Brendan Rodgers

Organization Prospect Rankings

• 
  Ranked Colorado Rockies #1 prospect in 2021
  Hitting: 60. Power: 55. Running: 50. Fielding: 55. Arm: 60.
  
  TRACK RECORD: Rodgers was the top prospect in the 2015 draft thanks to his precocious hitting ability, promising power potential and ability to stick up the middle defensively. The Rockies drafted him third overall, behind Dansby Swanson and Alex Bregman, and signed him for a franchise-record $5.5 million. While Swanson and Bregman have found success in the big leagues, Rodgers’ career has stalled due to injuries. Shoulder surgery limited his big league time in 2019 to just 25 games and resulted in him being handled with extreme caution in 2020. A tweaked hamstring suffered at the alternate training site delayed his return to Colorado, where he once again struggled offensively. Through 32 big league games he has hit .196/.235/.227 with four walks and 33 strikeouts.
  
  SCOUTING REPORT: While Rodgers’ standing as a prospect has suffered, both because of injuries and decaying enthusiasm about his tools, he still has the ceiling of an impact player. He’s still 24 years old, and there is little doubt he can be an above-average hitter if he stays healthy. Rodgers’ quick wrists, bat speed and ability to make consistent hard contact earn high marks, and he projects to have above-average power. Historically, the knock on Rodgers has been his lack of walks and a strikeout rate that has ballooned in his small big league sample. At present, he can hit any fastball but struggles with big league-caliber breaking balls. While his pitch recognition and patience will continue to be question marks until he proves otherwise, they have been an area of focus over the last two years and he has shown progress. A natural shortstop, Rodgers is still a work in progress defensively at second base. He has more than enough arm strength and athleticism for the position and has spent time working on the finer points of the keystone, including his angles to the ball, moving better to his left and working to soften his hands. There is confidence he can be an above-average defender at second base if he winds up there.
  
  THE FUTURE: Rodgers will get another chance in 2021 to entrench himself with fellow homegrown stars Nolan Arenado and Trevor Story, who play third base and shortstop in Colorado. Rodgers might still be the franchise’s shortstop of the future, but with Story there for at least another year, his best path to playing time will be at second base. If Rodgers gets the playing time he needs and makes a leap in 2021, an infield featuring Rodgers, Story and Arenado could be one of the most dynamic in baseball.
• 
  Ranked Colorado Rockies #1 prospect in 2020
  TRACK RECORD: The Rockies selected Rodgers with the No. 3 overall pick in 2015, the third shortstop taken in the draft's first three picks. The other two are established in the big leagues—Dansby Swanson, who went No. 1 overall to the D-backs and was traded to the Braves; and Alex Bregman, taken second overall by the Astros and moved to third base. Swanson and Bregman were three years older than Rodgers, however, and debuted in the majors at the same age Rodgers was last May when he received his first big league callup. Rodgers played only 25 games for the Rockies before suffering an injury that eventually required season-ending surgery. Rodgers compiled a 1.035 OPS in 37 games at the high altitude of Triple-A Albuquerque to earn his callup, but he scuffled to hit .224 with two extra-base hits in 25 games with Colorado.
  
  SCOUTING REPORT: Rodgers' bat gets most of the attention when he is the subject of conversation. He has high-level bat speed, consistently hits the ball off the barrel and makes frequent contact. He has legitimate, above-average power and can drive the ball hard the other way, an approach that works well with the large outfield at Coors Field. Rodgers rarely walks and needs to control his aggression, which he has worked on at higher levels, where experienced pitchers will exploit a free-swinger. A shortstop out of high school, the Rockies are confident Rodgers could play the position in the big leagues. With Trevor Story entrenched there, however, second base is likely to be Rodgers' long-term position. Rodgers played an increasing amount of second base in the minor leagues last year and his brief big league exposure. He is still working on going to his left and adjusting to a different angle for the throw to first base, and his hands have been a little stiff in his initial move to the right side of the infield, but he should become an above-average defender at the keystone in time.
  
