Cooper
Casey

Casey has long been a favorite of mine in the Ventura County region for his sound athleticism that combines with a strong overall baseball toolset, which shows up not only in showcase workouts, but has also played at a high level in game play across numerous live looks. Yet again, Casey rose to the top of the players in attendance with one of the best overall showings from the athletic testing portion, running the second fastest 60 in attendance (6.90), the second highest vertical jump, and the RSI score. The athletic ability in Casey translates into how he swings the bat and moves at SS with a strong hit tool and the type of actions that will stick up the middle long term defensively. Using a Baum Bat during BP, Casey lined the ball through the middle of the field at a high clip while posting a max EV of 87.4 MPH and a max distance of 295' using the wood bat, while posting a sweet spot rate over 50%. He plays downhill with tempo and body control at SS to attack balls in front of him and to his glove side while showing confidence attacking to his backhand side with a quick transfer and accuracy in an 80+ MPH INF arm velocity. Casey might be smaller in stature, but is far from lacking in athleticism and baseball tools to be a next-level player.

Casey may not be the type of player who’s going to pass the eye test upon walking into the field, but by the end of the game, any good baseball person will walk out knowing this young man can play some baseball. Compact in size, but athletic actions. He’s now starting for his third year on varsity and has been nothing but a consistent performer who has continued to get better across those three years of live looks for myself. The swing has steadily increased in bat speed while staying in the zone with leverage. The arm has ticked up now looking like one that could stay at SS at the next level. The hands and feet have always been strong, but now with increased athleticism his range has ticked up. All of his baseball skills then combined with a high-level baseball IQ,  making him the type of player who’s going to help a college program win games. He was on the barrel three times collecting one hit while dropping down a fantastic base hit bunt attempt and was called out on a borderline call at first. Made several sound plays at SS including a diving grab of a line drive and a nifty back hand pick to start the front end of a 6–4–3 double play. Casey may not be a dad darling or someone who’s gonna light up metrics that seemed to impress some evaluators, but for those of us who still love a high IQ baseball player with strong tools, understanding of the game and brings a winners mentality, Cooper Casey is the kind of player you would love in your program.

Cooper Casey, Foothill Technology (CA), 2027
Positional Profile: SS/2B MIF with a compact swing and displays consistent barrel control.
Body: 5-6, 155-pounds. Lean frame, athletic, room to grow.
Hit: RHH. Heavy hand and backside load into a shorter stride, balanced. Low hands, compact swing with a flat path, hits line drives.
Power: 87 max exit velocity, averaged 81.2 mph. 310' max distance.
Arm: RH. INF-75 mph. Low 3/4 slot, shorter action with some whip.
Defense: Athletic, stays low with a two-hand gather out front.
ATH: 7.05 runner in the 60. 1.65 and 3.89 in the 10 and 30 yard splits. 23.50 max vertical.
Vizual Edge: 83.96 Edge Score

Casey like Arth continues to grow on me from an initial look at the 2024 OC Preseason ID through two other Prep Baseball California events and now a trio of live looks the compact middle infielder continues to convince me of his college level ability. Moving over to play SS on this day (saw him at 2B in previous look) Casey impressed with the improved actions he showed at SS compared to previous looks that gave me a solid feeling he can stay there in the future. His feet looked quicker with better angles/tempo into and through the ball and can now play on the run versus having to play in fundamental fashion while his arm showed better carry on his throws with a flatter ball flight and minimized the fade/sink from the backhand side to 1B. All the factors combined with improving foot speed and some added strength to his frame has Casey headed in the right direction on the defensive side. The offensive profile for Casey is a sound bat to ball one with a middle to opposite field high contact approach which consistently has shown well and did once again versus solid velocity. The RH hitter stung a hard single to RCF in his first at against an 86 MPH FB before getting hit by a pitch in his second at bat. Much like players who still need to add strength to their toolset so they can reach their potential in bat speed to close the hole at the top of the zone that showed up in his last at bat against 88-90 MPH up in the zone from the Castaic arm. While there is still work to be done on his future profile once again I left the field with an upward arrow in the direction Casey is headed.

