Cole Roederer Stats & Scouting Report

AB	150
AVG	.153
OBP	.293
SLG	.247
HR	1

Full name Cole Roederer
Born 09/24/1999 in Newhall, CA
Profile Ht.: 5'9" / Wt.: 180 / Bats: L / Throws: L
School Hart
Drafted in the 2C round (77th overall) by the Chicago Cubs in 2018 (signed for $1,200,000).

View Draft Report

Roederer is a small, athletic, lefthanded-hitting center fielder who began showing big power this year, drawing Andrew Benintendi comparisons. He catapulted into third-round consideration before he separated his right (non-throwing) shoulder horsing around with teammates after practice and missed the final month of the season. Roederer is a toolsy player with bat speed who got stronger and reworked his swing to add power this season. He began launching long home runs on par with anyone in the region, enough for optimistic scouts to project him as a 20-25 home run hitter. The power rounded out Roederer's well-rounded toolset. He is an above-average runner whose speed plays up in center field due to his advanced instincts and reads, and his arm is suitably average. With hints of all five tools and growing power, Roederer has the upside of an above-average everyday center fielder, but some scouts are skeptical of his size and injury history, which also includes a pulled hamstring this year. He is strongly committed to UCLA and will be an expensive sign.

Top Rankings

Organization Prospect Rankings

TRACK RECORD: Roederer was the latest standout to come out of Hart High in suburban Los Angeles, following James Shields, Tyler Glasnow and Trevor Bauer. He suffered a separated right shoulder just before the draft, but the Cubs still selected him 77th overall and gave him an above-slot $1.2 million signing bonus to forgo a UCLA commitment. Roederer had a strong pro debut in the Rookie-level Arizona League, but he began selling out for power and struggled in his first full season at low Class A South Bend. He showed little improvement at instructional league in 2020.

SCOUTING REPORT: Roederer shows plenty of promising tools. At his best, he has a quick, direct swing from the left side that produces hard contact, is an above-average runner and defender in center field and has developed a physical, athletic frame. Roederer's issue is his approach. He gets too pull-happy and tries to hit the ball as far as he can rather than focusing on contact. As a result, pitchers dominate him with changeups he's too far out in front of. Roederer hits elevated fastballs. but has yet to show he can stay back and adjust to offspeed pitches.

THE FUTURE: Roederer has the tools to be an everyday center fielder. Whether he adjusts his approach will determine if he gets there.
TRACK RECORD: Improved strength and power in his draft season led Roederer to make a quick move up draft boards. Even after he separated his shoulder and pulled his hamstring, the Cubs were sold enough to draft Roederer in the second supplemental round and sign him for $1.2 million. He put together a solid pro debut in the Rookie-level Arizona League, where he ranked as the league's No. 7 prospect.

SCOUTING REPORT: Roederer's value is tied mostly to his bat, which showed in 2019 that it will need a bit more polish. Specifically, Roederer tried too hard to pull the ball with power rather than shooting line drives to all fields. In turn, his numbers suffered. Still, evaluators both inside and outside the system see the potential for a solid hitter. He has a quick, direct swing and a still head which should allow him to make plenty of solid contact if he can adjust his approach. Pitchers in the MWL learned to set up Roederer with high fastballs followed by offspeed pitches low in the zone. Now it's on him to adjust. He's a solid defender whose above-average speed and fringe-average arm should fit well in left field.

THE FUTURE: Roederer projects as a solid regular in the outfield. He should see high Class A Myrtle Beach in 2020 but might start back in the Midwest League.
Track Record: Roederer vaulted up draft boards in 2018 after getting stronger and retooling his swing to add more power. He lost part of his season at Hart High with a separated right shoulder and a pulled hamstring. He was listed on BA's High School All-America third team, and The Cubs used a $1.2 million bonus to pry him away from a commitment to UCLA. He performed well in the Rookie-level Arizona League and ranked No. 7 on the circuit's prospect list.

Scouting Report: Roederer had always been an interesting prospect, but the enhanced power sealed the deal. Before the draft, scouts saw enough sock in his bat to project a ceiling of 20-25 home runs. Scouts saw a short, compact swing with plenty of bat speed and hands skilled enough to find the barrel often to project a plus hit tool with above-average power. Roederer has the instincts to play center field, but his fringe-average speed might push him to a corner. His arm is fringe-average, but he releases the ball quickly and his throws are accurate. Scouts on both the amateur and pro side saw hints of the same type of skill set that made Andrew Benintendi a star for the Red Sox.

The Future: After an excellent summer in Arizona, Roederer is likely to begin 2019 at low Class A South Bend, where he'll be tested by the jump in pitching and the bitter cold of the early-season Midwest League.

Draft Prospects

Roederer is a small, athletic, lefthanded-hitting center fielder who began showing big power this year, drawing Andrew Benintendi comparisons. He catapulted into third-round consideration before he separated his right (non-throwing) shoulder horsing around with teammates after practice and missed the final month of the season. Roederer is a toolsy player with bat speed who got stronger and reworked his swing to add power this season. He began launching long home runs on par with anyone in the region, enough for optimistic scouts to project him as a 20-25 home run hitter. The power rounded out Roederer's well-rounded toolset. He is an above-average runner whose speed plays up in center field due to his advanced instincts and reads, and his arm is suitably average. With hints of all five tools and growing power, Roederer has the upside of an above-average everyday center fielder, but some scouts are skeptical of his size and injury history, which also includes a pulled hamstring this year. He is strongly committed to UCLA and will be an expensive sign.

