David Cooper Stats & Scouting Report

AB	211
AVG	.27
OBP	.31
SLG	.441
HR	6

Full name David Fletcher Cooper
Born 02/12/1987 in Stockton, CA
Profile Ht.: 6'0" / Wt.: 200 / Bats: L / Throws: L
School California
Debut 04/29/2011
Drafted in the 1st round (17th overall) by the Toronto Blue Jays in 2008 (signed for $1,500,000).

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Another NorCal product, Cooper began his college career at Cal State Fullerton, helping lead the Titans to the College World Series. He had hits in seven consecutive at-bats in Omaha, earning all-tournament honors, but transferred after the season back closer to home, instantly becoming Cal's best player. He's evolved as a hitter since that season, going from two homers as a freshman to a Pacific-10 Conference-best 19 as a junior. Cooper's hitting ability stems from strong hands and forearms and excellent hand-eye coordination more than pure bat speed, and some scouts believe he'll be more susceptible in pro ball to big velocity because of it. Others believe his smooth, pure swing will let him catch up to any fastball. He has a polished, patient approach and absolutely mashes mistakes to all parts of the park. Cooper's value is in his bat; he's a well-below-average runner who could become a real baseclogger down the line. Defensively, he flashes average ability at first, but some scouts label him disinterested at worst and below-average at best. Cooper's bat could take him into the first round, though an American League club would be a better fit.

Top Rankings

Organization Prospect Rankings

Cooper was considered one of the best pure bats in the 2008 draft, which prompted the Blue Jays to snag him with the 17th overall pick and sign him to a slightly below-slot bonus of $1.5 million. He has shown he can handle the bat in the minors with a career line of .299/.373/.462 in four years in the minors. He had his best season yet in 2011, leading the minors with a .439 on-base percentage and the Triple-A Pacific Coast League with a .364 average, 170 hits and 51 doubles. He benefited from playing his home games at Las Vegas' Cashman Field, one of the best hitter's parks in the minors, yet he hit only nine homers. Lack of longball power is the drawback with Cooper and a problem for a first baseman. He doesn't pull the ball well, instead hitting line drives to the opposite field. To profile as a regular in the major leagues, Cooper will have to continue to hit for a high average and rack up doubles while providing at least 15-20 homers per season. He doesn't offer much else besides his bat, as he's a below-average runner who still needs to work to become an average defender. He's blocked at first base in Toronto by Adam Lind, who is under control through 2016, so Cooper was the subject of trade rumors this offseason.
Scouts regarded Cooper as one of the better pure hitters in the 2008 draft, which got him drafted 17th overall and a slightly below-slot $1.5 million bonus. He looked primed to live up to that reputation when he hit .333/.399/.502 and reached high Class A in his pro debut, but he has spent the last two years batting .257 in Double-A. The Blue Jays still like his offensive potential, however. They track hard-hit balls as a statistic and say he ranked among their minor league leaders, hitting into more than his share of bad luck. He still shows a knack for getting the barrel to the ball and uses the whole field. He has started to turn on balls with power without pulling off pitches, allowing him to double his home run output from 10 in 2009 to 20 last season. Cooper has below-average athleticism and speed and is still a work in progress as a first baseman. He spent time in instructional league to work on his conditioning, agility and footwork. Ticketed for Triple-A this year, he could find himself in the big leagues quickly if he progresses at the plate especially after Lyle Overbay signed with the Pirates as a free agent.
The first first-rounder from the 2008 draft to sign, Cooper agreed to a slightly belowslot $1.5 million bonus as the 17th overall pick. He hit .333/.399/.502 in his pro debut, but found the going much tougher at Double-A New Hampshire in his first full season. Cooper has the sweet swing and hand-eye coordination to hit for a high average. He made adjustments over the course of the 2009 season, shortening his swing and tinkering with some mechanics, allowing him to finish strong. He has solid gap power and is a doubles machine, with 61 in 197 pro games. It remains to be seen whether Cooper will develop the home run power teams traditionally want from their first basemen, He had trouble driving the ball against lefthanders last season, slugging just .326 against them. He's a bat-only player who has poor speed and subpar athleticism. He put more effort into improving his defense in 2009, but he's still a below-average first baseman. Despite his struggles, Cooper remains the best hitting prospect in the system. The Jays will slow him down by sending him back to Double-A at the start of the year and give him the chance to earn a midseason promotion to Triple-A. He could be ready to take over in Toronto when Lyle Overbay's contract expires after the 2010 season.
The 17th overall pick in the 2008 draft, Cooper was the first first-rounder to sign, agreeing to a $1.5 million bonus on June 11. Widely regarded as one of the top bats available, he delivered on that promise in his pro debut, finishing in high Class A and batting .333/.399/.502 with 29 doubles in 69 games. A sweet-swinging lefthanded batter, Cooper has tremendous barrel awareness and excellent hand-eye coordination. Factor in his line-drive, all-fields approach and his ability to keep his bat in the hitting zone for a long time, and he should produce high batting averages. As he learns to incorporate his lower half in his swing, he could develop average power and hit 18-20 homers per season. Though he's a natural in the batter's box, Cooper's other tools pale in comparison with his hitting acumen. A below-average athlete and poor runner, he offers limited range and slow reactions at first base. Some evaluators have him pegged as a future DH because he has shown little desire to improve his defensive game. Cooper's bat should be able to carry him to the big leagues. If things go smoothly, he could be established as Toronto's first baseman by 2010. He and Travis Snider figure to form the core of future Blue Jays offenses.

Minor League Top Prospects

A star at Cal State Fullerton and then California, Cooper was widely regarded as one of the best hitters in the 2008 draft. After the Blue Jays selected him 17th overall, he tore up the low minors, hitting .333/.399/.502 over three levels and finishing at high Class A Dunedin. "I think he was born to hit," Auburn manager Dennis Holmberg said. "He's a sweet-swinging lefthanded hitter with the ability to barrel the ball up. He's got confidence, a terrific gameplan--just a professional kid." Cooper has plus power to all fields. His bat will have to carry him because he's a poor defender at first base who's still adjusting to the speed of the pro game. Scouts have questioned his desire to improve defensively since college, and some project him as a DH down the line.