Cooper Hummel Bio
Cooper Everett Hummel (born November 28, 1994) is an American professional baseball outfielder and catcher for the Yokohama DeNA BayStars of Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB). He has previously played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Arizona Diamondbacks, Seattle Mariners, Houston Astros, and Baltimore Orioles. A versatile utility player, Hummel has spent time at the plate, in the field, and on the base paths across multiple organizations since 2016.
Born and raised in Oregon, Hummel developed his game in the Pacific Northwest before climbing the minor league ladder and reaching the majors. His career has carried him through the Milwaukee Brewers system, brief MLB stints with several clubs, and now a new chapter in Japan.
Early Life and Background
Cooper Everett Hummel was born on November 28, 1994, in Lake Oswego, Oregon. He grew up in the same lakeside community where he first learned the game of baseball. As a child, he was a member of the Lake Oswego Little League team that advanced to the U.S. semifinals of the 2007 Little League World Series, an early sign of the competitive drive that would shape his career.
Hummel attended Lakeridge High School in Lake Oswego, Oregon, where he continued to develop as a multi-position player. After high school, he went on to play three seasons of college baseball at the University of Portland, suiting up for the Portland Pilots and sharpening the hitting and catching skills that would later define his professional profile.
Path to Baseball
Hummel entered professional baseball when the Milwaukee Brewers selected him in the 18th round of the 2016 Major League Baseball draft. He made his professional debut that summer with the rookie-level Helena Brewers, getting his first taste of life in a full-time organization. The Brewers moved him up the ladder steadily, with stops at High-A Carolina, Double-A Biloxi, and Triple-A Nashville over the next several seasons.
During his time in the minors, Hummel built a reputation as a patient hitter with a strong on-base approach. He set career highs in home runs and RBI while with the Double-A Biloxi Shuckers in 2019, and he missed the canceled 2020 minor league season because of the COVID-19 pandemic. That steady climb through the Brewers system set the stage for his first major league opportunity.
Cooper Hummel Career
Early Career (2016–2020)
Hummel began his professional journey in 2016 with the Helena Brewers, the rookie-level affiliate of the Milwaukee Brewers. In 2017, he moved up to the High-A Carolina Mudcats, where he played 59 games and posted a slash line of .244/.368/.381. The following year, he returned to Carolina and improved to .260/.397/.410 with eight home runs and 50 RBI across 103 games.
In 2019, Hummel reached Double-A with the Biloxi Shuckers and enjoyed his most productive minor league season to that point, hitting .249/.384/.450 with career highs of 17 home runs and 56 RBI in 121 games. He was set to build on that performance in 2020, but the minor league season was canceled because of the COVID-19 pandemic, putting his development on temporary hold.
Milwaukee Brewers (2016–2021)
After the canceled 2020 campaign, Hummel was assigned to the Triple-A Nashville Sounds to open 2021. He hit .254/.435/.508 with six home runs and 15 RBI before a midseason change of scenery. On July 28, 2021, the Brewers traded Hummel and Alberto Ciprian to the Arizona Diamondbacks in exchange for Eduardo Escobar, ending his time in the Milwaukee organization.
Arizona Diamondbacks (2021–2022)
Hummel finished the 2021 season with the Triple-A Reno Aces, batting .353/.429/.575 with six home runs and 37 RBI in 46 games. That strong finish earned him a spot on Arizona’s 40-man roster that November, protecting him from the Rule 5 draft.
He made his MLB debut on Opening Day on April 7, 2022, as a pinch hitter for Jake McCarthy. A few days later, on April 10 against the San Diego Padres, he recorded his first career hit and home run off reliever Javy Guerra. In 66 appearances during his rookie year, Hummel slashed .176/.274/.307 with three home runs, 17 RBI, and four stolen bases.
Seattle Mariners (2022)
On November 17, 2022, the Diamondbacks traded Hummel to the Seattle Mariners in exchange for Kyle Lewis. He spent most of the year with the Triple-A Tacoma Rainiers, hitting .262/.409/.435 with eight home runs, 47 RBI, and 26 stolen bases. In 10 games with Seattle, he went 2-for-23 (.087) with no home runs or RBI.
Houston Astros Era (2023–2025)
Hummel bounced around the league after his Mariners stint. On December 1, 2023, he was claimed off waivers by the New York Mets, then designated for assignment and later traded to the San Francisco Giants for cash considerations. After a brief stay in the Giants system, he was claimed off waivers by the Houston Astros on April 4, 2024, and was optioned to the Triple-A Sugar Land Space Cowboys, where he hit .301/.423/.509 with seven home runs and 31 RBI. The Astros brought him up in June 2024, but he went 0-for-8 in six games before being designated for assignment again.
Hummel rejoined Houston in 2025, signing a minor league deal on June 6 and earning another call-up to the active roster on June 14. In 36 appearances for the Astros that summer, he slashed .172/.301/.276 with three home runs, seven RBI, and one stolen base. He was designated for assignment on August 11 and elected free agency on August 15.
Baltimore Orioles (2025)
On May 25, 2025, Hummel signed a major league contract with the Baltimore Orioles. He was designated for assignment the next day following the promotion of Chadwick Tromp, cleared waivers, and elected free agency. He re-signed with Baltimore on May 30, made one appearance in which he struck out in his only at-bat, and was designated for assignment again on June 2 before electing free agency on June 5.
Yokohama DeNA BayStars (2025–Present)
On December 8, 2025, Hummel signed with the Yokohama DeNA BayStars of Nippon Professional Baseball, taking his career overseas to Japan. The move marked a new beginning after a busy 2025 that saw him suit up for several organizations.
Notable Events and Milestones
Hummel’s early career featured a memorable debut: his first MLB hit and home run came on April 10, 2022, against the San Diego Padres. As a child, he was part of the Lake Oswego Little League team that reached the U.S. semifinals of the 2007 Little League World Series, one of the defining moments of his youth.
Cooper Hummel Career Wins
Cooper Hummel has not posted a major league win as a pitcher, and verified win totals in other categories are limited. He has, however, accumulated several individual offensive milestones, including his first MLB home run and a productive 2021 finish at Triple-A Reno.
Minor League Highlights
With the Double-A Biloxi Shuckers in 2019, Hummel set career highs with 17 home runs and 56 RBI. His strong 2024 stretch with the Triple-A Sugar Land Space Cowboys, where he hit .301/.423/.509, helped him earn another opportunity in the majors with the Astros.
Cooper Hummel Family
Personal Life
Hummel married his wife, Ashley, in 2021. The couple has been a steady presence in his life throughout his travels through the minor leagues and major leagues, and now during his time in Japan with the Yokohama DeNA BayStars.
2025 Season Performance
The 2025 season was a whirlwind for Hummel. He split time between the Houston Astros and the Baltimore Orioles at the major league level, with several stints at Triple-A in between. After electing free agency multiple times, he found a more stable landing spot late in the year with the Triple-A Durham Bulls in the Tampa Bay Rays organization, where he batted .312/.471/.731 with 11 home runs and 26 RBI in 28 games before electing free agency again on November 6.
On December 8, 2025, Hummel signed with the Yokohama DeNA BayStars of Nippon Professional Baseball, opening a new chapter in his career. The signing gives him a fresh opportunity to play every day in Japan after a busy and uncertain year bouncing between organizations.
Looking ahead, Hummel is expected to compete for playing time as a versatile outfielder and catcher in NPB, bringing his patient plate approach and base-running skills to a new league and a new country.