Cooper the latest Chippewa selected in the MLB draft
Zach Cooper, a former Central Michigan pitcher, is the latest to be selected in the Major League Baseball draft.
The Florida Marlins picked the right hander in the 46th round.
“I was riding in the car trying to take my mind off the draft and found out when I was there,” Cooper said.
With this being Cooper’s junior year much like Mount Pleasant High School senior Tyler Higgins and fellow junior Trent Howard they have choices on whether or not they will go into the minor league system or continue on with CMU.
“We are going to talk to each player individually from there and see what will happen,” said CMU baseball coach Steve Jaksa.
The Marlins weren’t the only team looking at Cooper. He was kind of surprised that Florida took him. Cooper saw interest from the Cardinals, Dodgers, Blue Jays and Rangers.
“They were a team that was interested, but I wasn’t sure what team was going to draft me but I’m happy,” Cooper said about the Marlins selecting him. “I thought I would go a little earlier, but I’m happy to get the opportunity to possibly pursue a professional career.”
Cooper started in 15 games this season for the Chippewas and recorded an ERA of 2.95 putting up a 5-2 record in Mid-American Conference play. He struck out a career-high 11 batters at Ball State and nine against Navy.
“He really had a nice year for us and we really like Zach," Jaksa said. "He is coming along and getting better every year. It’s just one of those things where somebody thought he deserved to be drafted.”
With Cooper being drafted, it could mean that CMU will be without its top three pitchers from this season for next year. Howard and Cooper have the opportunity to return next season.
