David Cooper | |
---|---|
First baseman | |
Born: Stockton, California, U.S. | February 12, 1987|
Batted: Left Threw: Left | |
MLB debut | |
April 29, 2011, for the Toronto Blue Jays | |
Last MLB appearance | |
August 22, 2012, for the Toronto Blue Jays | |
MLB statistics | |
Batting average | .270 |
Home runs | 6 |
Runs batted in | 23 |
Teams | |
David Fletcher Cooper (born February 12,1987) is an American former professional baseball first baseman. He previously played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Toronto Blue Jays in 2011 and 2012. He is 6 feet tall and weighs 200 pounds. [1]
A native of Stockton,California,Cooper is a graduate of Tokay High School in Lodi,California. [2] He played college baseball for the Cal State Fullerton Titans baseball team before finishing his college career with the California Golden Bears baseball team. In 2006 and 2007,he played collegiate summer baseball with the Brewster Whitecaps of the Cape Cod Baseball League. [3] [4] [5]
In his junior season he hit .359/.449/.682 with 19 home runs and 55 RBIs,attracting the attention of professional scouts. He was drafted with the 17th overall pick of the 2008 Major League Baseball Draft by the Toronto Blue Jays. Cooper was one of many first base prospects taken in the first round of the draft after other highly regarded college hitters such as Yonder Alonso,Brett Wallace,and Justin Smoak. In scouting reports prior to the draft,Cooper was regarded as a highly polished college bat who can hit for both average and plus home run power in the majors,but was seen as defensively limited and projected to play at 1B or DH at the major league level. [6]
He was playing with the Triple-A Las Vegas 51s in the Blue Jays organization,until he was called up to the Blue Jays on April 29,2011. [7] [8]
Cooper made his major league debut on April 29,2011,against the New York Yankees,playing the DH position and batting 7th in the line-up. He walked in his first plate appearance,and struck out in his first official at-bat. He finished the game 0–4. [9] He recorded his first career RBI the next day in a 5-4 loss to the Yankees,and his first career hit on May 1 against Iván Nova. [10] On May 10,Cooper hit his first career home run,a solo shot off of Boston Red Sox reliever Daniel Bard,and followed that up with a game winning sacrifice fly in the bottom of the 10th inning. [11] Cooper was demoted back to Triple-A on May 15,and after almost 4 months with Las Vegas,he was included in the Blue Jays' September call-ups and re-debuted on September 8.
Cooper did not make the Blue Jays roster out of spring training and began the 2012 season at Las Vegas. Cooper was hitting .298 with 6 HR and 34 RBI in 42 games when on May 25,he was promoted to Toronto after Ben Francisco was placed on the 15-day DL. [12]
Cooper was optioned to the Triple-A Las Vegas 51s on June 24,2012. [13] He was recalled on July 30 to replace Adam Lind,who was placed on the disabled list due to a mid-back strain, [14] On February 17,2013,the Blue Jays announced that Cooper will miss all of spring training due to a serious back injury,and is seeking treatment for a disc issue. [15] [16] Cooper was released by the Blue Jays on March 13,2013. [17]
Cooper underwent back surgery in April 2013 and had a titanium plate and two titanium screws placed in his T7 and T8 vertebrae to reinforce his spine. [18]
On August 13,2013,Cooper signed a minor league contract with the Cleveland Indians. It included an opt out clause for him to leave the organization if he had not made the major league club by late August. [19] He played seven games with the Columbus Clippers before being granted free agency on August 31.
Cooper signed a new major league deal with the Indians on December 9,2013. [20] He was designated for assignment on March 2,2014 when Justin Sellers was acquired from the Los Angeles Dodgers, [21] and was outrighted to Triple-A on March 4. [22]
On March 25,2015,Cooper signed with the Lancaster Barnstormers of the Atlantic League of Professional Baseball. [23]
On May 14,2015,Cooper signed a minor league contract with the New York Mets,and was assigned to the Double-A Binghamton Mets. [24] Cooper was released on May 31,and reportedly planned to retire. [25]
Ryan Alan Roberts is an American former professional baseball third baseman and second baseman. A right-handed batter,Roberts is 5 feet 11 inches (1.80 m) tall and weighs 190 pounds (86 kg) He has played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Toronto Blue Jays,Texas Rangers,Arizona Diamondbacks,Tampa Bay Rays and Boston Red Sox. During his tenure in Arizona,he was known by fans as "Tatman" because he has over 30 tattoos.