  THE FUTURE: A Rodgers-Story double play duo would give Colorado one of the most powerful middle infields in the game. Rodgers' initial struggles in Colorado fits his history. At each level he goes through a growth period before settling in. He will get a late start on the 2020 season as he recovers from shoulder surgery.
• 
  Ranked Colorado Rockies #1 prospect in 2019
  Track Record: Just what the Rockies think of Rodgers is as obvious as the franchise-record $5.5 million bonus he received after being selected third overall in the 2015 draft, behind shortstops Dansby Swanson and Alex Bregman. They both came out of college and have made the big leagues. Rodgers, a high school sign, is now on the verge of getting his own opportunity at the highest level. Selected to play in the Futures Game in 2018, he was promoted late in the season to Triple-A Albuquerque. He struggled there not only with shoulder tightness, but also a slight hamstring issue, which led to the Rockies deciding against a plan to send him to the Arizona Fall League.
  
  Scouting Report: Rodgers has worked to maintain consistency with the lower half of his body when he is hitting, helping him improve his ability to stay on breaking pitches, which at each level become more challenging because the pitchers are more refined. He is an active hitter, who is in attack mode, and his brief time in Triple-A underscored to him that veteran pitchers will exploit that aggressiveness with their mixture of pitches. Still, he shows the potential to be a plus hitter with above-average power. He was drafted as a shortstop and has shown the ability to remain at that position. The Rockies, however, in their organizational approach, also worked him at second base in his first three years, and in 2018 added third base as an option. He has shown an aptitude for all three thanks to above-average range and a plus arm. Crucially, he has recognized the importance of defense, which wasn't as big an issue in high school when he was such a dominant hitter. There is a growing feeling that he could wind up being a shortstop, though second or third base could provide a quick promotion in light of the recent loss of DJ LeMahieu to free agency, not to mention third baseman Nolan Arenado's potential free agency following the 2019 season.
  
