Corey Wimberly Stats & Scouting Report

AB	4219
AVG	.294
OBP	.367
SLG	.364
HR	19

Full name Corey Leshaad Wimberly
Born 10/26/1983 in Jacksonville, FL
Profile Ht.: 5'8" / Wt.: 170 / Bats: S / Throws: R
School Alcorn State
Drafted in the 6th round (177th overall) by the Colorado Rockies in 2005 (signed for $145,000).

View Draft Report

Alcorn State 2B Corey Wimberly is a slight, speedy player who led Division I in batting. His size keeps him out of the top of the draft, but Wimberly should go on the draft's first day.

Top Rankings

Organization Prospect Rankings

The Rockies dodged a bullet during the Winter Meetings when Wimberly slid through the Rule 5 draft. He's an Eric Yelding/Bip Roberts type, with plus makeup in addition to the speed aspects to his game. Wimberly understands that he is a speed player and his success depends upon getting on bases and creating turmoil. He is a small-ball guy. In three full minor league seasons he has only 52 extra-base hits, but he also has 145 stolen bases. He has been hampered by leg muscle pulls, limiting him to 287 games the last three years. He will bunt and slap at the ball but has struck out more times (166) than a speed-oriented hitter should. The Rockies want Wimberly to focus more on making contact. A good fastball will overmatch him. Defensively he provides value in that he can fill in at second, shortstop, third base and center field, but he doesn't have the hands to take advantage of his range, and will drop his arm angle, keeping him from finishing his throws. Wimberly is ready to move up to Triple-A after consecutive seasons at Tulsa.
Wimberly won two batting titles in 2005, leading NCAA Division I with a .462 average and then topping the Pioneer League with a .381 mark in his pro debut. He has become one of the Rockies' more advanced middle-infield prospects, but repeated muscle pulls in his legs have restricted him to a total of 179 games over the last two years. Wimberly understands that his value is based on his elite speed and that his job is to get on base. The fastest runner in the system, he works counts, makes contact, puts the ball on the ground and lets his quickness do the rest. His bunting is an asset but he needs to take more walks, something that shouldn't be an issue for someone whose listed height of 5-foot-8 may be two inches too generous. He has no power and pitchers showed little fear of him in Double-A, where his average dipped to .268 and his OBP to .323, which won't cut it. Wimberly also needs to improve his defense, which was the focus of his efforts after the season in the Arizona Fall League, where he hit .407. He has the range to get to balls but drops his arm angle and doesn't finish his throws. He needs to pay more attention to detail this year, when he may return to Tulsa at the outset.
Drafted as a redshirt sophomore (he had a broken wrist that cost him his first season), Wimberly was the first player from Alcorn State to be taken in the draft since 1991. Some in the organization say Wimberly stands a full two inches below his listed height. After leading the nation in hitting with a .462 average as a sophomore, Wimberly was an all-star and won another batting title in his 2005 debut with Casper. He jumped over Chris Nelson to high Class A last year and finished fourth in the California League in batting. He's a burner on the bases and knows how to use his 80 speed. Wimberly swiped 50 bases last year and continues to prompt comparisons to Chone Figgins, whom the Rockies drafted in 1997. He can get himself in trouble from the right side trying to hit for power, but as a lefthanded hitter he slaps at the ball and runs. He has quieted his approach and does a better job of rotating his hips, keeping his head steady and his hands back. Still, he has little present power and never projects to hit for even average pop. Wimberly is a tick below-average defensively but has accepted the challenge of getting better. He's learning to use his range and needs to adjust his nearsidearm throwing motion. Wimberly has played some center field and third base and could wind up as a utilityman, like Figgins. He'll play in Double-A this year.
The first player drafted out of Alcorn State since the Blue Jays selected outfielder Kevin Campbell in the 12th round in 1991, Wimberly made a strong impression with his speed and versatility. His size and explosive speed prompted comparisons to Chone Figgins, whom the Rockies signed as a fourth-rounder in 1997. Wimberly flies down the first-base line in 3.9 seconds form the left side and 4.0 from the right, making him the fastest player in the system. He won two batting titles in 2005, leading NCAA Division I with a .462 average and the Pioneer League with a .381 mark. A natural righthanded hitter, he didn't begin switch-hitting until he got to Alcorn State and made the adjustment quickly. He still needs to work on hitting the ball hard on the ground to best utilize his skills. He focuses on making contact and using the middle of the field, and he stays back on pitches well. Like Figgins, Wimberly could be groomed as a super-utility player. He saw extensive action at third base, second base and shortstop last summer, and also worked out in center field during instructional league. He's still raw defensively and made 22 errors in 67 games, but he has quick hands and an average if erratic arm. He should move up to low Class A this year.

Minor League Top Prospects

Wimberly led NCAA Division I with a .462 batting average during the spring. He showed he wasn't just feasting on inferior Southwestern Athletic Conference competition by winning the PL hitting crown as well. Besides his bat, he also offers top-of-the-line speed. Wimberly showed considerable improvement in all phases of the game during his pro debut. When he remains balanced at the plate, he has some gap power and centers balls well. A switch-hitter he shows better plate discipline and a shorter stroke from the right side. He's unrefined defensively and needs to tighten his play around the bag, but has the versatility to play any infield spot. He has good hands and an average if erratic arm. "He's a minor league Chone Figgins," Kotchman said. "His best position might be at second base but he played shortstop, filled in at third and you can put him in center field, too. He has his own category, an everyday utility player."