Cooper Kelly

SINGLE-GAME CAREER HIGHS

• Hits: 2, Kansas State, Apr 16, 2023 ; at Wichita State, Apr 26, 2023 ; at Belmont, Mar 05, 2023
• Doubles: 1, Kansas State, Apr 15, 2023 ; at Wichita State, Apr 26, 2023 ; at Belmont, Mar 05, 2023
• Total bases: 3, at Wichita State, Apr 26, 2023 ; at Belmont, Mar 05, 2023
• RBI: 2, Air Force, Apr 18, 2023 ; at Wichita State, Apr 26, 2023
• Runs scored: 3, Kansas State, Apr 16, 2023
• Walks: 2, Kansas State, Apr 16, 2023 ; Air Force, Apr 18, 2023
• Hit by pitch: 1, Oklahoma State, Apr 23, 2023
• Struck out: 3, at The Citadel, Mar 19, 2023
• Sac bunts: 2, at The Citadel, Mar 19, 2023
• At bats: 5, at Wichita State, Apr 26, 2023
• Field chances: 7, Kansas State, Apr 16, 2023 ; at Charleston Southern, Mar 15, 2023
• Putouts: 3, Kansas State, Apr 16, 2023 ; at Charleston Southern, Mar 15, 2023
• Assists: 5, Air Force, Apr 19, 2023 ; Oklahoma State, Apr 23, 2023 ; at Wichita State, Apr 26, 2023

FRESHMAN – 2023

• Appeared in 17 games (13 starts; six at second base, five at shortstop, one at third base, one at designated hitter)
• .286/.375/.357 (12-for-42), 3 2B, 6 RBI, 9 R, 5 BB
• Finished the season with an eight-game on-base streak; hit safely in seven of those eight to raise his season batting average from .188 to .286
• Made his first career start at second base on 2/27/23, third base on 4/15/23, shortstop on 4/16/23, designated hitter on 5/20/23

HIGH SCHOOL

• Played four years of baseball at Blue Valley Southwest High School
• Helped his team win two state championships, one Eastern Kansas League Championship and two regional championships
• All-State Second Team selection
• 2x All-State Honorable Mention
• All-EKL Second Team selection
• 2x All-EKL Honorable Mention
• Hit .367 in his four-year high school career
• Served as a senior team captain
• Started the state championship game in 2022 on the mound and threw 5.0 innings before moving to third base to finish out the game; also made the game winning catch and had 2 hits
• Received the 2022 Golden Glove award
• Ranked the No. 2 shortstop and No. 5 overall prospect in the state of Kansas by Perfect Game and Prep Baseball Report in 2022
• Also played three years of basketball
• Principal Academic Roll all four years
• Played club ball for the Kansas City Royals Scout team

PERSONAL

• Son of Chad and Michelle Kelly
• Has one older sister, Madeline
• His father, Chad, played baseball at Avila University
• His mother, Michelle, father, Chad, and grandfather, James, all attended KU
• Committed in April 2020
• Picked Kansas over Illinois, Nebraska, Liberty, Southern California and Arizona
• Chose Kansas because, “I truly felt like it was home to me as soon as I stepped on campus. Ever since I was a kid, I have grown up coming to Hoglund Ballpark and Allen Fieldhouse. I knew that If I got the opportunity to play baseball here it would be the perfect fit, and I have been blessed to pursue that dream.
• Teammates with Karter Muck, Jackson Kline and Chase Jans previously
• Born on leap day
• Plans to makes his way into the business side of sports after baseball
• Majoring in sport management