The Red Sox have signed undrafted free agent Cooper Adams out of Mount St. Mary’s University in Emmitsburg, Md., per an announcement from the school.
Adams, a 23-year-old right-hander, was passed over in the 2023 amateur draft after going 8-3 and posting a 4.70 ERA with 73 strikeouts to 20 walks in 14 starts (82 1/3 innings) for the Mountaineers as a fifth-year senior last season.
Hailing from the Old Line State himself, Adams spent the first three years of his collegiate career at the University of Maryland, Baltimore County and pitched to a 7.09 ERA with 28 strikeouts to 23 walks in 21 total appearances (eight starts) spanning 59 2/3 innings of work for the Retrievers. The Potomac native then transferred to Mount St. Mary’s in 2021 and led his team in both starts (11) and innings pitched (65 1/3 innings) the following spring.
Despite improving across the board in his final year of eligibility, Adams had to wait until just recently to enter the professional ranks. To that end, the 6-foot-3, 215-pound hurler threw at Tread Athletics’ annual pro day weekend in Charlotte, N.C. last month and apparently left a lasting impression on the scouts who were on hand.
“Adams got on the mound on Day 3 and showed up as a new pitcher, not the arm that was at Mount St. Mary’s last spring,” wrote Rylan Domingues, who has since joined the Phillies organization as a pitching development analyst. “He ran his fastball up to 96.8 MPH while averaging 95.1, higher than his previous best of 94.9. Along with that, he showcased a sinker, slider and a kick change, all new or much improved. He has totally reinvented himself post college and deserves a shot.”
That shot will evidently come with the Red Sox, who have worked to overhaul their pitching infrastructure under chief baseball officer Craig Breslow this winter. Since being hired in October, Breslow has made some notable additions to Boston’s pitching department, including Justin Willard (who previously worked for the Twins) as director of pitching and Kyle Boddy (who founded Driveline Baseball) as a special advisor.
It remains to be seen where Adams, who turns 24 in June, will make his professional debut this season. While Low-A Salem or maybe even High-A Greenville are the likely destinations, the Red Sox will presumably evaluate Adams throughout spring training before arriving at a decision.
Leave a Reply