Kyle Parker

Organization Prospect Rankings

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  Ranked Colorado Rockies #20 prospect in 2015
  Parker made his major league debut in 2014, earning three stints with the Rockies that amounted to 18 games and three starts. He possesses righthanded power, which teams covet and which will be his makeor- break tool. A former quarterback at Clemson, he signed for $1.4 million after the Rockies took him 26th overall in 2010. Parker has decent bat speed but has had contact issues. He has the power to profile in right field, and he actually hits with more authority versus same-side pitchers, slugging .507 against righties since 2012, compared to .436 versus lefties. He started playing at first base in 2013, but right field is his best position. He is a below-average defensive player there but has a strong, accurate arm. At first base, he needs work reading groundballs and short hops. His plate discipline and ability to stay on the ball and go to right field have improved. Parker might not have the power output or show the on-base ability to start for a first-division team, but his power would play in a complementary role. He probably will head to Triple-A to open 2015.
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  Ranked Colorado Rockies #4 prospect in 2014
  Parker also played quarterback at Clemson and turned down a $2.2 million offer from the Rockies that would have forced him to give up football, choosing to sign for $1.4 million and play a final season on the gridiron. Parker is the only player in NCAA Division I history to throw 20 touchdown passes and hit 20 homers in the same school year. Parker's contact rate has improved each season, with his strikeout rate falling to just shy of 19 percent of plate appearances at Double-A Tulsa in 2013--a career best. When he makes contact, Parker's strength and bat speed generate good power, particularly to right-center field, and he has gotten much better at staying on the ball longer and using the entire field more consistently. He has gained a much better understanding of his swing and can afford to wait due to his quick wrists and quiet approach. A below-average runner, Parker was introduced to first base at Tulsa and played the position exclusively in the Arizona Fall League. A former college third baseman, he improved greatly at being able to read balls off the bat and correctly incorporating his feet. Parker has a solid, accurate arm. With Todd Helton retiring, right fielder Michael Cuddyer is expected to move to first base in 2014, the final year of his contract. Parker should begin 2014 at Triple-A Colorado Springs and join the Rockies during the season before taking over at first base in 2015.
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  Ranked Colorado Rockies #4 prospect in 2013
  A former Clemson quarterback, Parker is the only player in NCAA Division I history to throw 20 touchdown passes and hit 20 homers in the same school year. The son of former NFL wide receiver Carl Parker went 26th overall in the 2010 draft. He turned down a $2.2 million offer that would have forced him to give up football, signing instead for $1.4 million and playing one more fall at Clemson. Though wrist and thumb injuries limited him to 102 games last year, he bashed 23 homers and topped the high Class A California League with a .415 on-base percentage. Parker's standout tool is his tremendous raw power, especially to right center, and he has become a much better overall hitter in his two pro seasons. His strike-zone awareness improved last year, as he let the ball travel deeper and took it to the opposite field more often. He can wait before deciding to swing because of his quick wrists and quiet approach. Parker has a solid, accurate arm but he fits in left field because he's a below-average runner. He's a subpar defender right now, but the Rockies think he'll improve with time and practice. If he doesn't, first base is a possibility. Parker showed more intensity last season and seemed more committed to baseball than in 2011. He will move up to Double-A Tulsa to open the season, and if can stay healthy he could reach the majors in 2014.
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  Ranked Colorado Rockies #9 prospect in 2012
  The 26th overall pick in 2010, Parker turned down a $2.2 million offer in mid-July that stipulated he immediately give up football. Instead, he signed for $1.4 million at the Aug. 15 deadline and played his final season at quarterback for Clemson. The son of former NFL wide receiver Carl Parker, Kyle is only player in NCAA Division I history to throw 20 touchdown passes and hit 20 homers in the same school year. He sustained broken ribs in his final football game but was ready for spring training. Parker has plus bat speed and strength to go with an aggressive mentality, too aggressive as evidenced by his 133 strikeouts in 117 pro games. His swing gets long and he struggles with breaking balls, notably sliders on the outer half of the plate. He has above-average raw power but will have to tone down his approach to make the most of it. Parker is a below-average runner with solid arm strength and range that fits in right field. Colorado would like to see him show more urgency about maximizing his talent. Making the transition from football to baseball with little time off, Parker was worn out by the end of 2011 but managed to hit .300/.393/.535 in the second half. He could put up big numbers in the hitter-friendly California League in 2012.
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  Ranked Colorado Rockies #6 prospect in 2011
  In 2009-10, Parker became the first player in NCAA Division I history to throw 20 touchdown passes and hit 20 homers in the same school year. The 26th overall pick in the 2010 baseball draft, he declined a $2.2 million offer from the Rockies in mid-July that would have required him to immediately give up playing quarterback at Clemson. He signed for $1.4 million at the Aug. 16 deadline with the agreement that he would play one more season of college football before focusing on baseball--he was already participating in fall practice with the Tigers at the time. Parker's final football season was a disappointment. He threw 12 touchdowns and 10 interceptions for a 6-6 Tigers team. His disappointing fall reaffirmed his decision to focus on baseball starting this spring. His father Carl is a former NFL wide receiver. Parker hit 46 homers in three seasons at Clemson and has tremendous bat speed to go with strength, so scouts think his power is legitimate. He shows a great feel for the game and improved his discipline last spring, giving him the ability to hit for a solid average as well. He's a good athlete but not an overwhelming one. He has average speed, range and arm strength and will fit on an outfield corner. The leadership he showed at quarterback translates into a no-nonsense mentality on the baseball field. Parker's experience playing at the highest level of college baseball should allow him to hit the ground running in full-season ball, and he'll probably make his debut at Asheville. Colorado will fast-track him if he can handle it.

