Cooper's recovery progressing
Right-hander participating in bullpen sessions after missing last season.
In the wake of a disappointing season, some observers expect Texas baseball to rebound emphatically because of a pitching staff that returns seven contributors who started a game in 2015.
And another who made a start in 2014. Morgan Cooper is back. The right-hander is progressing in bullpen sessions this fall,
the surest sign he is on the right path after undergoing Tommy John surgery 11 months ago. He
threw 35 pitches Sunday, throwing nothing but fastballs for the time being.
“It went well,” pitching coach Skip Johnson said at a media gathering Tuesday. “The fastball
command was there.” It’s unlikely Cooper will throw in one of three intrasquad games this month, but Johnson has not ruled out putting him through a simulated start.
It was around this time a year ago that Johnson feared the worst and shut Cooper down for fall ball. His elbow didn’t
improve, forcing reconstructive surgery in November. The issue first arose during Cooper’s senior season at Jarrell, but it was not as significant as it would eventually get.
Cooper soldiered through an excellent freshman season and posted a 2.89 ERA in 56 innings. He made 29 appearances (one start) and kept things close with 42/3 innings of one-run pitching in a season-ending loss against Vanderbilt in the College World Series.
“Over the summer, the elbow got worse,” Cooper said. “It got to the point where I couldn’t take it anymore.”
Once he’s back full-go, Cooper will be on track for a spot in the starting rotation, where competition is heavy from returners and newcomers.
Sophomores Connor Mayes and Kyle Johnston have settled in as starters, according to Johnson, after being tried at various spots last year. Questions about their ability to pitch a weekend series were answered at the Big 12 Tournament when Mayes worked a complete-game shutout and Mayes logged six innings in a victory over Oklahoma State in the championship game.
The incoming class has Johnson gushing.
“The freshmen have shocked me,” he said. “Not surprised me, but shocked me.”
Johnson mentioned right-handed pitcher Nolan Kingham (Las Vegas), left-handed pitcher Nick Kennedy (Tampa), right-hander Blake Wellman (Brenham) and righty Chase Shugart (Bridge City). Kingham was taken in the 39th round of the major league draft by the Milwaukee Brewers. Also in the mix are juniors Josh Sawyer (3-3, 4.82) and Kacy Clemens (3-2, 4.17).
Johnson said Clemens, who was moved to first base late in the season because of an elbow injury, consistently reached 89-91 mph in a recent bullpen session.
And Johnson added that Chad Hollingsworth (3-5, 5.75) is out until April or May with a shoulder injury that bothered him throughout last year and kept him out of postseason competition.
““We’re going to be deep,” Cooper said. “There’s no reason we shouldn’t have the best pitching staff in the country.” Contact Ryan Autullo at 512445-3958. Twitter: @autulloAAS