Jordan Cooper

JORDAN COOPER
RIGHT HANDED PITCHER
  Born: February 16, 1990
Height: 6’3″
Weight: 215
Bats: Right
Throws: Right
Drafted: 23rd Round, 692nd Overall, 2011
How Acquired: Draft
College: University of Kentucky
Agent:  N/A

WTM’S PIRATE PLAYER PROFILES

The Pirates also drafted Cooper in the 17th round in 2009, but he chose to attend Kentucky.  He was eligible for the draft in 2011 as a sophomore, and had to agree in writing to be re-drafted by the Pirates.  Cooper had a difficult year at Kentucky, pitching like an early round pick at times, but struggling badly at others.  In his better starts his sinker ranged from 89-94, and he had an effective slider and change.  In his bad starts his velocity dropped at the upper end and his command wasn’t there.  He had inconsistent velocity in high school as well.  The Pirates could be hoping they can get him straightened out.  He signed in late June.

2011
A-:  1-4-0, 5.06 ERA, 1.53 WHIP, 37.1 IP, 3.4 BB/9, 5.5 K/9 

Cooper started and relieved at State College and mostly struggled.  He had a good stretch for much of August, but didn’t do well in three of his last four outings.

2012
A-:  1-2-4, 4.15 ERA, 1.08 WHIP, 13.0 IP, 0.7 BB/9, 7.6 K/9
A:  1-3-1, 8.38 ERA, 1.97 WHIP, 19.1 IP, 4.2 BB/9, 5.6 K/9

Cooper opened the season in the West Virginia bullpen and struggled badly.  After 14 outings, the Pirates sent him back to extended spring training.  He joined State College when the Spikes’ season started, pitching partly as their closer.  He had much better success, allowing far fewer walks and hits.  He allowed no earned runs in his first eight outings, then gave up six in his last three before going on the disabled list in late July.  He was later transferred to the 60-day DL (something I didn’t realize existed in the minors), which probably indicates that the injury was relatively serious, but I don’t know what it was. 

The Pirates obviously knew Cooper would be a project, but he did appear to be making progress before he got hurt.  Hopefully he’ll be ready to go in 2013.

STATS
Baseball Reference–Minors
Fangraphs
MiLB.com
NCAA
W-L-Sv
G
GS
IP
H
HR
BB
K
WHIP
OAVG
ERA
2010 4-5-0 20 8 58.1 71 6 27 35 1.68 .303 5.71
2011 3-2-1 14 12 66.1 84 8 29 47 1.70 .318 4.61
CONTRACT INFORMATION
2013: Minor league contract
PLAYER INFORMATION
Signing Bonus: $100,000
MiLB Debut: 2011
MLB Debut:
MiLB FA Eligible: 2017
MLB FA Eligible:
Rule 5 Eligible: 2014
Added to 40-Man:
Options Remaining: 3
MLB Service Time: 0.000
TRANSACTIONS
June 9, 2009: Drafted by the Pittsburgh Pirates in the 17th round, 505th overall pick.
June 7, 2011:
Drafted by the Pittsburgh Pirates in the 23rd round, 692nd overall pick; signed on June 22.