 average back at Arkansas in 2014 with six more home runs, four triples and 18 doubles.

Last year, he found his way. After starting off the season at Class A-Advanced Inland Empire, Cowart hit .323 with six home runs, three triples and 13 doubles in 62 games at Salt Lake before heading up to Los Angeles.

This year, he’s just trying to maintain what he found a year ago.

“It’s just trying to stay consistent with my swing man,” Cowart said. “Dealing with the ups and downs of being in a full season. You have good days, you have bad days and just trying to be as consistent as I can on a daily basis.

“It’s pretty much the same swing as last year. Everything feels great, the same load and the same everything. It’s just fine-tuning a few things here and there when they come up and just trying to stay in sync.”

While trying to stay in sync, Cowart’s also trying to force his way back to the majors. After playing 34 games with the Angels last year, he got a brief call-up earlier this season, getting six at-bats in three games.

While he’s hit just .173 in his big-league opportunities, Cowart said the experiences have been beneficial.

“They helped a lot,” he said. “When you get sent back down to the minor leagues, it’s just trying to work on what’s causing you not to stick up there in the big leagues. Working on that every day and try to get back up there as soon as possible.

“I want to continue to get better here in Triple-A and when my name gets called, to be ready.

“It’s still baseball up there. Everybody’s just the best of the best.”

Jamie Wachter is the sports editor of the Valdosta Daily Times and can be followed on Twitter @jlwachter.