Justin Chigbogu
| AB | 1244 |
|---|---|
| AVG | .224 |
| OBP | .295 |
| SLG | .416 |
| HR | 58 |
- Full name Justin Kelechi Chigbogu
- Born 07/08/1994 in Kansas City, MO
- Profile Ht.: 6'1" / Wt.: 240 / Bats: L / Throws: L
- School Raytown South
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Drafted in the 4th round (146th overall) by the Los Angeles Dodgers in 2012 (signed for $250,000).
View Draft Report
Before this spring, Chigbogu was known mostly as an all-state defensive end. But scouts who went to see Raytown South outfielder Bralin Jackson came away marveling about Chigbogu's massive power potential. He probably would need two years in Rookie ball at this point, but he's a 6-foot-2, 230-pound athlete who crushes balls from the left side of the plate. While he's raw, he doesn't strike out excessively. He runs well for his size and perhaps could play left field, though he has a below-average arm. A Heartland (Ill.) CC recruit, he could be signable after the 10th round.
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Organization Prospect Rankings
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Chigbogu is a talented athlete and a high school football star who was an all-state defensive end as a prep in Missouri. Signed for $250,000 as a fourth-round pick in 2012, he has shown tremendous raw power but limited feel for hitting early in his career. Chigbogu started the 2014 season at low Class A Great Lakes, but he struggled there and by early May he was back in extended spring training before joining Rookie-level Ogden when the Pioneer League season started in June. Chigbogu has plus bat speed and double-plus raw power from the left side, with the capability to hit balls out to all fields with unusual opposite-field sock for his age, which helped him lead the PL with 20 home runs. He also led the league with 101 strikeouts, with a whiff 35 percent of the time thanks to holes in his swing and minimal ability to recognize and connect with breaking stuff. His athleticism helps him in the field, where he's close to an average defender at first base. Despite his power, Chigbogu remains a raw project until he minimizes the empty hacks. -
Chigbogu was a high school football standout, earning all-state honors as a defensive end in Missouri. His athleticism and raw power attracted the Dodgers, who signed him for $250,000 as a fourth-round pick in 2012. As one of the younger players in his draft, Chigbogu turned 19 early in a 2013 season split between the Rookie-level Arizona and Pioneer leagues, where he showed outstanding power and a long way to go to reach his ceiling. Chigbogu has excellent bat speed and 70 raw power on the 20-80 scale. He can drive the ball out of the park from foul pole to foul pole, with more home runs coming to the opposite field than his pull side. Despite his ability to use the whole field, his swing and approach remain raw. He struck out in 34 percent of plate appearances in the PL, a major red flag, as he especially struggles against breaking pitches. Chigbogu is athletic and runs well for his size, but scouts say he's still working to become an adequate defender at first base. If he can close some of the holes in his swing, his raw power can carry him, but he's the type of high-risk player who might fall short of his ceiling.
Draft Prospects
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Before this spring, Chigbogu was known mostly as an all-state defensive end. But scouts who went to see Raytown South outfielder Bralin Jackson came away marveling about Chigbogu's massive power potential. He probably would need two years in Rookie ball at this point, but he's a 6-foot-2, 230-pound athlete who crushes balls from the left side of the plate. While he's raw, he doesn't strike out excessively. He runs well for his size and perhaps could play left field, though he has a below-average arm. A Heartland (Ill.) CC recruit, he could be signable after the 10th round.
