Braves Prospect Watch: Undrafted Signee Cooper Faces Steep Learning Curve After Tough Pro Debut
When the Braves scooped up Cooper as an undrafted free agent following the 2025 MLB Draft, it was a classic low-risk, high-upside move. He had just wrapped up a standout collegiate career at Auburn, and while it was surprising to see him go undrafted, the Braves saw enough in his bat and approach to give him a shot.
College Bat, Pro Adjustment
Let’s start with what Cooper brought to the table out of college. In his final season at Auburn, he was one of the Tigers’ most consistent offensive threats.
Over 61 games, he slashed an impressive .326/.431/.588, showing both patience and power. That 13.9% walk rate?
That’s the kind of plate discipline you love to see in a young hitter. But the 23.5% strikeout rate hinted at some swing-and-miss in his game - a trend that unfortunately carried over into his first taste of pro ball.
Once he joined the Braves’ Single-A affiliate in Rome, the transition wasn’t smooth. Over 21 games, Cooper struggled mightily at the plate, slashing just .132/.263/.235 with only one extra-base hit.
The good news? He still showed a solid eye, walking at a 10% clip.
The bad? A 36% strikeout rate and a .189 BABIP, both of which suggest he wasn’t just unlucky - he was getting overpowered and making weak contact, especially on the ground (51% ground ball rate).
The Red Flags
There’s no sugarcoating it - Cooper’s pro debut was rough. The strikeout rate is the biggest red flag.
Nearly four out of every ten plate appearances ended without the ball in play, and when he did make contact, it wasn’t loud. That combination - swing-and-miss tendencies and weak grounders - is a tough one to overcome at any level, let alone in a system that’s trying to develop impact bats.
But context matters. Cooper was adjusting to a new level of pitching, likely seeing better velocity and sharper breaking stuff than he faced in college. That kind of jump can expose holes in a hitter’s swing, and it looks like that’s exactly what happened here.
2026: A Pivotal Year Ahead
Heading into 2026, expectations are understandably tempered. Cooper is 24, which puts him on the older side for a prospect at this level. That said, the Braves’ system doesn’t have a ton of depth at his position, so he’s likely to get another shot in Rome to start the year.
And that’s where things get interesting. If Cooper can make some adjustments - shorten the swing, improve pitch recognition, and start driving the ball more consistently - he’s got a chance to move quickly.
But the margin for error is slim. At his age, the clock is already ticking, and the Braves will want to see signs of progress early.
For now, Cooper remains a bit of a mystery. The college numbers say there’s something to work with. The early pro returns say there’s a long way to go. 2026 will be about bridging that gap - and proving he belongs in the conversation moving forward.