Cooper Ingle Stats & Scouting Report

AB	39
AVG	.179
OBP	.227
SLG	.308
HR	1

Full name John Cooper Ingle
Born 02/23/2002 in Asheville, NC
Profile Ht.: 5'10" / Wt.: 185 / Bats: L / Throws: R
School Clemson
Drafted in the 4th round (125th overall) by the Cleveland Guardians in 2023 (signed for $400,000).

View Draft Report

School: Clemson Source: 4YR

Commit/Drafted: Never Drafted
Age At Draft: 21.4
BA Grade:40/High
Tools:Hit: 50. Power: 30. Run: 40. Field: 50. Arm: 45.

Ingle played just 10 games with Clemson during his 2021 freshman season, before exploding onto the scene in 2022, when he hit .351/.449/.526 with more walks than strikeouts, as well as eight homers and 13 doubles as a catcher and outfielder. That production didn’t fully translate to a summer in the Cape Cod League with Chatham, but Ingle continued to show strong on-base skills and walked more than he struck out once again with a .401 OBP despite a .252 average. During the 2023 season, Ingle slashed .324/.414/.456 with six home runs, a 12.9% walk rate and 9.6% strikeout rate. As could be gleaned from his track record, Ingle has a solid eye and doesn’t chase out of the zone too frequently or swing-and-miss overall, with an 89% contact rate and 19% chase rate in 2023. At 5-foot-10, 190 pounds, Ingle doesn’t have much power and doesn’t project to grow into significantly more in the future. Behind the plate, Ingle sets a low target with a one-knee setup and has solid receiving skills with fringe-average pure arm strength but a quick release that helps him get rid of the ball quickly. He has a solid backup catching profile.

Top Rankings

Organization Prospect Rankings

BA Grade/Risk: 50/High.

Track Record: Ingle showed standout plate discipline and contact skills as a catcher and outfielder with Clemson, though there were questions about his defensive profile behind the plate. The Guardians signed him for $400,000 in the fourth round in 2023, then watched him turn in one of the best offensive seasons among minor league catchers in 2024, when he hit .305/.419/.478 with a 160 wRC+ between High-A Lake County and Double-A Akron.

Scouting Report: Ingle has a smaller frame at 5-foot-9, 180 pounds and has a relaxed, open stance in the batter’s box with a quick and direct lefthanded swing that leads to tons of line-drive contact. Like many hitters Cleveland targets, Ingle stands out for his plate discipline and contact skills. He rarely expands the zone and has consistently walked more than he has struck out dating back to his amateur days. In 2024 he managed above-average contact (85.6%) and zone-contact rates (90.4%). Ingle doesn’t have much raw power, and as a 22-year-old without much physical projection isn’t likely to grow into much more. The homers he hits are nearly exclusively to his pull side, and he’ll derive his offensive value from high averages and on-base percentages. He’s a good runner for a catcher who can get out of the box quickly when he needs to. Ingle has made strides defensively and works from a one-knee setup with reliable hands, blocking ability and game-calling. His pure arm strength is fringy at best, but he threw out 27.3% of baserunners in 2024 thanks to a quick exchange. He has the tools to be a solid defender with continued progress.

The Future: Ingle doesn’t have the sort of impact to be a middle-of-the-order bat, but his contact skills, zone control and defensive ability should allow him to carve out a regular big league catching role.

Scouting Grades: Hit: 55 | Power: 30 | Run: 50 | Field: 50 | Arm: 45.

Draft Prospects

School: Clemson Source: 4YR

Commit/Drafted: Never Drafted
Age At Draft: 21.4
BA Grade:40/High
Tools:Hit: 50. Power: 30. Run: 40. Field: 50. Arm: 45.

Ingle played just 10 games with Clemson during his 2021 freshman season, before exploding onto the scene in 2022, when he hit .351/.449/.526 with more walks than strikeouts, as well as eight homers and 13 doubles as a catcher and outfielder. That production didn’t fully translate to a summer in the Cape Cod League with Chatham, but Ingle continued to show strong on-base skills and walked more than he struck out once again with a .401 OBP despite a .252 average. During the 2023 season, Ingle slashed .324/.414/.456 with six home runs, a 12.9% walk rate and 9.6% strikeout rate. As could be gleaned from his track record, Ingle has a solid eye and doesn’t chase out of the zone too frequently or swing-and-miss overall, with an 89% contact rate and 19% chase rate in 2023. At 5-foot-10, 190 pounds, Ingle doesn’t have much power and doesn’t project to grow into significantly more in the future. Behind the plate, Ingle sets a low target with a one-knee setup and has solid receiving skills with fringe-average pure arm strength but a quick release that helps him get rid of the ball quickly. He has a solid backup catching profile.