Kolby Copeland Stats & Scouting Report

Full name Kolby Lamar Copeland
Born 02/05/1994 in Elm Grove, LA
Profile Ht.: 6'0" / Wt.: 190 / Bats: L / Throws: R
School Parkway
Drafted in the C-B round (127th overall) by the Miami Marlins in 2012 (signed for $367,200).

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Copeland is frequently compared to Arkansas' D'Vone McClure, though they bat from different sides of the plate. Copeland is a physical, explosive athlete with power and speed from the left side. At 6-foot-2, 195 pounds, he also was a fine high school football player, though his speed doesn't play as well in baseball, where he's an average runner. He's more notable for his bat speed and good swing path, as his bat stays in the hitting zone a long time. Copeland made a lot of hard contact and projects to have average or better power. His defensive tools are average but he may wind up in left field eventually, placing higher demands on his bat. Scouts who don't buy in say that he swings and misses too much. He sat out the first part of high school season serving a suspension stemming from an underage drinking and driving arrest in December, but he had performed well since returning.

Top Rankings

A baseball and football star in high school, Copeland was suspended for part of his 2012 senior season due to a drunken-driving charge. He impressed enough upon his return to entice the Marlins to take him with a supplemental third-round pick and sign him for $367,200. He's physically mature, with a good approach and a compact, line-drive swing that should make him an above-average hitter. There's not a lot of loft in his stroke, but the barrel stays in the hitting zone a long time and he makes consistent hard contact. He showed plenty of extra-base pop in his debut, and despite not homering he projects to have at least average power when he learns how to turn on pitches. Copeland has average speed and runs the bases well, though he doesn't project as a big basestealing threat. He shows good instincts and a quick first step in center field, but he likely will wind up on a corner. His arm is average and more suited for left field than right. Copeland has been well coached and doesn't make the mistakes many young players do. He could jump to low Class A for his first full pro season.

Copeland is frequently compared to Arkansas' D'Vone McClure, though they bat from different sides of the plate. Copeland is a physical, explosive athlete with power and speed from the left side. At 6-foot-2, 195 pounds, he also was a fine high school football player, though his speed doesn't play as well in baseball, where he's an average runner. He's more notable for his bat speed and good swing path, as his bat stays in the hitting zone a long time. Copeland made a lot of hard contact and projects to have average or better power. His defensive tools are average but he may wind up in left field eventually, placing higher demands on his bat. Scouts who don't buy in say that he swings and misses too much. He sat out the first part of high school season serving a suspension stemming from an underage drinking and driving arrest in December, but he had performed well since returning.

Another high school football standout, Copeland led the GCL with six triples and 34 RBIs. He has a physical frame and impressed GCL observers with his swing and the way he managed his plate appearances. Copeland has a good approach to hitting and a nice swing path that leads to a high contact rate. His bat head stays in the hitting zone a long time and he's able to make hard contact to all fields. Though he didn't hit any home runs in his pro debut, some scouts project him to have average or better power. The questions with Copeland are whether he can remain in center field and if not, whether he'll have the power to profile well in left. His speed is average at best and might not be enough for center field, where managers were mixed on his reads and routes. His arm strength is average.