Back in his Har-Ber High School days, Cooper Dossett wasn't just some prospect, man, he was a record-setting phenom, uncorking a 100 MPH throw from the outfield that set a Perfect Game national record. This dude was a four-year letterman with the Wildcats, excelling on the mound and at the plate, with scouts calling him one of the best overall players from Arkansas in the 2022 draft class, and one of the nation's top high school talents.
The High School Hype Was REAL
Seriously, Dossett's high school stats are straight fire. Over 79 games, he slashed .312/.432/.625, cranking out 21 doubles, 2 triples, and 10 home runs, all while showing patience at the plate with 26 walks against 46 strikeouts. And then there's the pitching side: 28 appearances, 98.2 innings, a sparkling 2.13 ERA, 43 hits allowed, 71 walks, and a ridiculous 188 strikeouts. He was the real deal, a true two-way player with a strong commitment to the University of Arkansas. But here's where it gets wild: despite all that hype and talent, he went undrafted in the 2022 MLB Draft, heading off to Fayetteville that fall.A Wild Ride Through College and Injury
His journey at Arkansas was a rollercoaster, and not the fun kind. In his freshman year, Dossett only appeared in two games out of the bullpen, giving up 4 runs in a measly 1.2 innings before coach Van Horn lost confidence in him, sidelining him for the rest of the season. Ouch. That summer, he tried to get innings in with the Green Bay Rockers of the Northwoods League, pitching in 13 games with a 4.83 ERA over 31.2 innings. Fast forward to 2024, coach Van Horn gave him another shot, a longer leash this time. But it was more struggles: 14 relief appearances, a 5.17 ERA in 15.2 innings. And if that wasn't bad enough, his arm gave out on the final day of the regular season in a 14-4 blowout loss against the Texas A&M Aggies. Torn UCL. Tommy John surgery that fall. He missed the entire 2025 season. Unbelievable, right? And, yep, he went undrafted again in the 2025 MLB Draft.The Fight Back This Spring
So, this spring, his redshirt junior year, Dossett was back on the mound. He appeared in 16 games, but the numbers are still tough: a 6.88 ERA in 17.0 innings, giving up 12 hits, walking 12, and striking out 18. After the Razorbacks season wrapped, he joined the Williamsport Crosscutters in the MLB Draft League. Mechanically, he's throwing from a three-quarters arm slot with a full over-the-head wind-up, apparently short-arming the ball. He used to be a low-three-quarters guy earlier in college, so those changes are clearly an attempt to get control and arm health back. He's working with a four-seam fastball, cutter, curveball, and the occasional changeup. That fastball? It sits low-to-mid-90s, but he's touched 96 MPH this summer in the Draft League. The velocity is just barely passable for a right-hander, but after everything this guy has been through, you gotta wonder what's next. It's a long shot, but if he can piece it together, that arm talent is still somewhere in there.This article was created with AI assistance and reviewed by Seattle On Tap editorial staff. Always verify information with official team sources.