When a player is asked to do something, and then he does that thing very, very well, what do you call him? Cooper Bowman.
- Born: January 25, 2000
- B/T: Right/Right
- 6’0″, 205-lbs
- Drafted by the New York Yankees in the 2021 MLB June Amateur Draft from University of Louisville
The Numbers
His raw numbers are listed above courtesy of baseball-reference.com. Let’s aggregate by year then focus on the important numbers for minor leaguers:
Right out of university in 2021 he showed power, decent on-base ability, speed, and bat control.
In 2022, now at High-A, he showed power, decent on-base ability, speed, and bat control. Only more so.
Was it just a hot start?:
No, in April he showed power, decent on-base ability, speed, and bat control.
Then in May he showed power, decent on-base ability, speed, and bat control.
OK, you get the idea, he’s been steady as she goes all year, and he does everything — and I mean everything — you want to see in a batter prospect. The guy gets on base more than 40% of the time and he’s on track for 30+ SBs, while hitting for power as well. What’s not to like?
80% of his plate appearances have come against RHP, and wouldn’t you know it, 80% of his hits have come against RHP, 77% of his walks, 64% of his strikeouts, he gets on base 40% of the time against both. I mean, he hits a little better against lefties, but my goodness wouldn’t you take a .398 OBP against righties? Especially when his power is a .242 ISO against RHP but only a .118 ISO against LHP. Aha! We finally found something asymmetrical!
“Bowman’s swing is super short back to the baseball, giving him a chance to hit while playing a decent second base. The last hitterish second baseman [Nick Solak] the Yankees took out of Louisville turned out okay.”
Excerpt from FanGraphs
The Scouts
- Rotowire: #307 on their Top 400
- Fantrax: #394 on their Top 400
- Fantasy Six Pack: Not on their dynasty Top 1,000+
- Imaginary Brick Wall: Not on their Top 473
Warnings
No Double-A time yet.
He’s a college bat against High-A pitchers, so let’s not buy in too much until he advances.
Conclusion
A player can only do what he’s asked to do. The Yankees asked him to tackle High-A pitching and he did it with aplomb. He needs to go to Double-A soon.
Scouts call him a utility infielder prospect with mostly pull power. But that was before he showed up High-A pitching. I’m not so sure he won’t turn into a low-BA, high-OBP starting second baseman with enough power to help with all the stolen bases he will provide.
The kid is doing everything right so far.