| Player: Cooper Hjerpe | |||||||||||
| Org: St. Louis Cardinals | Highest Level: Double A | Position(s): LHP | |||||||||
| Height: 6’3 | Weight: 200 lbs. | Bats: Left | Throws: Left | ||||||||
| Summary: Few pitchers in professional baseball operate from an arm slot and release point as extreme as Hjerpe’s. Working from a true sidearm position with a remarkably low release point and elite extension, the flat approach angle created is unlike almost anything hitters see on a regular basis — the fastball sits 90-93 with heavy arm-side run that plays significantly above the raw velocity, particularly against left-handed hitters who simply don’t pick up the pitch the way they would from a more conventional slot. The deception is structural rather than manufactured, and it makes the entire arsenal more difficult to read than the individual pitch grades would suggest. The secondary mix leverages the release point in both directions. An upper-70s sweeper with massive gloveside break pairs with the fastball to create a horizontal offset of over 30 inches — one of the more uncomfortable pitch combinations in the system against same-sided hitters. A low-80s changeup that moves in the opposite direction with arm-side run and vertical separation gives him a true weapon against right-handed hitters, and a mid-80s cutter bridges the arsenal as a tertiary option. The profile can get hitters walking if they stay disciplined, but the deception frequently prevents the discipline from materializing. Tommy John surgery in spring 2025 interrupted what had been an intriguing developmental trajectory, and Hjerpe is currently working his way back through a careful ramp-up. The back-end starter ceiling is alive if the command returns to its prior average grade and the innings hold up — the unique profile keeps hitters perpetually uncomfortable in a way that plays in a rotation. The high-leverage relief path is equally compelling and perhaps more realistic given the injury history, where the extreme release point and east-west arsenal can operate without the durability demands of a full workload | |||||||||||
Shaun Kernahan is the founder and lead writer of Three Quarter Slot, where he blends scouting precision with a storyteller’s eye for the human side of the game. Based in Parker, Colorado, he has covered baseball prospects at every level since 2013, delivering in-depth evaluations, draft analysis, and developmental insight. Over the years, he has built Three Quarter Slot into a trusted home for thoughtful prospect coverage, detailed scouting reports, and a grounded look at how talent evolves
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