The other half of the Dragons middle infield duo Casey is a compact wiry built RH hitter who perfectly fits the “ball player” moniker given by coaches to players whose overall game plays stronger than their raw tools. Casey has performed well at a trio of Prep Baseball California events and this being my second live look at him on the High School circuit he just consistently plays at a strong level. He is solid across the board from his glove to his arm to his feel to hit and his run ability with his lightest tool being his raw power, but as a table-setter profile that suits him just fine. Casey works quality plate appearances with discipline to stay within his plan and get pitches he wants to hit over attacking anything within the zone. When the RH hitter gets a pitch he likes he delivers a compact bat to ball based swing which is showing more bat speed now that he has added a leg kick to get more rhythm with his lower half. Still only a Soph. the foundation of ability I’ve seen in Casey intrigues me to his future as he continues to mature as a player, but even more so physically/athletically.

Cooper Casey, Foothill Technology (CA), 2027
Positional Profile: SS/2B
Body: 5-7, 142-pounds.
Hit: RHH. Stays low during swing with low hands, heavy load, high leg lift. Longer path, snaps wrists, possesses slight lift, sprays the field. 60.3 mph bat speed with 14 G's of rotational acceleration.
Power: 88 max exit velocity, averaged 82.4 mph. 317' max distance.
Arm: RH. INF-77 mph. Full arm circle, 3/4 slot.
Defense: Easy and athletic, fields through the ball.
ATH: 7.25 runner in the 60.
Vizual Edge: 76.89 Edge Score

Casey returned to the Preseason ID stage after a sound 2024 appearance at the OC Preseason ID and a solid showing at the Future Games Tryout: Ventura County in summer 2024. He continues to get stronger and more athletic having added some strength to his wiry athletic frame with room to keep building. As well, he ran a personal best for our staff in the 60 clocking a 7.25 and the arm continues to get stronger up to 75 MPH now. He plays downhill with quick feet on the dirt and solid hands into a quick transfer which helped him to see significant time at SS on the varsity level as a FR., but the increases in his arm strength with room to keep adding more may give him a chance to stay there long term. In addition the swing path continues to trend upward for Casey who showed better leverage with more impact during his 3 rounds of BP lacing the ball the middle of the field with carry. His peak EV is now up to 88.1 MPH while averagaing just under 83 MPH. Casey should be the full time starter at SS for Foothill Tech again this spring and as just a '27 the arrow on him points up to keep getting better.

Cooper Casey, Foothill Technology (CA), 2027
Positional Profile: SS/2B
Body: 5-8, 140-pounds. Athletic frame with room to add strength.
Hit: RHH. Even stance with hands away from his body positioned by his ear. Lots of movement in hands during load. Short, quick swing through the zone.
Power: Shoots the ball where it is pitched.
Arm: RH. INF-74 mph. Low three quarters release across the infield.
Defense: Athletic footwork progressing through the play.
ATH: Explodes off the line.

Cooper Casey, Foothill Technology (CA), 2027
Positional Profile: SS/2B
Body: 5-7, 140-pounds. Small lean athletic frame
Hit: RHH. Sets up even with his feet wider than shoulder with in a small crouch. Hands are set low with a low back elbow around chest height just below his ear. Keeps hands loose with bat waggle. Short stride with his forward move and loads hands back into the launch position. Sequences his lower 1/2, upper body and hands well with some quickness to the swing. His bat path and hands work in a direct path with a flatter angle through contact playing to line drive contact. Shows a middle to pull heavy approach. 60.9 mph bat speed with 22 G's of rotational acceleration.
Power: 85 max exit velocity, averaged 78.6 mph. 310' max distance. With a flatter bat path and smaller frame his power profiles to play for doubles carry to the gaps with sneaky pull side HR potential presently. Showed a consistent feel for hard contact.
Arm: RH. INF-74 mph. Arm stroke is fluid with some depth to the back swing, but shows quickness. Ball comes out with carry. Shows strong feel for accuracy.
Defense: First step is quick with good body control and actions through the ball. Plays well laterally and downhill with instincts. Hands are fluid and can play both 1 and 2 handed.
ATH: 7.45 runner in the 60. shows burst off the line with quickness in running stride.