Garrett Atkins

Organization Prospect Rankings

• 
  Ranked Colorado Rockies #12 prospect in 2005
  The Rockies could have an all-rookie left side to their infield if Atkins and Clint Barmes win jobs as expected. Atkins came out of UCLA as a first baseman, but with Todd Helton established at Coors Field, he shifted across the diamond to third base. The position change hasn't gone smoothly. Two years ago there were serious questions about whether Atkins could be adequate defensively because of his poor range and footwork. He made strides last season in Triple-A and spent the winter in stretching and agility classes to help his glove-work. Atkins' defense will be the determining factor as to whether he's in the Opening Day lineup. He has hit for average at every level throughout his career, leading the minors in batting and the Pacific Coast League in doubles and on-base percentage in 2004. He closed a hole he had on the inner half of the plate, and took his already fine plate discipline up a notch. Though Atkins is a gifted line-drive hitter, his power (or lack thereof) doesn't profile well for the hot corner. He rarely tries to drive the ball and never has hit more than 15 homers in a minor league season.
• 
  Ranked Colorado Rockies #13 prospect in 2004
  Atkins was converted from first to third base in 2002 because of the presence of Todd Helton at Coors Field. He had played third in high school and early in his career at UCLA, where he set a school record with a 33-game hitting streak. Atkins is a career .303 hitter in the minors. His brief big league audition last year didn't go as well, however, and exposed some holes in his game. Some question how driven he is to address his deficiencies, particularly on defense. Those who believe in Atkins are convinced he has a desire to succeed but just doesn't let it show. His footwork is a major problem at the hot corner, affecting his ability to field grounders and make throws. He does have offensive ability. Atkins is very good at recognizing problems in his swing. He has some raw power, but he prefers to use a line-drive approach and doesn't project to hit enough homers to carry him at third base unless he becomes at least average in the field. He'll get a look in spring training but figures to open the season back in Triple-A.
• 
  Ranked Colorado Rockies #13 prospect in 2003
  Atkins, who had a school-record 33-game hitting streak at UCLA, hit .317 as a first baseman in his first two pro seasons. With Todd Helton in Colorado, the Rockies decided to move Atkins to third base last year in Double-A, where he also made offensive adjustments. Pitchers overpowered him inside early in the season, but he sped up his hands by setting up on his back leg and moving closer to the plate. He's a pure hitter with good hand-eye coordination and the ability to stay back against offspeed stuff. As solid as Atkins' hitting fundamentals are, he needs to show more power to be a corner infielder. He has 24 homers as a pro and slugged a career-low .406 in 2002. Atkins has the arm strength for third base, but erratic footwork costs him accuracy on his throws. He'll continue his conversion to the hot corner in Triple-A this season, and he now faces competition within the system from Jeff Baker.
• 
  Ranked Colorado Rockies #3 prospect in 2002
  The MVP in the short-season Northwest League in his pro debut, Atkins made the jump to high Class A for his first full pro season and earned Carolina League all-star honors as a first baseman. With Todd Helton entrenched at that position in Colorado, Atkins is working on moving across the infield to third base, where he played occasionally at UCLA. Atkins has mastered the most difficult part of hitting: driving the ball the opposite way. He stays inside the ball well and has a compact swing, bringing up comparisons to a young Helton or Don Mattingly because of his potential to hit for power once he gets a better feel for how pitchers approach him. Atkins tends to glide when hitting and hits off a firm front leg. He'll have to work on his defense at third base. His initial work there was slowed because of shoulder tendinitis, and he spent the offseason in Denver in a conditioning program to strengthen his shoulder. Atkins will move to Double-A Carolina to start 2002. The trade of Jeff Cirillo removed a roadblock, and Atkins should reach the majors by the end of 2003. He could hasten his timetable if he adapts quickly to third base.
• 
  Ranked Colorado Rockies #17 prospect in 2001
  Atkins collected several awards in 2000. He was a third-team All-American and an all-Pacific-10 Conference pick at UCLA during the spring, then shared MVP honors in the short-season Northwest League in his pro debut. Atkins has power potential with a compact approach at the plate and an ability to hit the ball to all fields. Now that he's in a pro program and will be put through a year-round conditioning routine, his body should firm up and he should become more of a home run threat. Atkins handles himself well around the bag, and he's a good enough athlete that he could see time in the outfield to create versatility in light of Todd Helton's presence in Colorado. Atkins figures to skip Asheville and open 2001 at Salem.

Minor League Top Prospects

• 
  Ranked Pacific Coast League #17 prospect in 2004
  Though he led the minors in hitting (.366) and the PCL in doubles (43) and on-base percentage (.434), Atkins fell nine spots from his No. 8 ranking on this list a year ago. Scouts respect his ability to make line-drive contact but didn't like his power, defense or work ethic. Atkins' numbers were boosted by the thin air at Colorado Springs, where he batted .406 with 39 of his 61 extra-base hits. He opened his stance this year, so he uses less of an inside-out swing and more of the whole field. He controls the strike zone extremely well. Atkins never has hit more than 15 homers in a minor league season, however, because he doesn't try to drive the ball. That approach won't cut it at third base, where he has poor range and footwork, and certainly not at first base, where he really should play but is blocked by Todd Helton. Atkins saw time in left field in September for Colorado, but doesn't work hard on his defense and may be nothing more than a DH--an obvious problem for a National Leaguer.
• 
  Ranked Pacific Coast League #8 prospect in 2003
  Atkins and Tracy couldn't be more similar if they were twins. They have the same build, the same tools and the same approach at the plate. Tracy rates ahead of Atkins because he dedicated himself to improving his defense. Atkins has more raw power, though like Tracy he's satisfied with making line-drive contact. He wore down and his mechanics got out of sync after a hot start, and he was below the Mendoza Line in his first stint with the Rockies. He has to work harder to stay at third base, and moving to first isn't an option with Todd Helton in Colorado.
• 
  Ranked Northwest League #8 prospect in 2000
  League managers were divided in their opinions on Atkins and Brad Hawpe, a pair of college hitters who were linked by their similar abilities as Portland teammates. Atkins shared league MVP honors with Strong and got a slight edge as a prospect over Hawpe. The general consensus had Atkins with more power and, if he can play third base, the higher ceiling. Atkins played 35 games at first base and just 13 at third. White, his manager, said that was more because of Atkins' sore arm than any inability to play the hot corner. Other managers questioned his third-base skills. "I knew about his reputation and found it unfounded. He was a pleasant surprise at third base," White said. "He has a strong arm when he's healthy and good hands for me. "I've been in the organization since 1994, and the only young hitter to come through better than these guys was Todd Helton. They both have nice swings and developing power."

• December, 1999 Scouting Report
  League managers were divided in their opinions on Atkins and Brad Hawpe, a pair of college hitters who were linked by their similar abilities as Portland teammates. Atkins shared league MVP honors with Strong and got a slight edge as a prospect over Hawpe. The general consensus had Atkins with more power and, if he can play third base, the higher ceiling. Atkins played 35 games at first base and just 13 at third. White, his manager, said that was more because of Atkins' sore arm than any inability to play the hot corner. Other managers questioned his third-base skills. "I knew about his reputation and found it unfounded. He was a pleasant surprise at third base," White said. "He has a strong arm when he's healthy and good hands for me. "I've been in the organization since 1994, and the only young hitter to come through better than these guys was Todd Helton. They both have nice swings and developing power."