Cooper Criswell

Cooper Timothy Criswell...On Twitter: @criswell_cooper...Was not selected to Angels Player Pool during 2020 season...Pitched junior season of college at University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and earned save in Tar Heels opening game of 2018 College World Series vs. Oregon State...Pitched to a 2.99 ERA (75.1 IP - 25 ER) with 86 strikeouts in 26 games (nine starts) for UNC...Began collegiate career at Southern Union State Community College (Wadley, AL)...Went 10-1 during his sophomore season with six complete games...Graduate of Carrolton HS (Carrolton, GA) where he was an Honor Roll student and won 2014 baseball state championship...Named All-Region and All-State First Team as a junior...Missed senior season due to injury...Father, Tim Criswell, was drafted by Dodgers in third round of 1983 Draft out of Georgia Perimeter College and played five minor league seasons in Dodgers and Braves organizations...Tim began career as a pitcher totaling 34 minor league games (12 starts) on the mound before primarily playing catcher his final three seasons...Tim also played college basketball and is a long-time high school basketball coach in Georgia...Originally signed by Angels scout Chris McAlpin.

2021

Started season with Double-A Rocket City, where he made 12 starts, going 6-4 with a 3.71 ERA (70.1 IP - 39 ER) with 85 strikeouts and just eight walks...Won four consecutive starts for Trash Pandas from June 16-July 3, going 4-0 with a 2.30 ERA (27.1 IP - 7 ER) with 34 strikeouts and two walks...Earned Double-A South Pitcher of the Week honors for June 14-20...Tossing 6.2 scoreless innings on June 16 vs. Biloxi with three hits allowed, no walks and a minor league career high 14 strikeouts...Promoted to Triple-A Salt Lake on July 31 and made four starts for Bees, going 2-1 with a 3.98 ERA (20.1 IP - 9 ER) before having contract selected by Angels on Aug. 27...Made Major League debut Aug. 27 with start vs. San Diego (L; 1.1 IP, 6 H, 3 ER, 0 BB, 0 SO)...At time of promotion was rated by MLB.com as the #29 overall prospect in the Angels organization and the #15 pitcher...Was optioned back to Salt Lake following the start for Angels and made final five starts of year for Bees.