Garrett Cooper

American baseball player (born 1990)

Baseball player

Garrett Cooper

Cooper with the Colorado Springs Sky Sox in 2017

Free agent
First baseman / Right fielder
Born: (1990-12-25) December 25, 1990 (age 34)
Torrance, California, U.S.

Bats: Right

Throws: Right

MLB debut
July 14, 2017, for the New York Yankees
MLB statistics
(through 2024 season)
Batting average| .265
Home runs| 57
Runs batted in| 233
Stats at Baseball Reference
Teams

* New York Yankees (2017)
* Miami Marlins (2018–2023)
* San Diego Padres (2023)
* Chicago Cubs (2024)
* Boston Red Sox (2024)

Career highlights and awards

* All-Star (2022)

Garrett Nicholas Cooper (born December 25, 1990) is an American professional baseball first baseman and right fielder who is a free agent. He has previously played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the New York Yankees, Miami Marlins, San Diego Padres, Chicago Cubs, and Boston Red Sox. Cooper was an All-Star in 2022.

## Early life and education

[edit]

Garrett Nicholas Cooper was raised in Rancho Palos Verdes, California.[1] He attended Loyola High School in Los Angeles. As a senior, he hit .397 with four home runs and 25 RBIs.[2] After high school, he enrolled and played college baseball at El Camino College and Auburn University.[3] In 2013, his senior year at Auburn, he slashed .354/.481/.540 with seven home runs and 37 RBIs in 56 games.[4]

## Career

[edit]

### Milwaukee Brewers

[edit]

The Milwaukee Brewers selected Cooper in the sixth round of the 2013 Major League Baseball draft.[5][6] He signed and spent 2013 with both the Helena Brewers and the Wisconsin Timber Rattlers, batting a combined .283 with six home runs and 30 RBIs in 48 total games between both teams. In 2014, he played for Wisconsin, the AZL Brewers, and the Brevard County Manatees, slashing .262/.347/.390 with four home runs and 27 RBIs between the three clubs, and in 2015, he played for Brevard County and the Biloxi Shuckers, posting a combined .310 with eight home runs and 59 RBIs. Cooper spent 2016 with Biloxi and the Colorado Springs Sky Sox where he compiled a .292 batting average with nine home runs, 69 RBIs. He began 2017 back with Colorado where he slashed .366/.428/.652 with 17 home runs and 82 RBIs in 75 games.[7]

### New York Yankees

[edit]

On July 13, 2017, the Brewers traded Cooper to the New York Yankees in exchange for left handed pitcher Tyler Webb.[8] The Yankees promoted Cooper to the major leagues on July 14,[9] and he made his debut that day against the Boston Red Sox at Fenway Park. On July 16, Cooper got his first MLB hit off David Price. In 13 games for the Yankees, he batted .326 with five doubles and six RBIs. He also spent time with the Trenton Thunder and Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders while with the Yankees organization.[10]

### Miami Marlins

[edit]

On November 20, 2017, the Yankees traded Cooper and Caleb Smith to the Miami Marlins for pitcher Michael King and international bonus pool money.[11] On March 25, 2018, the Marlins announced the Cooper had made the Opening Day roster.[12] He was placed on the disabled list at the beginning of May, and was activated at the beginning of July.[13]

Cooper hit his first major league home run on May 22, 2019, off Detroit Tigers pitcher Daniel Norris.[14] It was the 39th game he had played in the major leagues.[14] The next day, he hit his second home run, a grand slam, off Detroit pitcher Shane Greene with two outs in the top of the ninth inning; Miami went on to defeat Detroit 5–2.[15] He finished the 2019 season hitting .281/.344/.446 with 15 home runs and 50 RBIs in 381 at bats over 107 games. In the pandemic-shortened 2020 season, Cooper batted .283/.353/.500 with 6 home runs and 20 RBIs in 34 games.

