Garrett Nicholas Cooper (born December 25, 1990) is an American professional

baseball Baseball is a bat-and-ball games, bat-and-ball sport played between two team sport, teams of nine players each, taking turns batting (baseball), batting and Fielding (baseball), fielding. The game occurs over the course of several Pitch ...

first baseman A first baseman, abbreviated 1B, is the player on a baseball or softball team who fields the area nearest first base, the first of four bases a baserunner must touch in succession to score a run. The first baseman is responsible for the majori ...

and

right fielder A right fielder, abbreviated RF, is the outfielder in baseball or softball who plays defense in right field. Right field is the area of the outfield to the right of a person standing at home plate and facing towards the pitcher's mound. In the ...

who is a free agent. He has previously played in

Major League Baseball Major League Baseball (MLB) is a professional baseball league composed of 30 teams, divided equally between the National League (baseball), National League (NL) and the American League (AL), with 29 in the United States and 1 in Canada. MLB i ...

(MLB) for the

New York Yankees The New York Yankees are an American professional baseball team based in the Boroughs of New York City, New York City borough of the Bronx. The Yankees compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the American League (AL) Am ...

Miami Marlins The Miami Marlins are an American professional baseball team based in Miami. The Marlins compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the National League (baseball), National League (NL) National League East, East Division. The ...

San Diego Padres The San Diego Padres are an American professional baseball team based in San Diego. The Padres compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the National League (baseball), National League (NL) National League West, West Division. ...

Chicago Cubs The Chicago Cubs are an American professional baseball team based in Chicago. The Cubs compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the National League (baseball), National League (NL) National League Central, Central Division. Th ...

, and

Boston Red Sox The Boston Red Sox are an American professional baseball team based in Boston. The Red Sox compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the American League (AL) American League East, East Division. Founded in as one of the Ameri ...

. Cooper was an

All-Star An all-star team is a group of people all having a high level of performance in their field. Originating in sports, it has since drifted into vernacular and has been borrowed heavily by the entertainment industry. Sports "All-star" as a sport ...

in 2022.

Early life and education

Garrett Nicholas Cooper was raised in

Rancho Palos Verdes, California Rancho Palos Verdes is a coastal city in southern Los Angeles County, California, United States. Incorporated on September 7, 1973, the city has a population of 42,287 as reported in the 2020 United States census. The city sits atop the bluffs of ...

. He attended Loyola High School in

Los Angeles Los Angeles, often referred to by its initials L.A., is the List of municipalities in California, most populous city in the U.S. state of California, and the commercial, Financial District, Los Angeles, financial, and Culture of Los Angeles, ...

. As a senior, he hit .397 with four home runs and 25 RBIs. After high school, he enrolled and played college baseball at El Camino College and

Auburn University Auburn University (AU or Auburn) is a Public university, public Land-grant university, land-grant research university in Auburn, Alabama, United States. With more than 26,800 undergraduate students, over 6,100 post-graduate students, and a tota ...

. In 2013, his senior year at Auburn, he slashed .354/.481/.540 with seven home runs and 37 RBIs in 56 games.

Career

Milwaukee Brewers

The

Milwaukee Brewers The Milwaukee Brewers are an American professional baseball team based in Milwaukee. The Brewers compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the National League (baseball), National League (NL) National League Central, Central Di ...

selected Cooper in the sixth round of the

2013 Major League Baseball draft The 2013 Major League Baseball draft was held from June 6 through June 8, 2013. The first two rounds were broadcast from Studio 42 of the MLB Network in Secaucus, New Jersey. Each team received one selection per round, going in reverse order of ...

. He signed and spent 2013 with both the

Helena Brewers The Helena Brewers were a Minor League Baseball team in the Pioneer League located in Helena, Montana, from 1978 to 2018. The team played their home games at Kindrick Legion Field, which was built in 1939. They were affiliated with the Milwaukee ...

and the

Wisconsin Timber Rattlers The Wisconsin Timber Rattlers are a Minor League Baseball team of the Midwest League and the High-A affiliate of the Milwaukee Brewers. They are located in Grand Chute, Wisconsin, a town on the outskirts of Appleton in the Fox Cities, and are nam ...

