Two former Kennesaw State Owls have taken their first steps into the professional ranks, each signing minor‑league agreements that slot them into the farm systems of Major League Baseball’s most storied franchises.
Cooper’s Minor‑League Deal with the Angels
Luke Cooper, a left‑handed reliever who dominated the Owls’ bullpen for three seasons, agreed to a contract with the Los Angeles Angels on May 20. The deal follows a collegiate career that featured 55 strikeouts and a 5.09 earned‑run average, and it will see him report to the Angels’ High‑A affiliate in Tri‑City.
Halton Hardy, a right‑hander who finished his two‑year stint at Kennesaw State with a 3.62 ERA and 23 strikeouts in 21 innings, inked a pact with the Minnesota Twins on June 5. His professional debut will begin with the club’s rookie‑level affiliate, the FCL Twins.
Assignments and the Growing Owls Pipeline
Both pitchers have been assigned to their respective minor‑league clubs, marking the latest chapter in a pipeline that now includes seven former Owls alumni competing across the MLB landscape. In addition to Cooper and Hardy, names such as Richard Lovelady, Blake Aita, Braden Osbolt, Tyler Tolve and Blake Wehunt are also embedded in major‑league organizations.
The signings underscore the increasing impact of Kennesaw State’s baseball program on the national stage, as its alumni continue to translate collegiate success into professional opportunity.