Connor Cooke Stats & Scouting Report

IP	31.2
ERA	4.55
WHIP	1.67
BB/9	7.96
SO/9	8.53

Full name Connor Stutzman Cooke
Born 11/02/1999 in Sulphur, LA
Profile Ht.: 6'1" / Wt.: 203 / Bats: R / Throws: R
School Louisiana-Lafayette
Drafted in the 10th round (302nd overall) by the Toronto Blue Jays in 2021 (signed for $141,900).

View Draft Report

Cooke had been a reliever for his first two years at Louisiana Lafayette, but he took a big step forward in 2021. He has plenty of athleticism, but he took a step forward with his control and consistency this year. He has the makings of a pro relief profile thanks to a plus low-80s curveball that he shows feel to locate and he has the power to bury hitters with it. It’s a 12-to-6 hammer, and opponents hit only .092/.145/.123 against it in 2021. He sits at 89-91 mph with his fastball, but he has shown he can get to 93-94 when he needs it and he carries that velocity deep into games. After going 7-3, 2.03 with a .157 opponent average this year, Cooke seems ready for the challenge of pro ball. He has earned the shot to go out as a starter, but may eventually end up as a reliever with a weapon in his curve.

Top Rankings

Organization Prospect Rankings

BA Grade: 45/High

Track Record: After coming out of the bullpen for two seasons at Louisiana-Lafayette, Cooke made the jump to the rotation in his third season. He went 7-3 with a 2.03 ERA with 90 strikeouts and 37 walks in 79.2 innings as a starter in 2021, prompting the Blue Jays to draft him in the 10th round and sign him for $141,900. After breaking camp with Low-A Dunedin in 2022, Cooke worked as a multi-innings piggyback starter. He was promoted to High-A Vancouver on Aug. 2 and has been exclusively a reliever since. He broke camp with Vancouver in 2023 and made nine appearances before he was promoted to Double-A New Hampshire. He spent a majority of his season at Double-A before earning a late-August promotion to Buffalo.

Scouting Report: One of the best athletes in the Blue Jays organization, Cooke saw a giant leap in stuff in 2023. He mixes three pitches, all of which can flash above-average. He has a unique ability to ride a fastball, spin a breaking ball and turn over a changeup. Cooke’s fastball sits 95-96 mph and touches 97-98 at peak, with ride, run and a difficult angle for hitters to get on plane. He spins his sweeper slider at 2,800-3,000 rpm with nearly a foot and a half of sweep on average. His slider sits 83-85 mph. He shows average command of his fastball and slider and fringe-average command of his changeup. His offspeed is infrequently used but shows heavy tumble and fade when he lands it. Overall, Cooke shows high-leverage stuff and intensity.

The Future: Cooke is a high-powered reliever who has refined his arsenal with a potential high-leverage relief future. His 40.6% strikeout rate ranked third among minor league relievers with at least 30 appearances in 2023 and he is in line to make his major league debut in 2024.

Scouting Grades Fastball: 60 | Slider: 55 | Changeup: 45 | Control: 45

Career Transactions

Buffalo Bisons activated RHP Connor Cooke from the 7-day injured list.
Buffalo Bisons activated RHP Connor Cooke.
Buffalo Bisons transferred RHP Connor Cooke to the Development List.
RHP Connor Cooke assigned to Buffalo Bisons from New Hampshire Fisher Cats.
RHP Connor Cooke assigned to Buffalo Bisons from New Hampshire Fisher Cats.
RHP Connor Cooke assigned to New Hampshire Fisher Cats from Vancouver Canadians.
RHP Connor Cooke assigned to New Hampshire Fisher Cats from Vancouver Canadians.
RHP Connor Cooke and assigned to Toronto Blue Jays.