Cooper Hjerpe, who pitched for NorCal at the 2018 New Balance Baseball Future Stars Series 2019 grad class National Tournament, was taken 22nd overall by the St. Louis Cardinals in the 2022 MLB Draft.
Hjerpe has since gone on to star in college for Oregon State, and was considered by some to be the top college pitcher available.
PICK ANALYSIS BY JEREMY BOOTH, CEO AND PRESIDENT OF THE NEW BALANCE BASEBALL FUTURE STARS SERIES: Cooper is a guy that we had back in 2018 for a hot minute. He was on that loaded NorCal team with Brock Jones and Glenallen Hill Jr. That team was just really talented. Hjerpe is a lower slot guy who can really pitch, has more than enough velocity to get guys out. Kind of reminds me of Matt Boyd a little bit with his profile. Plus breaking ball. I wanted him then, but he was a little bit worn down and couldn’t make International Week at that point. He was a selection with what he could do. Another great makeup kid, and it’s well deserved to be in this position.
Since 2003, he has covered multiple World Series and has worked high-profile events ranging from the MLB All-Star Game to the World Baseball Classic. In addition to his role working for the Future Stars Series that he's held since 2017, Ashmore currently serves as the beat writer of the Double-A New York Yankees affiliate, the Somerset Patriots, as well as national hockey writer and New York Jets game day beat reporter for The Trentonian.
A regular contributor to Baseball America, Ashmore has worked seven Super Bowls, 11 Stanley Cup Finals, the 4 Nations Face-Off, the NBA Playoffs, College Football Playoff National Championship Game, Frozen Four, Daytona 500, major UFC events and much more as he approaches 3,200 games covered in his career.
An avid card collector and sim racer, he lives with his wife, Sarah, their son William, and their beloved dog, Bailey, and cat, Smokey.
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