One of the Springfield Cardinals’ prospects to watch closely when the second half of the Texas League season begins next week is a pitcher with an unusual last name and an unconventional delivery.
Cooper Hjerpe (pronounced Jerp-e) is a left-hander with a variety of pitches thrown with what one teammate and his manager describe as a “funky” delivery.
“I’d say funky, I’d say deceptive,” Hjerpe said when asked to describe his side-arm, cross-the-body throwing motion. “It’s something that is kind of an outlier for me, to be able to throw stuff that people don’t usually see, which makes it effective.”
The St. Louis Cardinals’ first-round draft choice and 22nd player selected overall in the 2022 MLB draft was one of the nation’s top college pitchers at Oregon State from 2020-22. After elbow surgery shortened his first professional season in 2023, Hjerpe appears to be back on the fast track.
Shaking off rough Texas League debut
Ranked as the organization’s No. 6 minor-league prospect by Major League Baseball, Hjerpe was a strikeout machine at the High-A level in Peoria prior to his recent promotion to Double-A. He had 103 strikeouts in 88 ⅔ innings over the last two seasons combined as opponents hit .186 against him.
The introduction to the Texas League last week was a rough one. Hjerpe battled control issues, with four walks in allowing five runs in 2 ⅔ innings against Northwest Arkansas. He struck out three while taking the loss, with his second start scheduled this week in a series at Corpus Christi.
Hjerpe, 23, said prior to his Double-A debut that it felt good to climb one step closer to the big leagues.
“To start my career (in 2023) and be in Peoria at the start of this year was almost like a broken record,” Hjerpe said. “To finally get out of there and be able to experience another part of the Cardinals’ organization is obviously a huge step.”
The Cardinals likely will remain cautious with the workload for the 6-foot-3, 200-pound Hjerpe after surgery to clean out a loose impediment in his left elbow limited him to eight starts in 2023. His highest pitch count this season was 67, in mid-April for Peoria.
“I saw him in spring training last year and a little bit this year,” Springfield manager Jose Leger said. “I like him. He’s funky. He pounds the strike zone. His ball moves a lot. I can see why we took him in the first round. He definitely is fun to watch.
“If he is able to command the strike zone, with that funky delivery, he is going to be uncomfortable for the hitters.”
Stellar college career included game with 17 strikeouts in eight innings
Few hitters were comfortable facing Hjerpe in college. During the 2022 season, he had 161 strikeouts in 103 ⅓ innings at Oregon State, with an 11-2 record and 2.53 earned run average. He struck out 10 or more 10 times for the College World Series-bound Beavers, including a school-record 17 in eight innings against Stanford.
Hjerpe said that the 17-strikeout game remains a blur in his memory.
“I remember the result, but I don’t remember much when I was out there pitching,” Hjerpe said, adding that he tries to pitch with tunnel vision. “I can’t give you one strikeout that I remember, I just know that I was on and dialed in and everything was working that day.”
Hjerpe was a Golden Spikes Award finalist for the top player in college baseball that season. The Cardinals signed him in July for full slot value at $3,182,200.
Arsenal of pitches made more effective with unique delivery
In a modern baseball world where so many pitchers throw 100 mph with regularity, Hjerpe is a throwback. His fastball tops out in the low 90s with his variety of off-speed pitches — slider, changeup and cutter — made more effective with his unique delivery.
“I don’t know how he can throw a baseball like that, but he’s really good,” said Springfield pitcher Ian Bedell, a teammate at Peoria in 2023. “He’s deceptive and gets a lot of strikeouts. I’m excited to see him throw again.”
Hjerpe said chasing velocity is something that all pitchers, including himself, are after. But throwing below the posted speed limit can confound hitters if accompanied by command
“Everybody wants to add five miles per hour to his fastball,” Hjerpe said. “A lot of people are throwing harder. When you get a guy out there throwing 91-93, with a deceptive delivery, it makes it harder for (hitters) when everyone is throwing gas now. Going out there and doing what I do best, it’s just a different visual.”
Hjerpe said he feels fortunate that no coaches along the way have tried to change his delivery.
“That’s probably the reason that I got drafted, because of how deceptive and different it is compared to a lot of other guys,” he said. “I’m just working on that and (trying to) stay true to who I am, stay true to myself and keep competing.”
Happy to join team of top prospects at Hammons Field
The continued development is more enjoyable with multiple top pitching prospects on the staff for Springfield. Led by Tink Hence at No. 1, six of the organization's top 30 prospects call Hammons Field their home ballpark.
“It’s awesome and they’re great guys, too,” Hjerpe said. “You get to see how they go about their business and see what they are working on. To get to pick their brains and see where they’re at is a huge part of success in all aspects of the game, so to talk with them every day is huge.”
Cardinals back home June 25
The Springfield Cardinals conclude the first half of the Texas League schedule with a series at Corpus Christi, which continues through June 23. The Cardinals return home for a six-game series against Arkansas June 25-30 at Hammons Field. For tickets, call (417) 863-2143 or visit the Springfield Cardinals website.
