#3 - LHP Cooper Hjerpe
Scouting Grades: Fastball: 60 | Sweeper: 55 | Changeup: 55 | Cutter: 50 | Command: 45 | Overall: 50+
Background:
The Cardinals selected Hjerpe in the first round of the 2022 Draft out of Oregon State, where he dominated Pac-12 competition with one of the most unorthodox and deceptive deliveries in the class. Since turning pro, he’s battled a handful of elbow issues—limiting him to just 41 innings in 2023 before undergoing a minor procedure, and 52 ⅓ innings in 2024 before being shut down with inflammation.
Scouting Report:
Hjerpe has been dominant when on the mound. He not only generates elite in-zone whiff rates but also limits damage exceptionally well—ranking among minor league leaders in line-drive avoidance and popup rate. His 13.7% walk rate jumps off the page, but it’s a bit misleading. He nibbles at times and doesn’t generate much chase, but his competitive locations are more advanced than the raw numbers suggest.
His fastball is his best pitch, sitting 91–94 mph with 7 inches of induced vertical break and 18 inches of arm-side run from a low 4.1-foot release height. When elevated, it has one of the flattest approach angles in the sport and plays well above its velocity.
His sweeper—sitting in the upper 70s with 18 inches of break—is a strong secondary weapon and plays up due to his wide release, making the perceived movement even greater. The pitch is a bit slower than I'd like, but it still performs well, especially against lefties, where it's a nightmare to go up against from his wide release.
His changeup is uniquely shaped, featuring heavy fade with -4 inches of IVB and 19 inches of run. In 2024, he also made strides with a mid-80s cutter, working closely with former Cardinals closer Jason Isringhausen to tighten the shape and improve its usage. The offering will be vital to bridge his more extreme east-west profile.
Hjerpe may have the highest ceiling of any arm in the Cardinals’ system. From a pure strikeout and contact suppression standpoint, his underlying numbers have been elite and don't get enough credit. While there can certainly be improvements to his strike-throwing—particularly in terms of generating chase and being more aggressive in-zone—I don't foresee this to be a huge deal moving forward.
Future:
With a unicorn release height, Hjerpe has the foundation to be a special pitcher at the next level. He brings a unique blend of bat-missing and contact suppression potential, which gives him a sky-high ceiling if he can continue his performance. Assuming the health checks out, I think there's a relatively safe floor as a mid-rotation starter, but with more upside to be a potential front-of-the-rotation arm than any other pitcher in the Cardinals organization. With a rare blend of deception, movement, and strikeout traits, Hjerpe is hands down one of the most exciting arms in the system.