Minor League Top Prospects

Roederer quickly became a favorite of scouts covering the Arizona League by showing top-of-the-order skills and more power than expected. He is a gamer with solid, all-around tools and good makeup. He has quick hands and good feel in the zone, with the chance to develop into an impact bat as he grows into power. Roederer should be able to stay in center, with above-average speed and a tick below-average but accurate arm. “The way he plays the game is what impressed me the most,” said Cubs manager Jonathan Mota. “He will be more consistent as he plays more games … his plate discipline, jumps in the outfield, jumps on the bases. All of those will get better.”

Scouting Reports

TRACK RECORD: Roederer was the latest standout to come out of Hart High in suburban Los Angeles, following James Shields, Tyler Glasnow and Trevor Bauer. He suffered a separated right shoulder just before the draft, but the Cubs still selected him 77th overall and gave him an above-slot $1.2 million signing bonus to forgo a UCLA commitment. Roederer had a strong pro debut in the Rookie-level Arizona League, but he began selling out for power and struggled in his first full season at low Class A South Bend. He showed little improvement at instructional league in 2020.

SCOUTING REPORT: Roederer shows plenty of promising tools. At his best, he has a quick, direct swing from the left side that produces hard contact, is an above-average runner and defender in center field and has developed a physical, athletic frame. Roederer's issue is his approach. He gets too pull-happy and tries to hit the ball as far as he can rather than focusing on contact. As a result, pitchers dominate him with changeups he's too far out in front of. Roederer hits elevated fastballs. but has yet to show he can stay back and adjust to offspeed pitches.

THE FUTURE: Roederer has the tools to be an everyday center fielder. Whether he adjusts his approach will determine if he gets there.
TRACK RECORD: Roederer was the latest standout to come out of Hart High in suburban Los Angeles, following James Shields, Tyler Glasnow and Trevor Bauer. He suffered a separated right shoulder just before the draft, but the Cubs still selected him 77th overall and gave him an above-slot $1.2 million signing bonus to forgo a UCLA commitment. Roederer had a strong pro debut in the Rookie-level Arizona League, but he began selling out for power and struggled in his first full season at low Class A South Bend. He showed little improvement at instructional league in 2020.

SCOUTING REPORT: Roederer shows plenty of promising tools. At his best, he has a quick, direct swing from the left side that produces hard contact, is an above-average runner and defender in center field and has developed a physical, athletic frame. Roederer's issue is his approach. He gets too pull-happy and tries to hit the ball as far as he can rather than focusing on contact. As a result, pitchers dominate him with changeups he's too far out in front of. Roederer hits elevated fastballs. but has yet to show he can stay back and adjust to offspeed pitches.

THE FUTURE: Roederer has the tools to be an everyday center fielder. Whether he adjusts his approach will determine if he gets there.
TRACK RECORD: Improved strength and power in his draft season led Roederer to make a quick move up draft boards. Even after he separated his shoulder and pulled his hamstring, the Cubs were sold enough to draft Roederer in the second supplemental round and sign him for $1.2 million. He put together a solid pro debut in the Rookie-level Arizona League, where he ranked as the league’s No. 7 prospect.

SCOUTING REPORT: Roederer’s value is tied mostly to his bat, which showed in 2019 that it will need a bit more polish. Specifically, Roederer tried too hard to pull the ball with power rather than shooting line drives to all fields. In turn, his numbers suffered. Still, evaluators both inside and outside the system see the potential for a solid hitter. He has a quick, direct swing and a still head which should allow him to make plenty of solid contact if he can adjust his approach. Pitchers in the MWL learned to set up Roederer with high fastballs followed by offspeed pitches low in the zone. Now it’s on him to adjust. He’s a solid defender whose above-average speed and fringe-average arm should fit well in left field.

THE FUTURE: Roederer projects as a solid regular in the outfield. He should see high Class A Myrtle Beach in 2020 but might start back in the Midwest League.
TRACK RECORD: Improved strength and power in his draft season led Roederer to make a quick move up draft boards. Even after he separated his shoulder and pulled his hamstring, the Cubs were sold enough to draft Roederer in the second supplemental round and sign him for $1.2 million. He put together a solid pro debut in the Rookie-level Arizona League, where he ranked as the league's No. 7 prospect.

SCOUTING REPORT: Roederer's value is tied mostly to his bat, which showed in 2019 that it will need a bit more polish. Specifically, Roederer tried too hard to pull the ball with power rather than shooting line drives to all fields. In turn, his numbers suffered. Still, evaluators both inside and outside the system see the potential for a solid hitter. He has a quick, direct swing and a still head which should allow him to make plenty of solid contact if he can adjust his approach. Pitchers in the MWL learned to set up Roederer with high fastballs followed by offspeed pitches low in the zone. Now it's on him to adjust. He's a solid defender whose above-average speed and fringe-average arm should fit well in left field.

THE FUTURE: Roederer projects as a solid regular in the outfield. He should see high Class A Myrtle Beach in 2020 but might start back in the Midwest League.