On July 28, 2021, it was announced that Cooper had suffered a partial tear of the ulnar collateral ligament in his left elbow and would require season-ending surgery. He was subsequently placed on the 60-day injured list.[16] He finished the 2021 season batting .284/.380/.465 with 9 home runs and 33 RBIs in 71 games.

On March 22, 2022, Cooper signed a $2.5 million contract with the Marlins, avoiding salary arbitration.[17] Cooper was named to the 2022 MLB All-Star Game as a roster replacement for Bryce Harper, who withdrew from the game due to injury.[18] On September 27, Cooper suffered a fractured finger after getting hit by a pitch in the 6-3 win over the New York Mets[19]

On January 13, 2023, Cooper agreed to a one-year, $4.2 million contract with the Marlins, avoiding salary arbitration.[20]

### San Diego Padres

[edit]

On August 1, 2023, the Marlins traded Cooper and Sean Reynolds to the San Diego Padres in exchange for Ryan Weathers.[21] With the Padres he batted .239/.323/.402. He became a free agent on November 2, 2023.

### Chicago Cubs

[edit]

On February 25, 2024, Cooper signed a minor league contract with the Chicago Cubs.[22] On March 28, Cooper had his contract selected after making Chicago's Opening Day roster.[23] Though he batted .270 in 12 games, the Cubs designated Cooper for assignment on April 23 after Patrick Wisdom returned to the active roster.[24]

### Boston Red Sox

[edit]

On April 27, 2024, Cooper was traded to the Boston Red Sox in exchange for cash considerations.[25] He was added to the team's active roster two days later.[26] Cooper would make his Red Sox debut on April 30 in a game against the San Francisco Giants.[27] During that game, he would strike out twice and exited the game with a right wrist contusion after being hit by a pitch from Sean Hjelle in the 5th inning.[28] In 24 games for Boston, he batted .171/.227/.229 with no home runs and five RBI. Cooper was designated for assignment after Masataka Yoshida returned from the injured list on June 11.[29] After clearing waivers on June 14, he was released by the Red Sox.[30]

### Baltimore Orioles

[edit]

On June 24, 2024, Cooper signed a minor league contract with the Baltimore Orioles.[31] In 20 games for the Triple-A Norfolk Tides, he batted .310/.393/.521 with four home runs and 24 RBI. Cooper elected free agency following the season on November 4.[32]

### Atlanta Braves

[edit]

On January 12, 2025, Cooper signed a minor league contract with the Atlanta Braves.[33] In 35 appearances for the Triple-A Gwinnett Stripers, he batted .228/.312/.309 with two home runs and 17 RBI. Cooper was released by the Braves organization on May 18.[34]

## Personal life

[edit]

Cooper and his wife, Erica, had their first child in March 2022.[35]

## References

[edit]

