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Cardinals draft Cooper Hjerpe in the 1st round

First things first, it appears his name is pronounced like it sounds - Cooper. As for his last name, just make up a sound. No but seriously, I believe it is pronounced “jerpy” with a silent “h.” Workshop your best jokes while he’s in the minors, because you’re really going to have to stand out once he reaches the majors.

Which may be sooner than you think. Hjerpe was absolutely dominant in college, striking out 161 batters to just 23 walks in 103 innings. He has a very funky delivery, with an apt comparison to Josh Hader. For that reason, there is a fear that he will have to go to the bullpen, traditionally not what you want if you are drafting in the 1st round.