, batting a combined .283 with six home runs and 30 RBIs in 48 total games between both teams. In 2014, he played for Wisconsin, the AZL Brewers, and the Brevard County Manatees, slashing .262/.347/.390 with four home runs and 27 RBIs between the three clubs, and in 2015, he played for Brevard County and the

Biloxi Shuckers The Biloxi Shuckers are a Minor League Baseball team of the Southern League (1964–present), Southern League and the Double-A (baseball), Double-A affiliate of the Milwaukee Brewers. They are located in Biloxi, Mississippi, and are named in ref ...

, posting a combined .310 with eight home runs and 59 RBIs. Cooper spent 2016 with Biloxi and the

Colorado Springs Sky Sox The Colorado Springs Sky Sox were a Minor League Baseball team in Colorado Springs, Colorado. The team played in the Pacific Coast League (PCL) and was the Triple-A (baseball), Triple-A affiliate of the Milwaukee Brewers (2015–2018), Colorado R ...

where he compiled a .292 batting average with nine home runs, 69 RBIs. He began 2017 back with Colorado where he slashed .366/.428/.652 with 17 home runs and 82 RBIs in 75 games.

New York Yankees

On July 13, 2017, the Brewers traded Cooper to the

in exchange for left handed pitcher Tyler Webb. The Yankees promoted Cooper to the major leagues on July 14, and he made his debut that day against the

Fenway Park Fenway Park is a ballpark located in Boston, Massachusetts, less than one mile from Kenmore Square. Since 1912, it has been the home field of Major League Baseball's (MLB) Boston Red Sox. While the stadium was built in 1912, it was substantia ...

. On July 16, Cooper got his first MLB hit off David Price. In 13 games for the Yankees, he batted .326 with five doubles and six RBIs. He also spent time with the

Trenton Thunder The Trenton Thunder are a collegiate summer baseball team of the MLB Draft League. They are located in Trenton, New Jersey, and play their home games at Trenton Thunder Ballpark. From 1994 to 2020, it was a Minor League Baseball team of the D ...

and

Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders The Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders, often abbreviated to SWB RailRiders, are a Minor League Baseball team of the International League (IL) and the Triple-A (baseball), Triple-A affiliate of the New York Yankees. They are located in Moosic, Pen ...

while with the Yankees organization.

Miami Marlins

On November 20, 2017, the Yankees traded Cooper and Caleb Smith to the

for pitcher Michael King and international bonus pool money. On March 25, 2018, the Marlins announced the Cooper had made the Opening Day roster. He was placed on the disabled list at the beginning of May, and was activated at the beginning of July. Cooper hit his first major league home run on May 22, 2019, off

Detroit Tigers The Detroit Tigers are an American professional baseball team based in Detroit. The Tigers compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the American League (AL) American League Central, Central Division. One of the AL's eight chart ...

pitcher Daniel Norris. It was the 39th game he had played in the major leagues. The next day, he hit his second home run, a grand slam, off Detroit pitcher Shane Greene with two outs in the top of the ninth inning; Miami went on to defeat Detroit 5–2. He finished the 2019 season hitting .281/.344/.446 with 15 home runs and 50 RBIs in 381 at bats over 107 games. In the pandemic-shortened 2020 season, Cooper batted .283/.353/.500 with 6 home runs and 20 RBIs in 34 games. On July 28, 2021, it was announced that Cooper had suffered a partial tear of the

ulnar collateral ligament Ulnar collateral ligament (or UCL) may refer to: * Ulnar carpal collateral ligament * Ulnar collateral ligament of elbow joint The ulnar collateral ligament (UCL) or internal lateral ligament is a thick triangular ligament at the medial aspec ...

in his left elbow and would require season-ending surgery. He was subsequently placed on the 60-day injured list. He finished the 2021 season batting .284/.380/.465 with 9 home runs and 33 RBIs in 71 games. On March 22, 2022, Cooper signed a $2.5 million contract with the Marlins, avoiding salary arbitration. Cooper was named to the 2022 MLB All-Star Game as a roster replacement for Bryce Harper, who withdrew from the game due to injury. On September 27, Cooper suffered a fractured finger after getting hit by a pitch in the 6-3 win over the

New York Mets The New York Mets are an American professional baseball team based in the Boroughs of New York City, New York City borough of Queens. The Mets compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the National League (baseball), National ...

