Seattle Mariners: 2022 Mock Draft Compilation
Cooper Hjerpe, LHP – Oregon State
Of the 14 mocks drafts PNWS audited, left-handed pitcher Cooper Hjerpe (pronounced “Jerpy”) from Oregon State was Seattle’s choice four times. Selecting Hjerpe would be in line with the M’s recent draft philosophy.
Three of their last four first round picks, Gilbert, Hancock, and Kirby, were all successful Division1 pitchers. Last year’s selection of catcher Harry Ford was the first time the Mariners selected a high school player in the first round since 2014, a year before Dipoto became Seattle’s General Manager.
Hjerpe led all of NCAA Division 1 with 161 strikeouts in 2022 and did it in just103.1 innings. More fascinating is that Hjerpe fanned so many batters with a fastball that tops out at 95 miles-per-hour.
It’s easy to think he does it with smoke and mirrors. Hjerpe has a full arsenal of pitches which he delivers from a low three-quarters arm angle, somewhat like Milwaukee standout closer Josh Hader.
His best out pitch is a wipeout slider (see Paul Sewald) that he throws in the upper 80s and a nasty curveball. What makes those pitches special is the spin. When the ball leaves his hand, it moves counter to what hitters expect a pitch coming from his arm angle does.
The Seattle Mariners are a very analytics-driven team when it comes to the amateur draft, and again, like college players. They would be happy to select a productive pitcher over a hard thrower.
Despite his impressive strikeout total, he doesn’t have overpowering stuff, and it’s his overall polish that helped him dominate college hitters. That should also allow him to move quickly through the minors. – Joel Reuter, Bleacher Report