Chris Iannetta Stats & Scouting Report

AB	3563
AVG	.23
OBP	.345
SLG	.406
HR	141

Full name Christopher Domenic Iannetta
Born 04/08/1983 in Providence, RI
Profile Ht.: 6'0" / Wt.: 230 / Bats: R / Throws: R
School North Carolina
Debut 08/27/2006
Drafted in the 4th round (110th overall) by the Colorado Rockies in 2004 (signed for $305,000).

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Iannetta could go as high as the third round after a stellar junior season. He reminds scouts of Joe Girardi, though he's lost some life in his lower half and doesn't run like Girardi did. Like Girardi, Iannetta has a short, compact stroke and a mature approach to hitting, leading to consistent, hard contact. His other tools are unspectacular, but he's an average receiver and has an average arm that might play up a bit because of his quick release. His younger brother Matt is a Rhode Island prep player who has signed with North Carolina.

Top Rankings

Organization Prospect Rankings

Part of a long line of big league catchers produced by North Carolina, Iannetta reached the majors last August, barely two years after signing as an unheralded fourth-round pick. He set career highs with a .336 average and 14 homers in the minors. Iannetta has quality at-bat after quality atbat, working counts and forcing pitchers to throw him strikes. He should be able to hit for average with decent pop in the majors. As a catcher, he has a strong arm and reliable receiving skills. He does a nice job of running a pitching staff. Though he's equipped to shut down the running game, Iannetta erased just 27 percent of basestealers in 2006. He has to get more consistent with his throws. Like most catchers, he's a below-average runner. Iannetta's late-season performance convinced the Rockies that he's ready to stay in the majors. He'll be their primary catcher in 2007 and should develop into a solid regular.
North Carolina has produced big league catchers Dwight Lowry, Scott Bradley, B.J. Surhoff, Matt Merullo and Jesse Levis in the last three decades, and Iannetta is the next in line. Rockies pitcher Aaron Cook raved about his receiving ability while on a rehab assignment at Modesto. Iannetta played in the Futures Game in his first full season. Iannetta has a compact swing and good pitch recognition, and his bat has been a pleasant surprise. He should hit for average with gap power. His calling card is his defense. He has soft hands, good agility and a plus arm with a strong release. His poise and leadership enable him to help pitchers work through tough situations. Iannetta can tie himself up when he gets technical with his approach. He tried to play with a broken left hand late in the season, but he couldn't grip the bat properly and his performance suffered. Iannetta will stay in Double-A to start 2006, but he should be able to make another midseason jump. There's no one standing in his way to becoming Colorado's starting catcher in 2007.
The latest in a long line of catchers from North Carolina that includes Dwight Lowry, Scott Bradley, B.J. Surhoff and Jesse Levis, Iannetta has the talent to reach the major leagues as they did. He has a compact stroke and makes hard, line-drive contact to the gaps. Sent straight to low Class A after signing for $305,000 last summer, he had little trouble adapting and showed an aptitude for drawing walks. He had more difficulty in instructional league, a sign he'll need to make adjustments to handle wood bats against more experienced pitching. He started to get his hands back in his stance, allowing him more time to load them into hitting position. Iannetta has average catch-and-throw skills and a quick release. He threw out 29 percent of basestealers in his pro debut. He quickly gained a feel for the Asheville pitching staff and has good game-calling skills. He'll head to high Class A in 2005.

Minor League Top Prospects

Easily the best catcher ever developed by the Rockies, Iannetta continued to shine at the plate following a promotion to Colorado Springs in late June. He controls the strike zone very well, waiting out pitchers until they give him a pitch he can hammer. He calls a good game and has an average arm, and while throwing out basestealers has been an issue at times, he erased 31 percent in Triple-A. "He really gives you quality at-bats for a catcher," Runnells said. "In fact, he led our organization in quality at-bats. Defensively, he's a sponge for knowledge and he tries so hard to improve. He's a humble kid and a guy who is going to be a frontline catcher for years to come."
Iannetta wasn't the most touted prospect on the Tulsa roster coming into the season, but it didn't take him long to make his mark. He put up the best offensive numbers of his short career and earned a promotion to Triple-A after just 44 games, then made his major league debut at the end of August. Iannetta boosted his stock by showing a more consistent approach at the plate, which helped him get the most out of his compact swing and good bat speed. He continued to show quality pitch recognition and added more power to his game as he focused on pitches he could drive. Some managers wondered if he would hit enough in the big leagues to be an everyday catcher, but most thought he would. While Iannetta always has earned praise as a receiver, he made refinements in his game-calling and consistency. The biggest question about him behind the plate is with his control of the running game. His arm is strong enough, but he threw out just six of 28 basestealers (21 percent) while with Tulsa.
While Miguel Montero put up bigger numbers, Iannetta's all-around game and intangibles gave him the edge as the Cal League's best catching prospect. He doesn't have awe-inspiring skills, but he also has no weakness. A polished hitter who knows the strike zone, Iannetta has gap power and the ability to occasionally pull a fastball, especially against lefthanders. "We knew he could catch, but that bat was a pleasant surprise," Lancaster manager Bill Plummer said. Defensively, Iannetta bolsters average arm strength with a lightning-quick release. He blocks the plate well and scouts praised his leadership. After his promotion to Double-A, the Nuts went just 15-27 the rest of the way. "Every time I saw him, I asked myself the same question," an AL scout said. "How did a college catcher with this ability last until the fourth round?"