On January 13, 2023, Cooper agreed to a one-year, $4.2 million contract with the Marlins, avoiding salary arbitration.

San Diego Padres

On August 1, 2023, the Marlins traded Cooper and Sean Reynolds to the

in exchange for Ryan Weathers. With the Padres he batted .239/.323/.402. He became a free agent on November 2, 2023.

Chicago Cubs

On February 25, 2024, Cooper signed a minor league contract with the

. On March 28, Cooper had his contract selected after making Chicago's Opening Day roster. Though he batted .270 in 12 games, the Cubs designated Cooper for assignment on April 23 after Patrick Wisdom returned to the active roster.

Boston Red Sox

On April 27, 2024, Cooper was traded to the

in exchange for cash considerations. He was added to the team's active roster two days later. Cooper would make his Red Sox debut on April 30 in a game against the

San Francisco Giants The San Francisco Giants are an American professional baseball team based in San Francisco. The Giants compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the National League (baseball), National League (NL) National League West, West Div ...

. During that game, he would strike out twice and exited the game with a right wrist contusion after being hit by a pitch from Sean Hjelle in the 5th inning. In 24 games for Boston, he batted .171/.227/.229 with no home runs and five RBI. Cooper was designated for assignment after Masataka Yoshida returned from the injured list on June 11. After clearing waivers on June 14, he was released by the Red Sox.

Baltimore Orioles

On June 24, 2024, Cooper signed a minor league contract with the

Baltimore Orioles The Baltimore Orioles (also known as the O's) are an American professional baseball team based in Baltimore. The Orioles compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the American League (AL) East Division. As one of the America ...

. In 20 games for the Triple-A

Norfolk Tides The Norfolk Tides are a Minor League Baseball team of the International League and the Triple-A (baseball), Triple-A affiliate of the Baltimore Orioles. They are located in Norfolk, Virginia, and are named in nautical reference to the city's loc ...

, he batted .310/.393/.521 with four home runs and 24 RBI. Cooper elected free agency following the season on November 4.

Atlanta Braves

On January 12, 2025, Cooper signed a minor league contract with the

Atlanta Braves The Atlanta Braves are an American professional baseball team based in the Atlanta metropolitan area. The Braves compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the National League (baseball), National League (NL) National League Eas ...

. In 35 appearances for the Triple-A

Gwinnett Stripers The Gwinnett Stripers are a Minor League Baseball team of the International League (IL) and the Triple-A (baseball), Triple-A affiliate of the Atlanta Braves. They play their home games at Coolray Field in unincorporated Gwinnett County, Georgia ...

, he batted .228/.312/.309 with two home runs and 17 RBI. Cooper was released by the Braves organization on May 18.

Personal life

Cooper and his wife, Erica, had their first child in March 2022.

References

External links

* * {{DEFAULTSORT:Cooper, Garrett 1990 births Living people Arizona League Brewers players Auburn Tigers baseball players Baseball players from Torrance, California Biloxi Shuckers players 21st-century American sportsmen Boston Red Sox players Brevard County Manatees players Chicago Cubs players Colorado Springs Sky Sox players El Camino Warriors baseball players Gwinnett Stripers players Helena Brewers players Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimp players Jupiter Hammerheads players Major League Baseball first basemen Miami Marlins players National League All-Stars New Orleans Baby Cakes players New York Yankees players Norfolk Tides players San Diego Padres players Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders players Trenton Thunder players Wisconsin Timber Rattlers players Loyola High School (Los Angeles) alumni