Jordan Nwogu

Organization Prospect Rankings

• 
  Ranked Chicago Cubs #23 prospect in 2022
  Track Record: Nwogu walked on at Michigan and became a three-year starter for the Wolverines. He led the team in most offensive categories during its run to the 2019 College World Series finals and got off to another hot start before the 2020 season shut down. The Cubs drafted him in the third round and signed him for $678,800. Nwogu made his pro debut at Low-A Myrtle Beach in 2021 and started slowly, but he improved as the year progressed and hit .296/.383/.415 over the final eight weeks.
  
  Scouting Report: Nwogu is a physical specimen who received Division I football offers to play defensive end. He stands a muscular 6-foot-3, 230 pounds and gets to plus power and high-end exit velocities with ease. Nwogu’s swing is stiff and a bit funky with its lack of extension, but he’s short to the ball and makes loud contact when he connects. He is a smart, patient hitter with good strike-zone discipline. Nwogu is an above-average runner and uses his speed effectively to steal bases and cover ground in the outfield. He’s not a particularly smooth defender, but he has the athleticism to become an average left fielder with more experience. He has a below-average arm.
  
  The Future: Nwogu’s power gives him a carrying tool. He has a chance to be a low-average, decent power slugger if he can clean up his swing.
  
• 
  Ranked Chicago Cubs #24 prospect in 2021
  TRACK RECORD: Nwogu attended Michigan on an academic scholarship to study computer engineering and was a recruited walk-on to the baseball team. He was nearly cut in fall ball as a freshman but rebounded to become a three-year starting outfielder. He led the Wolverines in on-base percentage and slugging percentage as a sophomore to lead them to the College World Series finals and was off to a scorching start in 2020 before the season shut down. The Cubs drafted him in the third round and signed him for $678,600.
  
  SCOUTING REPORT: Nwogu received Division I football scholarship offers in high school and is still built like a linebacker at 6-foot-3, 235 pounds. That strength and size yields plus-plus raw power to go with plus speed on the bases. Scouts aren't sure Nwogu's funky, top-hand heavy swing will work against pro pitching. He does have a good bat path and controls the strike zone, providing optimism he'll make enough contact to access his power. Nwogu played left field before moving to center at Michigan, but projects to move back to left with his uneven routes and below-average arm.
  
  THE FUTURE: Nwogu's future depends on his swing development. He has a chance to become a power-hitting corner outfielder if everything clicks.

Draft Prospects

• Ranked #197 prospect in 2020 draft
  A straight-A student in high school, Nwogu had Division I offers as a defensive end/linebacker, but he opted to go to Michigan on an academic scholarship to study computer engineering and play baseball. Nwogu earned a starting role midway through his freshman season and has been Michigan’s leadoff hitter for the past two years. Nwogu still looks like a football player (6-foot-3, 225 pounds) and he has plus-plus raw power and plus speed. Scouts are not all that excited about his funky swing—he gets good weight transfer and has plenty of bat speed, but it’s a very top-hand heavy swing. So far, funky or not, it has been extremely effective. He is a career .334/.430/.545 hitter for the Wolverines and his ability to control the strike zone has improved dramatically over his collegiate career. Nwogu’s defense was rough as a freshman, but he has steadily improved. He likely ends up in left field thanks to his below-average arm. That’s where he’s mainly played for Michigan, but the Wolverines started to play him in center field this year.

• December, 2021 Scouting Report
  Track Record: Nwogu walked on at Michigan and became a three-year starter for the Wolverines. He led the team in most offensive categories during its run to the 2019 College World Series finals and got off to another hot start before the 2020 season shut down. The Cubs drafted him in the third round and signed him for $678,800. Nwogu made his pro debut at Low-A Myrtle Beach in 2021 and started slowly, but he improved as the year progressed and hit .296/.383/.415 over the final eight weeks.
  
  Scouting Report: Nwogu is a physical specimen who received Division I football offers to play defensive end. He stands a muscular 6-foot-3, 230 pounds and gets to plus power and high-end exit velocities with ease. Nwogu’s swing is stiff and a bit funky with its lack of extension, but he’s short to the ball and makes loud contact when he connects. He is a smart, patient hitter with good strike-zone discipline. Nwogu is an above-average runner and uses his speed effectively to steal bases and cover ground in the outfield. He’s not a particularly smooth defender, but he has the athleticism to become an average left fielder with more experience. He has a below-average arm.
  
  The Future: Nwogu’s power gives him a carrying tool. He has a chance to be a low-average, decent power slugger if he can clean up his swing.
  
• March, 2021 Scouting Report
  TRACK RECORD: Nwogu attended Michigan on an academic scholarship to study computer engineering and was a recruited walk-on to the baseball team. He was nearly cut in fall ball as a freshman but rebounded to become a three-year starting outfielder. He led the Wolverines in on-base percentage and slugging percentage as a sophomore to lead them to the College World Series finals and was off to a scorching start in 2020 before the season shut down. The Cubs drafted him in the third round and signed him for $678,600.
  
  SCOUTING REPORT: Nwogu received Division I football scholarship offers in high school and is still built like a linebacker at 6-foot-3, 235 pounds. That strength and size yields plus-plus raw power to go with plus speed on the bases. Scouts aren't sure Nwogu's funky, top-hand heavy swing will work against pro pitching. He does have a good bat path and controls the strike zone, providing optimism he'll make enough contact to access his power. Nwogu played left field before moving to center at Michigan, but projects to move back to left with his uneven routes and below-average arm.
  
  THE FUTURE: Nwogu's future depends on his swing development. He has a chance to become a power-hitting corner outfielder if everything clicks.
• December, 2020 Scouting Report
  TRACK RECORD: Nwogu attended Michigan on an academic scholarship to study computer engineering and was a recruited walk-on to the baseball team. He was nearly cut in fall ball as a freshman but rebounded to become a three-year starting outfielder. He led the Wolverines in on-base percentage and slugging percentage as a sophomore to lead them to the College World Series finals and was off to a scorching start in 2020 before the season shut down. The Cubs drafted him in the third round and signed him for $678,600.
  
  SCOUTING REPORT: Nwogu received Division I football scholarship offers in high school and is still built like a linebacker at 6-foot-3, 235 pounds. That strength and size yields plus-plus raw power to go with plus speed on the bases. Scouts aren't sure Nwogu's funky, top-hand heavy swing will work against pro pitching. He does have a good bat path and controls the strike zone, providing optimism he'll make enough contact to access his power. Nwogu played left field before moving to center at Michigan, but projects to move back to left with his uneven routes and below-average arm.
  
  THE FUTURE: Nwogu's future depends on his swing development. He has a chance to become a power-hitting corner outfielder if everything clicks.