What differentiates Cooper from the innumerable other fans of the Halos is that Cooper has reputedly held three-time MVP Mike Trout hitless across seven career plate appearances (0-for-6 with a walk, including back-field and exhibition at-bats). Cooper most recently got Trout Saturday night when Great Britain squared off with Team USA during the 2023 World Baseball Classic.
“When you’ve been retired from professional baseball for nine years, you’re playing with house money at this point,” Cooper said. “It was the [least] stress I’ve felt pitching in a long time.”
Flamethrower Roki Sasaki felt so bad about hitting the Czech Republic’s Willie Escala in the knee that he met him at the team hotel to give him two shopping bags full of Japanese treats.