  The Future: Given his power, Rodgers will be a plus offensive weapon as a middle infielder. He has shown the ability to adapt to the higher quality of pitching at each level, getting an education in his brief exposure at Albuquerque. Veteran pitchers at Triple-A have more thorough scouting reports on how to attack hitters and sharper pitches that will require ongoing adjustment by Rodgers.
• 
  Ranked Colorado Rockies #1 prospect in 2018
  The Rockies made Rodgers the No. 3 overall pick in the 2015 draft, behind fellow shortstops Dansby Swanson and Alex Bregman, and signed him to a franchise-record $5.5 million bonus. Rodgers worked with former big leaguers Dante Bichette and Tom Gordon during his high school days, and has proven at ease in the professional environment since signing. He played only 89 games in 2017 due to a hand injury and quad strain, but shined when he was on the field. He flirted with .400 at high Class A Lancaster during the first half of the year and made his way to Double-A Hartford at the minor league all-star break. Rodgers' calling card is his smooth, controlled swing that bodes well for him to hit for average and power. He possesses the bat speed to handle any velocity and the balance and pitch recognition to barrel breaking balls. At times Rodgers becomes too pull-happy, but he has shown he has the strength to drive the ball the other way. Rodgers rarely walks, but knows how to work a count and doesn't miss the pitch he wants. Evaluators nearly universally regard him as a future plus hitter with enough power to impact a game. A natural shortstop, Rodgers has also seen time at second and third base with the Rockies' approach of having players work at multiple positions in the minors. Rodgers has the reliable hands, quick release and plus arm strength to play shortstop, but his fringy foot speed could be a deciding factor in an eventual move to second base. Rodgers makes up for his lack of natural range by positioning himself well and showing advanced instincts, enough that some evaluators give him a chance to stay at shortstop and possibly be an average defender there, although not all are convinced. The idea of having a middle infielder with an impact bat is exciting, which is why Rodgers isn't likely to end up at third base. How Rodgers' body changes over time, particularly if he gets bigger and loses a step, will determine whether he stays at shortstop or makes the move to second base. Even if he does end up at second, he can be an impact player along the lines of Bobby Grich or Ryne Sandberg. The Rockies have brought Rodgers along slowly, but it is not out of the question for him to be in the big leagues at some point after the 2018 all-star break.
• 
  Ranked Colorado Rockies #1 prospect in 2017
  Rodgers grew up in a family that had a focus on soccer, but his attention turned to baseball at the age of 5. His best friend's father, Ralph Nema, introduced Rodgers to baseball and coached him a good part of his youth. He was a multi-sport participant during his youth, but in kindergarten he proclaimed that he would be a baseball player when he grew up. He certainly had big league touches to his development. While Nema was his youth coach, former big leaguers Dante Bichette, an original Rockies outfielder, and all-star closer Tom Gordon also coached Rodgers. He was considered the top prospect in the 2015 draft but slipped to the Rockies with the No. 3 pick when the two teams ahead of them opted for college shortstops. The Diamondbacks took Vanderbilt's Dansby Swanson at No. 1 and the Astros selected Louisiana State's Alex Bregman at No. 2, and they both reached the majors in 2016. The Rockies signed Rodgers to a franchise-record $5.5 million bonus. His pro beginning was a challenge. He battled nagging foot, hamstring and hip injuries at Rookie-level Grand Junction in 2015, limiting him to 37 games and leading scouts who hadn't seen him as an amateur to question his attitude and potential. At low Class A Asheville in 2016, Rodgers reaffirmed his elite status. He finished third in the South Atlantic League in home runs (19) and fourth in slugging (.480) despite being one of only 14 players in the SAL who was younger than 20. Don't be misled by the fact Rodgers saw time at second and third base as well as shortstop in 2016. The Rockies still feel he has a strong future at shortstop, but the front office is trying to create flexibility with its prospects so that they will be able to fill various holes. With Rodgers' athleticism and power potential he could fit anywhere in the infield. He has elite bat speed and good feel for the bat head, and he punished fastballs before SAL pitchers adjusted and fed him a steady diet of offspeed stuff. He made adjustments but will have to do so against quality sliders he rarely saw as an amateur. He has a polished approach for such a young hitter with solid plate discipline. With strength and conditioning in the offseason, he will add strength and durability. He has quality actions at shortstop and a solid, at times plus, arm that will improve in its consistency with added strength. Rodgers does not have the speed of a player who would be considered a basestealing threat, but his athletic ability and instincts give him surprising range. The Rockies see Rodgers as an eventual all-star and feel confident he can attain that goal at shortstop if he can stay healthy. A hamstring problem landed him on the disabled list in May 2016, and he went through a dead-arm period in his first full season that he must learn from. The Rockies will allow Rodgers to force the issue when he is ready--they have Trevor Story in Colorado, and he just set an NL record for homers by a rookie shortstop--but the next step is high Class A Modesto.
• 
  Ranked Colorado Rockies #3 prospect in 2016
  After a strong summer on the showcase circuit as a junior, Rodgers earned top billing on the 2015 draft board and didn't relinquish it. He was the first high school player drafted, going third overall to the Rockies and signing for a franchise-record $5.5 million. However, nagging foot, hip and hamstring injuries limited Rodgers in a lackluster Rookie-level Grand Junction debut, and scouts questioned his energy level as he transitioned to minor league life. Rodgers' ceiling is that of an all-star shortstop, boasting an advanced hit tool that would also likely play at third base or second. His bat speed and feel for the bat head are both elite, with most projecting Rodgers to develop plus power as he physically matures. As of now, there's no reason to move him off shortstop. He has quick actions and at least an average arm that could improve as he gets stronger. Speed might be Rodgers' weakest tool. He won't be a significant threat on the basepaths, but it doesn't inhibit him in the field. His athleticism allows him to make difficult plays look effortless. The Rockies envision Rodgers as a future run producer at the shortstop position--something Troy Tulowitzki provided for the better part of a decade. He should begin his first full pro season at low Class A Asheville.

