From college dominance to the surgical recovery of a rising MLB star
In short: In 2022, Cooper Hjerpe was the undisputed king of college baseball, earning National Pitcher of the Year honors. Yet, his path to the Major Leagues has been defined as much by grueling elbow surgeries as by his incredible strikeout records.
Cooper Austin Hjerpe’s ascent through the ranks of professional baseball is a story of immense talent interrupted by physical setbacks. A standout at Woodland High School in California, Hjerpe entered Oregon State University with a formidable reputation. His 2019 senior season was particularly dominant, characterized by four no-hitters and 105 strikeouts in just 44 innings. By 2022, he had ascended to the position of the university's number one starter, eventually setting a school record with 161 strikeouts in a single season and earning the title of National Pitcher of the Year.
His professional trajectory began when the St. Louis Cardinals selected him 22nd overall in the 2022 MLB draft, signing him to a $3.12 million contract. However, the transition to the pros has been fraught with injury. After debuting with the High-A Peoria Chiefs in 2023, an elbow injury required surgery, sidelining him for significant periods. A second major setback arrived in April 2025, when it was announced he would miss the entire season following Tommy John surgery.
Despite these hurdles, Hjerpe’s resilience led to a Major League debut on September 6, 2026, against the Colorado Rockies. After working through rehab assignments in the Florida Complex League and Single-A Palm Beach, he climbed the organizational ladder from Double-A Springfield to Triple-A Memphis. In his debut relief appearance at Coors Field, he struck out six batters in four innings to secure his first career win, marking a hard-fought return to the pinnacle of the sport.
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