Chad Spanberger Scouting Report, Colorado Rockies — January, 2018
Full Name: Chad Spanberger
DOB: November 1, 1995 (22)
Birthplace: Granite City, IL
School: University of Arkansas
Acquired: 6th Round, 2017 MLB Draft
Height, Weight: 6’3”, 235 lbs.
Bats/Throws: L/R
Dates Observed: September 3-5, 2017
Affiliate(s): Grand Junction Rockies (rookie level, Colorado Rockies)
Previous Reports: None
Tool (FV)
Notes & Comments
Hit (55)
Slightly open stance at start with slow load and small leg kick; short to the ball, long through it with simple, efficient stroke that lets his hands do the work. Feel for barrel helps lift ball with authority, predominantly to pull side. Over-aggressive at times and will hack dead red early in count regardless of where pitch is, but feel for hitting the ball with authority and bat speed to back it up in most scenarios. Well balanced throughout swing mechanics with good, high finish to help lift ball. Tore up rookie ball in 2017 and needs to face better pitching, but generally good approach at the plate (minus aggressiveness and tendency to pull too often) and will do well to be challenged in full-season ball next summer.
Power (60)
Plus power, both raw and in game action. Easy stroke with good bat speed and strong hands and wrists; ball jumps off his bat without having to do too much through swing mechanics. Admittedly benefitted from extreme hitter’s environment in rookie ball, but he’ll hit for power wherever he goes, particularly to his pull side. Big, thick lower half with strong chest and torso; natural build greatly aids power profile, though he’s more or less maxed out with little physical projection remaining. Cold zones on outer half of the plate; if he adjusts to hit for power to opposite field with consistency, Spanberger will be a monster in the coming years.
Glove (50)
Serviceable, if not spectacular glove at first base; reliable defender with decent feel for the position and the bag, but unremarkable in work there beyond being reliable enough to continue at the position. Good, big target at first for infielders. Asserts himself well as captain on infield, and on cut plays from the outfield. Ultimately, should play well enough at first base to warrant sticking there through career; bat will ultimately carry him more so than the glove.
Arm (45)
Similar to glove — serviceable arm strength at first base or possibly slightly below, but enough to survive there moving forward. Unremarkable in all facets of arm strength — accuracy, velocity, carry, etc. — and slightly below average with all in my looks in early September, but far from being a defensive liability there.
Speed (30)
Recorded 4.39 and 4.44 times to first base in my September look; far from a good runner and lacks overall athleticism, with heavy, plodding feet and slow first step. Unlikely to ever become an average runner, but little need to be one, either; carrying tools will come in development of his bat over the next few years.
Notes
Somewhat under-the-radar find for the Colorado Rockies from Arkansas in 2017; apparently was a catcher in his amateur days, so likely high baseball IQ with which to work as he moves over to first base. (No indication he’ll continue to catch as a pro after only playing first base at Grand Junction.) Impressive power for first year guy, even with over-aggressiveness at the plate, and while he’ll be tested by better pitchers in the coming years and may get exploited through that aggressiveness, he has god barrel skills and could turn into a legitimate power option in the future. Will be interesting to see where he’s assigned in 2018; for me, the Colorado Rockies would do well to move Chad Spanberger all the way to High-A Lancaster, jumping Low-A Asheville completely and testing him to see if he’s able to hit more age-appropriate pitching in the California League.
OFP (50 FV)
Admittedly, I’d have liked to have seen Chad Spanberger a bit more before finalizing a 50 FV on him entering 2018, but here we are; the Colorado Rockies have a nice power prospect here in the same vein as a guy like Daniel Jipping, but with Spanberger showing better bat skills to project into an everyday lineup role than just as a bench power option. Spanberger should move fairly quickly coming from an SEC program, and it wouldn’t surprise me to see him with High-A Lancaster to begin 2018. We’ll see how his aggressive tendencies fare against better pitchers at that level, though there’s no doubt Lancaster’s unique ballpark will help push his power totals. Similarly, if Spanberger is sent to Asheville, a short porch in right field should help him produce a nice season in the South Atlantic League. Don’t be fooled by park factors alone here, though; Chad Spanberger has legitimate raw power and it should carry him through the minors regardless of where he plays. Beyond that, his name will soon enough show up in a conversation about potential future first basemen in Denver, with a shot to reach Coors Field by 2020 in a best-case scenario. MLB ETA: 2020.
Chad Spanberger Scouting Report, Colorado Rockies — Game Video
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