Draft Prospects

• Ranked #1 prospect in 2015 draft
  Thanks to an impressive showing last summer, Rodgers entered this spring as the consensus top prospect in the draft class. He's done nothing to lose that label and has a chance to become the first shortstop to go No. 1 overall since Carlos Correa in 2012. Rodgers combines impressive offensive potential with solid defensive ability. He has a good feel for hitting and has the potential to be a plus all-around hitter. His strength and elite bat speed mean he doesn't have to sell out to drive the ball, and it isn't out of the question that he one day hits 25 or more home runs in the big leagues. While he runs well enough, he isn't a burner. Defensively, Rodgers has good tools, but not all scouts are sold on him staying at shortstop. His arm strength, infield actions and hands are all good enough for the position if he is able to maintain his range as he physically matures. He is well-polished and makes the game look easy. That often gives the appearance of playing with a low-energy motor, but he makes that approach work. The state of Florida has produced several prep shortstops who have been selected in the top 10 in the last few years and Rodgers fits right in with a group that includes Manny Machado, Nick Gordon and Francisco Lindor. Rodgers, a Florida State commit, is probably most similar to Machado and as a shortstop with plus power potential is on track to match--if not exceed--his lofty draft status.

Minor League Top Prospects

• 
  Ranked Pacific Coast League #9 prospect in 2019
  Rodgers hit .350 with 20 extra-base hits in 37 games with Albuquerque to earn his first two big league promotions this year. He settled in as the Rockies' second baseman before having season-ending labrum surgery in July. A more patient approach helped Rodgers record the lowest strikeout rate and second-highest walk rate of his career. Combined with his premium hand-eye coordination and bat speed, he drew grades as a future plus hitter with above-average power. "He just didn’t miss pitches,” Salt Lake manager Lou Marson said. Rodgers struggled with the transition from his natural shortstop to second base and his surgery clouds his future, but his bat gives him promise.
• 
  Ranked Eastern League #3 prospect in 2018
  Rodgers was the third of three stellar shortstops drafted at the top of the 2015 draft—Dansby Swanson and Alex Bregman preceded him—and he is on track to join that duo in the major leagues shortly. Rodgers returned to Hartford after a 38-game sample there in 2017 and was thoroughly impressive, so much that one opposing manager even labeled him as the best all-around player in the league. He spent the first half of the season working on better recognizing breaking pitches, which he was fed consistently in batting practice drills. Rodgers improved greatly at shortstop this season, showing range to both sides and on slow rollers, with a strong enough arm to stick at the position. He also started 17 games apiece at second base and third base, increasing his versatility and avenues to break into the big league lineup.
• 
  Ranked Eastern League #4 prospect in 2017
  The third overall pick in 2015, Rodgers more than held his own in Double-A in his age-20 season. He went from the hitter's paradise of high Class A Lancaster to a pitcher's park in Hartford and still swatted six home runs in 38 games. He returned to Lancaster for the California League playoffs. Scouts laud Rodgers for his offensive abilities and project him to hit for both average and power. He has good bat-to-ball skills and above-average raw power to all fields, though he tends to be a little overaggressive in his approach and often leans out over the plate, making him susceptible to inside pitches. Defensively, Rodgers faces still questions about his future position. Managers think he needs to improve his range to stay at shortstop, while others want to see him enhance his internal clock on throws to first base. He's got enough range for second base and enough arm for third.