Minor League Top Prospects

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  Ranked Texas League #13 prospect in 2013
  The former Clemson quarterback showed flashes of talent early in the season and then became sort an acquired taste. Parker?s athleticism figured to arrive, given he was NCAA Division I?s first to throw 20 touchdowns and hit 20 home runs in the same school year. His adjustment to Double-A pitching, however, was methodical. Parker was your classic pull-hitting corner outfielder in the early going, but then he hit .302/.365/.519 with 12 homers in 67 second-half games. League managers began to view him as a run-producer at that point rather than a power hitter who chases too much. Parker?s attempt to hit more up the middle paid off. Tulsa played him in both right and left field, and late in the season they gave the fringe-average runner a spin at first base because of his modest range and average arm. Parker, who missed time during the year with a concussion, will return this year to the Arizona Fall League, where the Rockies hope he continues to develop a better understanding of his game.
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  Ranked California League #8 prospect in 2012
  After missing five weeks when a pitch hit him on the left wrist in the second game of the year, Parker bounced back to slug 23 homers and lead the Cal League with a .415 on-base percentage. He slugged 19 homers in 67 second-half games, a binge made more impressive by the fact that Modesto's Thurman Field favors hitters less than most of the league's parks. Parker has the raw power to be an annual 25-homer threat, and he should be able to get to that power with the improvements he made in his second full pro season. He shortened his swing, enabling him to handle inside pitches better, and he developed more discipline. He consistently works his way into hitter's counts, then takes walks or punishes pitchers if they challenge him. A starting quarterback at Clemson, Parker has a strong arm and is a serviceable defender. Though he has below-average speed, he moves around better in right field than his meager stolen-base total (one in three attempts) might suggest.
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  Ranked South Atlantic League #12 prospect in 2011
  While one former Atlantic Coast Conference quarterback (Russell Wilson) struggled before departing in July to return to the gridiron at Wisconsin, another showed the Rockies' affinity for dual-sport athletes has some merit. Another 2010 draftee who made quality adjustments, Parker hit .300/.393/.535 with 13 of his 21 homers after the all-star break. Asheville's cozy McCormick Field helped Parker's numbers, but he has legitimate plus power thanks to his strength and bat speed. He'll need to improve his strike zone and ability to handle breaking balls. He has average speed and range to go with solid arm strength, so he profiles well in right field. "For me, he wasn't in shape to play 140 games," Asheville manager Joe Mikulik said. "After breaking his ribs in football, he got in shape to get through spring training. I don't think he realized how tough it is to play a full season. Given the situation he went through, he had a heckuva season. He'll get better in terms of recognizing pitches and getting stronger. The upside is big."

• December, 2012 Scouting Report
  Background: A former Clemson quarterback, Parker is the only player in NCAA Division I history to throw 20 touchdown passes and hit 20 homers in the same school year. The son of former NFL wide receiver Carl Parker went 26th overall in the 2010 draft. He turned down a $2.2 million offer that would have forced him to give up football, signing instead for $1.4 million and playing one more fall at Clemson. Though wrist and thumb injuries limited him to 102 games last year, he bashed 23 homers and topped the high Class A California League with a .415 on-base percentage. Scouting Report: Parker's standout tool is his tremendous raw power, especially to right center, and he has become a much better overall hitter in his two pro seasons. His strike-zone awareness improved last year, as he let the ball travel deeper and took it to the opposite field more often. He can wait before deciding to swing because of his quick wrists and quiet approach. Parker has a solid, accurate arm but he fits in left fielder because he's a below-average runner. He's a subpar defender right now, but the Rockies think he'll improve with time and practice. If he doesn't, first base is a possibility. The Future: Parker showed more intensity last season and will move up to Double-A Tulsa to open the season, and if can stay healthy he could reach the majors in 2014.
• December, 2011 Scouting Report
  Background: The 26th overall pick in 2010, Parker turned down a $2.2 million offer in mid-July that stipulated he immediately give up football. Instead, he signed for $1.4 million at the Aug. 15 deadline with the stipulation that he was allowed to play his final season at quarterback for Clemson. The son of former NFL wide receiver Carl Parker, Kyle is only player in NCAA Division I history to throw 20 touchdown passes and hit 20 homers in the same school year. He sustained broken ribs in his final football game but was ready for spring training. Scouting Report: Parker has plus bat speed and strength to go with an aggressive mentality, too aggressive as evidenced by his 133 strikeouts in 117 pro games. His swing gets long and he struggles with breaking balls, notably sliders on the outer half of the plate. He has above-average raw power but will have to tone down his approach to make the most of it. Parker is a below-average runner with solid arm strength and range that fits in right field. Colorado would like to see him show more urgency about maximizing his talent. The Future: Making the transition from football to baseball with little time off, Parker was worn out by the end of 2011 but managed to hit .300/.393/.535 in the second half. He could put up big numbers in the hitter-friendly California League in 2012.