Cooper Criswell Bio
Cooper Timothy Criswell is an American professional baseball pitcher for the New York Mets of Major League Baseball (MLB). He has previously played in MLB for the Los Angeles Angels, Tampa Bay Rays, and Boston Red Sox. Criswell grew up in Carrollton, Georgia, and had a notable college baseball career at the University of North Carolina after starting at Southern Union State Community College. In the majors, he has made contributions across multiple teams and has demonstrated versatility as both a spot starter and a relief pitcher.
Early Life and Background
Cooper Timothy Criswell was born on July 24, 1996, in Carrollton, Georgia, United States. He grew up in Carrollton and attended Carrollton High School, where he developed into a talented pitcher. His father, Tim Criswell, played college baseball at Georgia Perimeter College before being selected by the San Francisco Giants with the 21st overall pick of the 1983 Major League Baseball Draft. His mother is Dawn Criswell. Growing up around baseball gave Criswell an early understanding of the game and the work ethic required to pursue it as a career.
Path to Baseball
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 75 and 1/3 innings pitched. On April 11, 2018, Criswell was named the Golden Spikes Award Gold Standard Performance of the Week by USA Baseball after striking out 13 batters against the University of Miami, the most strikeouts ever recorded by a relief pitcher during the Mike Fox era at North Carolina. Criswell was selected by the Los Angeles Angels in the 13th round of the 2018 Major League Baseball Draft.
Cooper Criswell Career
Early Career (2019–2020)
Criswell began his professional career in 2019 with the Inland Empire 66ers of the High-A California League. He worked his way through the Angels minor league system, refining his pitching craft and gaining experience against advanced competition. The 2020 minor league season was cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic, and Criswell did not appear in a game that year. Despite the lost developmental season, he remained on the Angels’ radar as a promising arm within their organization.
Los Angeles Angels Era (2021–2022)
Criswell was assigned to the Double-A Rocket City Trash Pandas at the beginning of the 2021 minor league season. He made 12 starts for 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, the Angels selected Criswell’s contract on August 27, 2021. He made his major league debut the same night, giving up three runs in 1 and 1/3 innings pitched before being 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 following day to make room on the 40-man roster for Kyle Tyler. He was claimed off waivers by the Tampa Bay Rays on July 16, 2022.
Tampa Bay Rays Era (2022–2023)
Criswell was designated for assignment by the Rays on July 19, 2022, cleared waivers, and was sent outright to the Triple-A Durham Bulls on July 21. He made 3 starts for Durham, posting a 3.09 ERA with 10 strikeouts in 11 and 2/3 innings pitched. Criswell was selected back to the active roster as a COVID-19 replacement player on September 12, 2022, and tossed 3 and 1/3 innings against the Toronto Blue Jays, striking out four while allowing one earned run. He was assigned to Durham to begin the 2023 season, and his contract was selected to the active roster on April 17, 2023. In 10 games for the Rays, he posted a 5.73 ERA with 27 strikeouts across 33 innings of work. On November 14, 2023, Criswell was designated for assignment after multiple prospects were added to the roster.
Boston Red Sox Era (2024–2025)
On December 13, 2023, the Boston Red Sox signed Criswell to a one-year, $1 million contract. He was optioned to the Triple-A Worcester Red Sox to begin the 2024 season and was recalled on April 13 to make a start against the Los Angeles Angels. In his Red Sox debut, Criswell pitched four innings, allowing five hits, two earned runs, a walk, and four strikeouts as Boston defeated the Angels 7–2. With injuries to Brayan Bello, Nick Pivetta, and Garrett Whitlock, Criswell remained in the starting rotation. On April 24, he earned his first win with the Red Sox after pitching five scoreless innings in an 8–0 victory over the Cleveland Guardians. After being optioned to Triple-A in June and recalled on July 12, Criswell showcased his versatility as both a spot-starter and high-leverage relief pitcher.
Criswell earned a one-year, $1 million contract with the Red Sox for the 2025 season. After starting the year in Triple-A again, he was called up and pitched three innings in relief against the St. Louis Cardinals, giving up five runs on four hits, and was optioned after the game. He was called up several more times, making four more relief appearances before his first start of the season on August 1 against the Houston Astros, where he threw seven innings, allowing a lone run and striking out four. On December 4, 2025, the Red Sox designated Criswell for assignment.
New York Mets Era (2025–Present)
On December 5, 2025, Criswell was claimed off waivers by the New York Mets, giving him a fresh opportunity within another major league organization. His ability to serve as both a starting pitcher and a reliever made him an attractive depth piece for a Mets staff looking to stabilize its rotation and bullpen options. Criswell joined the Mets looking to build on his strong end to 2025 and reestablish himself as a reliable arm at the major league level.
Notable Events and Milestones
Among Criswell’s signature moments is his 13-strikeout relief performance against the University of Miami on April 11, 2018, which earned him USA Baseball Golden Spikes Award Gold Standard Performance of the Week honors and set a Mike Fox-era record at North Carolina. His seven-inning, one-run gem against the Houston Astros on August 1, 2025, stands as one of the strongest starts of his major league career.
Cooper Criswell Family
Family Background and Racing Lineage
Cooper Criswell is the son of Tim and Dawn Criswell. His father, Tim Criswell, played college baseball at Georgia Perimeter College and was selected by the San Francisco Giants with the 21st overall pick of the 1983 Major League Baseball Draft, giving Cooper a direct connection to professional baseball through his family’s baseball lineage.
Personal Life
On December 10, 2022, Criswell married his girlfriend Alex. In May 2023, the couple announced that they were expecting a child, and on November 9, 2023, they welcomed a son named Cash Alexander Criswell. Criswell maintains an active presence on social media and continues to live a family-centered life while pursuing his major league career.
2025 Season Performance
Criswell entered the 2025 season with the Boston Red Sox on a one-year, $1 million contract after starting the year in Triple-A Worcester. He was called up and made several relief appearances, including a difficult outing against the St. Louis Cardinals in which he pitched three innings, allowed five runs on four hits, and was optioned back afterward. Criswell was recalled multiple times throughout the season, making four more relief appearances before his first start of the season on August 1 against the Houston Astros. In that start, he delivered seven strong innings, allowing only one run and striking out four batters in a standout performance. After additional appearances down the stretch, the Red Sox designated Criswell for assignment on December 4, 2025. He was claimed off waivers by the New York Mets on December 5, 2025, opening the next chapter of his career and providing momentum heading into the following season.