Cooper Criswell
Cooper Criswell (born July 24, 1996) is an American professional baseball pitcher for the Tampa Bay Rays of Major League Baseball (MLB). He made his MLB debut in 2021 with the Los Angeles Angels. Early career

Criswell grew up in Carrollton, Georgia and attended Carrollton High School. Criswell began his college baseball career at Southern Union State Community College. As a sophomore, he compiled a 10–1 win–loss record with a 2.54 earned run average (ERA) and committed to continue his college career at the University of North Carolina. In his lone season with the North Carolina Tar Heels, Criswell went 6–2 with a 2.99 ERA and 86 strikeouts in  innings pitched. Professional career

Los Angeles Angels
The Los Angeles Angels selected Criswell in the 2018 Major League Baseball draft. He began his professional career the following year with the Inland Empire 66ers of the  Class A-Advanced California League. He did not play in a game in 2020 due to the cancellation of the minor league season because of the COVID-19 pandemic. Criswell was assigned to the Double-A Rocket City Trash Pandas at the beginning of the 2021 minor league season. Criswell made 12 starts for Double-A Rocket City, going 6–4 with a 3.71 ERA and 85 strikeouts. On July 31, Criswell was promoted to the Triple-A Salt Lake Bees. After going 2–1 with a 3.98 ERA and 27 strikeouts through four starts, on August 27, the Angels selected Criswell's contract. He made his debut the same night, giving up three runs in 1.1 innings pitched. He was optioned back to Salt Lake the next day. On April 7, 2022, Criswell was placed on the 10-day injured list with a right shoulder strain and was moved to the 60-day injured list the next day to make room on the 40-man roster for Kyle Tyler. Tampa Bay Rays
On July 16, 2022, Criswell was claimed off waivers by the Tampa Bay Rays. He was designated for assignment on July 19. He cleared waivers and was sent outright to the Triple-A Durham Bulls on July 21. He made 3 starts for Durham on the year, posting a 3.09 ERA with 10 strikeouts in 11.2 innings pitched. Criswell was selected back to the active roster as a COVID-19 replacement player on September 12, 2022. He tossed 3.1 innings against the Toronto Blue Jays, striking out 4 and walking one while allowing one earned run on two hits. He was removed from the 40-man roster and returned to Triple-A the next day. Criswell was assigned to Durham to begin the 2023 season, and made 3 starts before he had his contract selected to the active roster on April 17, 2023. References

External links

North Carolina Tar Heels bio

1996 births
Living people
Arizona Complex League Angels players
Baseball players from Georgia (U.S. state)
Durham Bulls players
Inland Empire 66ers players
Los Angeles Angels players
Major League Baseball pitchers
North Carolina Tar Heels baseball players
Sportspeople from Carrollton, Georgia
Rocket City Trash Pandas players
Salt Lake City Bees players
Sportspeople from Carroll County, Georgia
Tampa Bay Rays players