• 
  Ranked California League #1 prospect in 2017
  Rodgers turned heads when he hit .400 in the first half before being promoted to Double-A. He returned to Lancaster at the end of the year to get extra reps in the playoffs after missing nearly 40 games with a hand injury and a quad strain. When healthy, Rodgers earned wide praise for his elite hand-eye coordination, approach, pitch recognition and ability to drive the ball to all fields. He stays balanced in the box and is quick and controlled with his hands, resulting in a smooth swing that looks easy but packs thump. "The way he's able to have that knack of taking a nice easy swing, even on 100 mph fastballs, just how easy his swing was . . . that's something for me that really stood out," Rancho Cucamonga manager Drew Saylor said. Evaluators want to see Rodgers walk more but still regard him as a future plus hitter with enough power to impact a game. He hit .461 at home but also .308 with a .523 slugging percentage away from hitter-friendly Lancaster. Rodgers lacks the optimal speed for shortstop but positions himself well, possesses sure hands and has a plus, accurate arm. He covers more ground than expected because of advanced instincts and projects to stick at the position.
• 
  Ranked South Atlantic League #3 prospect in 2016
  Last summer Rodgers struggled to stay on the field consistently in his first exposure to pro ball at Rookie-level Grand Junction. The grind left him needing regular days off to rest and recover. This year he adjusted to the pro game. He stayed healthy and showed the same arm strength and bat speed in August as in April. Rodgers' productivity didn't match his stamina. He feasted on pitchers who challenged him with fastballs in the first half, proving that he can turn on velocity, but he struggled against changeups and breaking balls away. His power production didn't tail off, but his strikeout rate spiked over the final two months of the season. Some question whether Rodgers will stick at shortstop, for he will have to work on his side-to-side quickness, and he started 24 games at second base this season. While he has plenty of arm strength, he has a tendency to throw with a long arm action, though he will shorten up when pressed for time. His hands work well and he took better angles to the ball as the season progressed.
• 
  Ranked Pioneer League #1 prospect in 2015
  The top talent available in this year's draft and the consensus No. 1 overall pick on many draft boards, Rodgers made his pro debut in Grand Junction with a season of highs and lows. The Rockies selected him with the third overall pick and signed him for $5.5 million. At this best, Rodgers showed the advanced hitting skills expected from a premium draft pick, but scouts were generally disappointed with his low energy level, subpar conditioning and recurring foot, hip and hamstring injuries that resulted in frequent absences from the lineup. Rodgers has the tools to be an all-star caliber shortstop at the big league level. He's a natural hitter with an advanced feel for the bat head and elite bat speed that allows him to drive the ball with authority to all fields. He projects to play a solid shortstop with quick actions and an average arm that can get better with strength. He's no more than an average runner but is an excellent athlete who makes everything he does on the field look easy, sometimes leading to the impression that he isn't always playing with a high motor. With an offseason to get over the pressure of the draft and the nagging injuries, Rodgers should be ready for full-season ball next year.