Charles Edward "Chad" Mottola is an American professional baseball player and coach for the Tampa Bay Rays of Major League Baseball (MLB). Mottola played in MLB for five years as an outfielder. Considered a journeyman,Mottola played professionally from 1992 through 2007,appearing in 59 MLB games and 1,801 minor league games. He was the hitting coach for the Toronto Blue Jays during the 2013 season,but his contract was not renewed for 2014.
Adam Alan Lind is an American former professional baseball first baseman. He previously played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Toronto Blue Jays,Milwaukee Brewers,Seattle Mariners and Washington Nationals. Lind has also appeared as a designated hitter and in left field. In 2009,Lind won the Silver Slugger Award and the Edgar Martínez Award.
Darwin James Kunane Barney is an American former professional baseball infielder and current coach. He played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Chicago Cubs,Los Angeles Dodgers,and Toronto Blue Jays. As a member of the Cubs in 2012,he won both the Rawlings Gold Glove Award and the Fielding Bible Award in recognition of his defensive skills at second base.
Christopher Charles Dickerson is an American former professional baseball outfielder who played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Cincinnati Reds,Milwaukee Brewers,New York Yankees,Baltimore Orioles,and Cleveland Indians between 2008 and 2014.
Steven Wayne Tolleson is an American former professional baseball infielder who played in Major League Baseball (MLB) between 2010 and 2015. He is the son of former major leaguer Wayne Tolleson.
Adeiny Hechavarría Barrera is a Cuban professional baseball shortstop for the Long Island Ducks of the Atlantic League of Professional Baseball. He has played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Toronto Blue Jays,Miami Marlins,Tampa Bay Rays,Pittsburgh Pirates,New York Yankees,New York Mets and Braves. He also played in Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB) for the Chiba Lotte Marines.
Joshua Adam Donaldson is an American professional baseball third baseman for the New York Yankees of Major League Baseball (MLB). He previously played for the Oakland Athletics,Toronto Blue Jays,Cleveland Indians,Atlanta Braves,and Minnesota Twins.
Erik Floyd Kratz is an American former professional baseball catcher who played for the Pittsburgh Pirates,Philadelphia Phillies,Toronto Blue Jays,Kansas City Royals,Houston Astros,Milwaukee Brewers,San Francisco Giants,Tampa Bay Rays,and New York Yankees during an 11-year career. Kratz was drafted by the Toronto Blue Jays in the 29th round of the 2002 Major League Baseball draft.
Matthew Scott Dominguez is an American former professional baseball third baseman. He played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Florida Marlins,Houston Astros,and Toronto Blue Jays and in Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB) for the Chiba Lotte Marines.
David Lee Adams is an American former professional baseball infielder. He played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the New York Yankees in 2013.
Matthew Donald Hague is an American former professional baseball first baseman and current minor league coach. Between 2012 and 2016,he played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Pittsburgh Pirates and Toronto Blue Jays,and in Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB) for the Hanshin Tigers. Prior to beginning his professional career,he played college baseball at the University of Washington and Oklahoma State. In early 2020,he joined the Blue Jays organization as a coach.
Ryan Matthew Goins is an American professional baseball second baseman and shortstop in the Kansas City Royals organization. He has previously played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Toronto Blue Jays,Royals,and Chicago White Sox.
Jonathan Diaz is an American former professional baseball infielder. He played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Toronto Blue Jays and the Boston Red Sox.
Devon Anthony Travis is an American professional baseball coach and former second baseman. He was originally drafted by the Detroit Tigers,and made his Major League Baseball (MLB) debut on April 6,2015 with the Toronto Blue Jays,playing with the team from 2015 to 2018. Travis began his coaching career in 2021 with the GCL Braves.
Tyler Patrick Kelly is an American-Israeli former professional baseball utility player in the Seattle Mariners organization. He played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Philadelphia Phillies and the New York Mets. He plays for Team Israel.
Bradley Edward Glenn is an American former professional baseball outfielder. He played in six games for the Toronto Blue Jays of Major League Baseball (MLB) in 2014.
Jonathon David Berti is an American professional baseball utility player for the Miami Marlins of Major League Baseball (MLB). He has previously played in MLB for the Toronto Blue Jays. Berti made his MLB debut in 2018 and led MLB in stolen bases in the 2022 season.
Daniel Casey Dorn is an American former professional baseball right fielder and first baseman. He played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Arizona Diamondbacks and in KBO League for the Nexen Heroes.
Michael Massey is an American professional baseball second baseman for the Kansas City Royals of Major League Baseball (MLB). He made his MLB debut in 2022.