Former Clemson catcher Cooper Ingle owns brutal mistake for Guardians
Article excerpt
Former Clemson catcher Cooper Ingle owned up to a costly mistake after losing track of the outs during the Guardians’ loss to the Rangers.
Cooper Ingle’s first week in the big leagues went from "living in a dream" kind of moment to “welcome to the internet” REAL fast.
The former Clemson standout, whom the Cleveland Guardianscalled up on June 26, found himself in the middle of a brutal rookie mistake Tuesday night against the Texas Rangers. With Cleveland and Texas tied 2-2 in the seventh inning, Ingle caught a fly ball in left field and threw it into the stands, believing it was the third out.
It was only the second out of the inning.
Because the ball went out of play, the runner on second was awarded home, giving Texas the go-ahead run. The Rangers went on to win 4-2, and Ingle’s mistake quickly made the rounds online.
That is a brutal spot for anyone, let alone a rookie who had just reached the majors days earlier. Ingle, who came up as a catcher, was making just his second major league start in the outfield. That does not erase the mistake, but it does add context. This was not some veteran asleep at the wheel. This was a young player trying to adjust to The Show in real time, and baseball did what baseball does: it humbled him immediately.
Former Clemson baseball star is heading to the Big Leagues
📸 Clemson Wire https://t.co/UFM7ltziC5pic.twitter.com/qxN9FOwDee
, Clemson Wire (@Clemson_Wire) June 26, 2026
To Ingle’s credit, he did not duck it afterward. “Obviously, I feel terrible,” Ingle said. “It’s a pretty embarrassing feeling.”
He also said having teammates behind him helped, but he still went and apologized to Cleveland’s pitcher after the play. Nobody needs the obvious explained to them after a mistake like that. Ingle knew.
“It was difficult to shut it out the next time I went to the plate, but I tried my best to shut it out,” Ingle said. “I thought I swung my bat pretty well.”
Before the mistake became the story, Ingle had already earned his first big-league opportunity after tearing through Triple-A Columbus. He hit .284 with a .967 OPS, 12 home runs and 41 RBIs in 51 games before the Guardians brought him up.
At Clemson, Ingle was one of the Tigers’ most reliable hitters, batting .329 over three seasons with 14 home runs, 29 doubles, 81 RBIs and a .425 on-base percentage. The Asheville native helped Clemson win the 2023 ACC Baseball Tournament before Cleveland selected him in the fourth round of the MLB Draft.
Guardians rookie Cooper Ingle threw the ball into the crowd with only two outs in the inning, allowing the go-ahead run to score pic.twitter.com/qpOM2x4qF1
, Jomboy Media (@JomboyMedia) July 1, 2026
So yes, Tuesday was rough. REALLY rough. But it also does not have to define him. “I’m gonna learn from it,” Ingle said. “It doesn’t make you feel great, but things like that happen for a reason.”
That is probably the only way through a moment like this. Own it, wear it on the chest, learn from it, and keep playing the ball that got you promoted into the position that you're in today.
Ingle’s first MLB week now includes a call-up, his first hit, his first RBI moment, and one of the strangest mistakes he will ever make on a baseball field. That is a lot of life packed into a few days.
Former Clemson star Cam Cannarella homers again for Pensacola
📸 John Blackie/Pensacola News Journal, John Blackie/Pensacola News Journal / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images https://t.co/D0f2Ra91LYpic.twitter.com/T9Uf4ycoXx
, Clemson Wire (@Clemson_Wire) July 1, 2026
Welcome to the majors, Cooper.
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This article originally appeared on Clemson Wire: Former Clemson catcher Cooper Ingle owns brutal mistake for Guardians