Matt Rizzotti Stats & Scouting Report

Full name Matthew R. Rizzotti
Born 12/24/1985 in Floral Park, NY
Profile Ht.: 6'5" / Wt.: 265 / Bats: L / Throws: L
School Manhattan College
Drafted in the 6th round (203rd overall) by the Philadelphia Phillies in 2007 (signed for $120,000).

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Rizzotti burst onto the prospect landscape as a freshman at Manhattan, batting .416/.530/.694 with nine homers and 57 RBIs. He tantalized scouts with his huge raw power in batting practice in the New England Collegiate League that summer and again in the Cape Cod League in 2006, but he was inconsistent in game action. Rizzotti struggled out of the gate in 2007, when the weather seemed to hinder his timing and rhythm. But he got hot in the second half and finished the regular season with a career-high 11 homers. Rizzotti flashes 70 power (on the 20-80 scouting scale) and can hit balls out of the park from foul pole to foul pole, but he hasn't proven he can hit quality pitching with any consistency. He has a patient approach, but some scouts would like to see him be more aggressive. He also swings and misses a lot and is vulnerable to fastballs inside. Rizzotti lacks athleticism and mobility and is just an adequate defender at first.

Top Rankings

Rizzotti made a splash as a sophomore at Manhattan when he hit a homer off Joba Chamberlain to upset Nebraska in an NCAA regional playoff game in 2006. The Phillies took him in the sixth round of the following year's draft. Rizzotti was solid but uninspiring in his first two full pro seasons, but he rededicated himself to the game last offseason. He hired a personal trainer, lost 30 pounds and got in the best shape of his life. He blossomed in 2010, advancing from high Class A to Triple-A while ranking third in the minors with a .430 on-base percentage. Rizzotti is a patient hitter with plus raw power, though he has shown a vulnerability to premium velocity on the inner half of the plate. He has more of a line-drive than a power approach and can hit the ball to all fields. Rizzotti's value lies totally with his bat. Even though he improved his condition, he's a well below-average athlete and runner and a fringy defender at first base. Ticketed for Triple-A in 2011 after being added to the 40-man roster, Rizzotti is blocked by Ryan Howard in Philadelphia. He looks like he'll wind up as trade bait or a lefty bat off the bench.

Rizzotti made a splash as a sophomore at Manhattan when he hit a homer off Joba Chamberlain to upset Nebraska in an NCAA regional playoff game in 2006. The Phillies took him in the sixth round of the following year's draft. Rizzotti was solid but uninspiring in his first two full pro seasons, but he rededicated himself to the game last offseason. He hired a personal trainer, lost 30 pounds and got in the best shape of his life. He blossomed in 2010, advancing from high Class A to Triple-A while ranking third in the minors with a .430 on-base percentage. Rizzotti is a patient hitter with plus raw power, though he has shown a vulnerability to premium velocity on the inner half of the plate. He has more of a line-drive than a power approach and can hit the ball to all fields. Rizzotti's value lies totally with his bat. Even though he improved his condition, he's a well below-average athlete and runner and a fringy defender at first base. Ticketed for Triple-A in 2011 after being added to the 40-man roster, Rizzotti is blocked by Ryan Howard in Philadelphia. He looks like he'll wind up as trade bait or a lefty bat off the bench.