The Wingnuts acquired Cooper from the Kansas City T-Bones in an offseason trade prior to the 2017 season. In his debut campaign with the Wingnuts, Cooper ranked top-20 in the league in both games started (19) and innings pitched (108.2), racking up an 8-2 record.  The righty finished with a 3.98 ERA, one of only nine starters in the American association to make at least 19 starts and record an ERA below 4.00. Originally drafted in the 17th round of the 2008 draft by the Boston Red Sox out of high school, Cooper decided to pitch two seasons at Wichita State rather than sign with Boston. The righty was named the 2010 Missouri Valley Conference Pitcher of the Year, and was subsequently drafted by the Cleveland Indians in the ninth round of that year’s draft. In seven seasons with the Indians, Cooper climbed as high as Triple-A Columbus and went 33-38 with a 4.18 ERA in 157 appearances, 74 of which were starts, in 555.0 innings. After he was released by Cleveland last May, Cooper signed with the T-Bones and made 19 starts, posting a 3-6 record and 4.58 ERA in 112.0 innings.