Baylor School’s Cooper Kinney could go from Mr. Tennessee Baseball to MLB Draft pick
CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. (BVM) — Cooper Kinney is used to earning hardware as the Baylor School baseball star has been an integral part of a Red Raiders program that has won three straight Tennessee Secondary Schools Athletic Association Division II-AA titles. The senior third baseman wrapped up his final prep season in style by not only helping the Red Raiders team coached by his father defend their back-to-back titles, but also by being named the 2021 Division II-AA Mr. Tennessee Baseball by the Tennessee Baseball Coaches Association on May 24.
Congratulations to Cooper Kinney for winning The 2021 Division II-AA Mr. Baseball#GBR #SpringFling pic.twitter.com/ohqjanxwPb
— Baylor School Sports (@RaiderReCap) May 25, 2021
Kinney earned the honor after a stellar season in which he hit .456 and a .967 slugging percentage with nine home runs, 17 doubles and 44 RBIs during the regular season. In addition, Kinney was a crucial contributor to the Red Raiders during their championship matchup against Briarcrest Christian on May 27 as his two-run ground rule double helped secure the 8-1 victory.
D2-AA Mr. Baseball ‘21 UTL @cooperkinney8 (@GamecockBasebll) rips a ground rule double into the RF corner, plating two giving @BaylorBase a 4-0 lead in the state finals. What a lefty stroke. @prepbaseball @ShooterHunt @NathanRode @PBR_DraftHQ pic.twitter.com/1n17rkUTpF
— PBR Tennessee (@PBRTennessee) May 27, 2021
In addition to his prep recognition, Kinney has also earned plenty of attention nationally. Recruited as a utility player, Kinney committed to the University of South Carolina after being ranked in the top 100 players in the Class of 2021 by Perfect Game. With the Gamecocks, Kinney will join fellow Baylor teammate Vytas Valincius who helped propel the Red Raiders in the championship with a three-run home run in the third inning. While many pundits see the South Carolina squad as one to fear in the future, Kinney may not be along for the ride.
According to a May 20 article by Jim Callis and Jonathan Mayo of MLB.com, Kinney is seen as one of the biggest prospect risers in the 2021 MLB Draft.
“One of the most advanced high school hitters available, Kinney repeatedly barrels balls with a quick left-handed swing and mature approach, and he could develop average power as he gets stronger,” the article reads. “The question is where he’ll play defensively because he’s a well-below-average runner with fringy arm strength, and the best-case scenario is that he becomes an adequate second baseman in the mold of Daniel Murphy.”
With the draft a little over a month away on July 11, Kinney has seen his name circulate more in recent weeks. Ranked as the No. 112 prospect in the draft by MLB.com, the decision to make the jump to the pros will certainly be one that the former Red Raider will have to think about. If he is selected, Kinney will add MLB Draft pick to his already stacked list of accomplishments.
