School: Oregon State University; Class: Junior
Position: LHP; B/T: L/L
Height: 6-2; Weight: 190
Previously Drafted: N/A
High School: Woodland High School
| FB | CB | CH | Command | Overall |
| 50 | 55 | 50 | 55 | 45 |
Background: A product of Woodland High School – home to borderline Hall of Fame second baseman Dustin Pedroia – Hjerpe committed to the Pac-12 conference powerhouse as a sophomore. He continued to live up to those lofty expectations during the remaining two years of his prep career. The lanky left-hander posted an impeccable 0.78 ERA with a whopping 128 strikeouts in only 55.2 innings of work as a junior. And he was even better during his final campaign for the Wolves, tossing four no-hitters with 105 strikeouts in only 44 innings of work.
Hjerpe struggled a bit during his COVID-abbreviated freshman campaign at Oregon State, posting a 16-to-7 strikeout-to-walk ratio in six relief outings, spanning 12 innings. The 6-foot-2, 190-pound southpaw had a bit of a coming out party during his sophomore season with the Beavers, averaging 11.5 strikeouts and 3.2 walks per nine innings to go along with a 4.21 ERA in 77.0 innings. This season Hjerpe continued to progress as a crafty moundsmen: in a career best 18 appearances and 103.1 innings, the California native struck out a nation-leading 161 hitters while averaging 14.0 K/9 – the second best total.
Scouting Report: Consider the following:
- Since 2015, here’s the list of Division I pitchers to average at least 13 strikeouts per nine innings in a season (min. 100 IP): Kumar Rocker, Jack Leiter, Logan Gilbert, Ethan Small, Reid Detmers, Andrew Abbott, and – of course – Cooper Hjerpe.
Let’s continue:
- Among the aforementioned group, here’s the list of hurlers to walk less than 2.5 BB/9: Logan Gilbert and Cooper Hjerpe.
Low slot lefty gunslinger. Hjerpe attacks hitters with a low 90s fastball, an above-average, difficult to pick up curveball, and an average fading changeup. Listed generously as 6-foot-2 and 190-pounds, Hjerpe is physically maxed and shouldn’t expect to see any sizeable velocity gains in the future. Back of the rotation caliber arm as long as he can take the ball every fifth day.
Ceiling: 1.5-win player
Risk: Moderate
Grade: Second Round