1. ^ Kraczkowski, Kevin (December 16, 2018). "Garrett Cooper Would Probably Take a Mulligan on 2018: Miami Marlins Review". FanSided. Retrieved May 24, 2019.
2. ^ "Garrett Cooper - Baseball".
3. ^ "Late-bloomer Garrett Cooper cleaning up in middle of Sky Sox lineup | Colorado Springs Gazette, News". gazette.com. May 24, 2017. Retrieved July 13, 2017.
4. ^ "AUBURN UNIVERSITY BASEBALL: Milwaukee Brewers draft first baseman Garrett Cooper in 6th round". June 7, 2013.
5. ^ "Corbin Burnes, Garrett Cooper excelling in minors for Brewers". jsonline.com. Retrieved July 13, 2017.
6. ^ "Sky Sox 1B Garrett Cooper makes All-Star team, but could Milwaukee call first? | Colorado Springs Gazette, News". gazette.com. June 28, 2017. Retrieved July 13, 2017.
7. ^ "Garrett Cooper Stats, Highlights, Bio - MiLB.com Stats - The Official Site of Minor League Baseball". MiLB.com. Retrieved March 25, 2018.
8. ^ "Yanks trade Webb to Brewers for Garrett Cooper". MLB.com.
9. ^ "New York Yankees call up former Auburn 1st baseman Garrett Cooper". July 14, 2017.
10. ^ "Yankees trade Garrett Cooper and Caleb Smith to Marlins - River Avenue Blues". November 20, 2017.
11. ^ "Derek Jeter's First Trade As Marlins CEO Is With Yankees". November 20, 2017.
12. ^ "Marlins' Garrett Cooper: Makes Opening Day roster". CBS Sports. March 25, 2018. Retrieved March 25, 2018.
13. ^ "Marlins' Garrett Cooper: Reinstated from disabled list". July 6, 2018.
14. ^ a b "Marlins rally for 5th straight win, 6-3 over Tigers". ESPN. Associated Press. May 22, 2019. Retrieved May 24, 2019.
15. ^ "Cooper hits slam in 9th, Marlins top Tigers, 6th win in row". ESPN. Associated Press. May 23, 2019. Retrieved May 24, 2019.
16. ^ "Marlins' Garrett Cooper: Set for season-ending surgery". July 28, 2021.
17. ^ "Arbitration Tracker For 2022". MLBTradeRumors. Retrieved March 23, 2022.
18. ^ "All-Stars Rodón, Martinez, Cooper in; Hader, Harper out". AP News. July 12, 2022. Retrieved August 14, 2023.
19. ^ "Marlin's Garrett Cooper fractures pinkie on HBP in New York". Miami Herald. Retrieved September 28, 2022.
20. ^ "2023 MLB Arbitration Tracker". MLBTradeRumors. Retrieved January 13, 2023.
21. ^ "Padres acquire Hill, Choi, Barlow, Cooper in busy Trade Deadline". MLB.com. Retrieved August 14, 2023.
22. ^ "Cubs To Sign Garrett Cooper To Minors Deal". MLB Trade Rumors. February 25, 2024.
23. ^ "Cubs' Garrett Cooper: Added to roster". cbssports.com. March 29, 2024.
24. ^ Andracki, Tony (April 24, 2024). "Why Cubs opted to move on from Garrett Cooper | Chicago Cubs News". Marquee Sports Network. Retrieved April 29, 2024.
25. ^ "Garrett Cooper goes from Cubs to Red Sox in trade". ESPN.com. April 27, 2024. Retrieved April 29, 2024.
26. ^ "Red Sox DFA infielder Pablo Reyes | Sporting News". www.sportingnews.com. April 29, 2024. Retrieved April 29, 2024.
27. ^ Stiefel, Keagan (April 30, 2024). "Red Sox Vs. Giants Lineups: Garrett Cooper Makes Debut". NESN.com. Retrieved May 1, 2024.
28. ^ Crowley, Tim (May 1, 2024). "Red Sox's Garrett Cooper Leaves Boston Debut With Hand Injury". NESN.com. Retrieved May 1, 2024.
29. ^ "Red Sox Designate Garrett Cooper For Assignment". mlbtraderumors.com. June 11, 2024. Retrieved June 11, 2024.
30. ^ "Red Sox Release Garrett Cooper". mlbtraderumors.com. June 14, 2024. Retrieved June 14, 2024.
31. ^ "Orioles To Sign Garrett Cooper To Minor League Deal". mlbtraderumors.com. Retrieved June 24, 2024.
32. ^ Eddy, Matt (November 6, 2024). "Minor League Free Agents 2024". Baseball America. Retrieved November 6, 2024.
33. ^ "Braves Sign Garrett Cooper To Minor League Deal". mlbtraderumors.com. Retrieved January 12, 2025.
34. ^ "Braves Release Garrett Cooper, Jordan Weems". mlbtraderumors.com. Retrieved May 27, 2025.
35. ^ @coopaloop1 (March 19, 2022). "Momma and Baby Rea are happy and healthy. We love you so much little girl" (Tweet) - via Twitter.

## External links

[edit]

* Career statistics from MLB · ESPN · Baseball Reference · Fangraphs · Baseball Reference (Minors) · Retrosheet
* Garrett Cooper on Twitter
* Garrett Cooper on Instagram