Eric Cooper, a Major League Baseball umpire who worked the American League Division Series two weeks ago, has died. He was 52.

Commissioner Rob Manfred announced Cooper's death Sunday.

Cooper died after having a blood clot. He had knee surgery earlier in the week and was recuperating at his father's home in Iowa. Popular with his fellow umps, he spoke with some of them Saturday about his recovery.

Cooper made his debut in the majors in 1996 as a minor league fill-in and joined the big league staff in 1999.