Zack Cozart

Organization Prospect Rankings

• 
  Ranked Cincinnati Reds #5 prospect in 2012
  When the Reds made Cozart a second-round pick in 2007, many scouts thought his pull-heavy approach wouldn't translate to wood bats. The Reds always believed he had potential at the plate, and he put up the best offensive numbers of his career at Triple-A in 2011, then hit well in two weeks in Cincinnati before injuring his left elbow while applying a tag. He had Tommy John surgery but should be ready for spring training because it was his non-throwing elbow. Cozart has solid tools across the board. He's an average hitter with average power who sprays line drives all over the field, and he could fit in the No. 2 spot in the lineup if he drew more walks. He has average speed with the instincts to pick his spots to steal bases. Cozart doesn't have a cannon for an arm, but it's strong enough to make all the plays at shortstop. He also has soft hands and a tick above-average range. Scouts differ on whether he's a first-division regular, but he should get the job done defensively while producing more-than-adequate offense for his position.
• 
  Ranked Cincinnati Reds #8 prospect in 2011
  When Cozart starred at Mississippi and with Team USA, scouts liked his glove but wondered if he'd hit enough with wood bats. The Reds believed in his offensive potential because they thought he could make adjustments, and he has exceeded expectations at the plate while continuing to provide steady defense and reaching Triple-A. Cozart has tweaked his swing as a pro to get his legs more involved. The result is surprising pop for a shortstop, as he has reached double figures in home runs in each of his three full pro seasons, including a career-high 17 last year. He does strike out some, so he might not hit for a high average or post a gaudy on-base percentage. An average runner, he stole 30 bases in 34 attempts in 2010 thanks to his ability to read pitchers. Cozart projects as a useful offensive player who makes all the routine plays at shortstop. He has quick feet, soft hands and a solid, accurate arm. He led International League shortstops with a .977 fielding percentage last year. Newly added to the 40-man roster, Cozart will head to spring training with a chance to wrest the Cincinnati's starting shortstop job from Paul Janish. Cozart offers more offensive upside and similar defensive ability, though Janish has a better arm.
• 
  Ranked Cincinnati Reds #10 prospect in 2010
  Like Todd Frazier, Cozart was an All-America shortstop in college and a member of the 2006 USA Baseball collegiate national team. Questions about his bat dropped Cozart to the second round of the 2007 draft, but he has eased those concerns by showing more pop than expected and improving his plate discipline. Cozart's defense remains his biggest asset. He has a quick first step, plus range, soft hands and average arm strength. He has worked hard to modify the all-or-nothing swing he had in college, and now uses the whole field and manages the strike zone better. His power should be close to average and is better than that of most shortstops. He's an average runner with the instincts to steal 15 bases annually in the majors. Despite his average arm and a quick release, Cozart doesn't get enough on his throws to make many highlight plays from deep in the hole. While he has improved his offensive profile, he's a career .265 hitter in pro ball and may never hit for a high average. Cincinnati needs a shortstop for 2010, but Cozart isn't refined enough at the plate to skip Triple-A and take the job. He's more likely to start the year at Louisville and could push for a midseason callup.
• 
  Ranked Cincinnati Reds #19 prospect in 2009
  When the Reds drafted Cozart in the second round in 2007, some scouts thought they might be wasting $407,250 on a no-hit, good-glove shortstop. But while he still has some holes in his swing, he showed solid pop during his first full pro season while continuing to play slick defense. Managers rated him the best defensive shortstop in the Midwest League. Cozart has soft hands, fluid actions, a quick first step, a knack for positioning and solid range. His arm is a touch short for a shortstop, but his quick release and accuracy allow it to grade out as average. His excellent defense is all the more surprising considering he's a slightly below-average runner, timed at 4.3 seconds from home to first. At the plate, Cozart is still not a sure thing, but he showed some power and a knack for putting the bat on the ball last season. He still struggles to recognize breaking balls, and his swing is more inside-out than is ideal. He also could stand to draw more walks. Because of the shortstops ahead of him in the system, Cozart was stuck in low Class A all year despite being ready to move up. He'll take that step to Sarasota in 2009.
• 
  Ranked Cincinnati Reds #18 prospect in 2008
  Cozart could stake a claim to being the best defensive shortstop in college baseball last spring, and after he signed for $407,250 as a second-round pick, he became the best the system has had since the days of Gookie Dawkins. But as there were with Dawkins, there are plenty of questions about Cozart's bat. His pull-happy approach doesn't fit well with his below-average power. He has a tick above-average speed and would be better served if he stopped looking to yank everything and used the entire field. He'll have to make adjustments, as he's easy meat for good pitching right now and has a tendency to chase pitches off the plate. Defensively, he's already an excellent shortstop with fluid actions, soft hands and a quick first step. As a heady baseball rat with good instincts, he fits the profile of many other recent Reds draftees. He's also durable, as he never missed a game during his three years at Mississippi. Cincinnati believes his bat will catch up to his glove, and he'll get a second chance in low Class A to get comfortable at the plate.

Minor League Top Prospects

• 
  Ranked International League #11 prospect in 2011
  After a year and a half in Louisville, Cozart finally earned a big league audition, impressing the Reds for two weeks in July before a freak injury to his non-throwing elbow sidelined him for the year. He required Tommy John surgery but should be healthy by spring training. The most complete middle infield prospect in the IL, he profiles as a heady top-of-the-lineup hitter and a slightly above-average defender. An aggressive hitter, Cozart uses the whole field, spraying line drives from gap to gap. He projects as an above-average hitter with some power, mainly to the pull side, and he has enough speed and the instincts to steal 15-20 bases per year. He's a steady shortstop with sufficient range, good hands and a strong, accurate arm.

Top 100 Rankings

• Ranked Baseball America's #75 prospect in 2012

• December, 2011 Scouting Report
  Background: When the Reds made Cozart a second-round pick in 2007, many scouts thought his pull-heavy approach wouldn't translate to wood bats. The Reds always believed he had potential at the plate, and he put up the best offensive numbers of his career at Triple-A in 2011, then hit well in two weeks in Cincinnati before injuring his left elbow while applying a tag. He had to have Tommy John surgery, but should be ready to go by spring training because it was his non-throwing elbow. Scouting Report: Cozart has solid tools across the board. He's an average hitter with average power who sprays line drives all over the field, and he could fit in the No. 2 spot in the lineup if he drew more walks. He has average speed with the instincts to pick his spots to steal bases. Cozart doesn't have a cannon for an arm, but it's strong enough to make all the plays at shortstop. He also has soft hands and a tick above-average range. The Future: Cozart may be the safest bet in the system, as he would have spent the second half of 2011 as the Reds' starting shortstop if not for his elbow injury. Scouts differ on whether he's a first-division regular, but he should get the job done defensively while producing more-than-adequate offense for his position.