Top 100 Rankings

• Ranked Baseball America's #61 prospect in 2021
• Ranked Baseball America's #23 prospect in 2020
• Ranked Baseball America's #14 prospect in 2019
• Ranked Baseball America's #22 prospect in 2018
• Ranked Baseball America's #16 prospect in 2017
• Ranked Baseball America's #40 prospect in 2016

• March, 2021 Scouting Report
  Hitting: 60. Power: 55. Running: 50. Fielding: 55. Arm: 60.
  
  TRACK RECORD: Rodgers was the top prospect in the 2015 draft thanks to his precocious hitting ability, promising power potential and ability to stick up the middle defensively. The Rockies drafted him third overall, behind Dansby Swanson and Alex Bregman, and signed him for a franchise-record $5.5 million. While Swanson and Bregman have found success in the big leagues, Rodgers’ career has stalled due to injuries. Shoulder surgery limited his big league time in 2019 to just 25 games and resulted in him being handled with extreme caution in 2020. A tweaked hamstring suffered at the alternate training site delayed his return to Colorado, where he once again struggled offensively. Through 32 big league games he has hit .196/.235/.227 with four walks and 33 strikeouts.
  
  SCOUTING REPORT: While Rodgers’ standing as a prospect has suffered, both because of injuries and decaying enthusiasm about his tools, he still has the ceiling of an impact player. He’s still 24 years old, and there is little doubt he can be an above-average hitter if he stays healthy. Rodgers’ quick wrists, bat speed and ability to make consistent hard contact earn high marks, and he projects to have above-average power. Historically, the knock on Rodgers has been his lack of walks and a strikeout rate that has ballooned in his small big league sample. At present, he can hit any fastball but struggles with big league-caliber breaking balls. While his pitch recognition and patience will continue to be question marks until he proves otherwise, they have been an area of focus over the last two years and he has shown progress. A natural shortstop, Rodgers is still a work in progress defensively at second base. He has more than enough arm strength and athleticism for the position and has spent time working on the finer points of the keystone, including his angles to the ball, moving better to his left and working to soften his hands. There is confidence he can be an above-average defender at second base if he winds up there.
  
  THE FUTURE: Rodgers will get another chance in 2021 to entrench himself with fellow homegrown stars Nolan Arenado and Trevor Story, who play third base and shortstop in Colorado. Rodgers might still be the franchise’s shortstop of the future, but with Story there for at least another year, his best path to playing time will be at second base. If Rodgers gets the playing time he needs and makes a leap in 2021, an infield featuring Rodgers, Story and Arenado could be one of the most dynamic in baseball.
• December, 2020 Scouting Report
  Hitting: 60. Power: 55. Running: 50. Fielding: 55. Arm: 60.
  
  TRACK RECORD: Rodgers was the top prospect in the 2015 draft thanks to his precocious hitting ability, promising power potential and ability to stick up the middle defensively. The Rockies drafted him third overall, behind Dansby Swanson and Alex Bregman, and signed him for a franchise-record $5.5 million. While Swanson and Bregman have found success in the big leagues, Rodgers’ career has stalled due to injuries. Shoulder surgery limited his big league time in 2019 to just 25 games and resulted in him being handled with extreme caution in 2020. A tweaked hamstring suffered at the alternate training site delayed his return to Colorado, where he once again struggled offensively. Through 32 big league games he has hit .196/.235/.227 with four walks and 33 strikeouts.
  
  SCOUTING REPORT: While Rodgers’ standing as a prospect has suffered, both because of injuries and decaying enthusiasm about his tools, he still has the ceiling of an impact player. He’s still 24 years old, and there is little doubt he can be an above-average hitter if he stays healthy. Rodgers’ quick wrists, bat speed and ability to make consistent hard contact earn high marks, and he projects to have above-average power. Historically, the knock on Rodgers has been his lack of walks and a strikeout rate that has ballooned in his small big league sample. At present, he can hit any fastball but struggles with big league-caliber breaking balls. While his pitch recognition and patience will continue to be question marks until he proves otherwise, they have been an area of focus over the last two years and he has shown progress. A natural shortstop, Rodgers is still a work in progress defensively at second base. He has more than enough arm strength and athleticism for the position and has spent time working on the finer points of the keystone, including his angles to the ball, moving better to his left and working to soften his hands. There is confidence he can be an above-average defender at second base if he winds up there.
  
  THE FUTURE: Rodgers will get another chance in 2021 to entrench himself with fellow homegrown stars Nolan Arenado and Trevor Story, who play third base and shortstop in Colorado. Rodgers might still be the franchise’s shortstop of the future, but with Story there for at least another year, his best path to playing time will be at second base. If Rodgers gets the playing time he needs and makes a leap in 2021, an infield featuring Rodgers, Story and Arenado could be one of the most dynamic in baseball.
• July, 2020 Scouting Report
  TRACK RECORD: The Rockies selected Rodgers with the No. 3 overall pick in 2015, the third shortstop taken in the draft’s first three picks. The other two are established in the big leagues—Dansby Swanson, who went No. 1 overall to the D-backs and was traded to the Braves; and Alex Bregman, taken second overall by the Astros and moved to third base. Swanson and Bregman were three years older than Rodgers, however, and debuted in the majors at the same age Rodgers was last May when he received his first big league callup. Rodgers played only 25 games for the Rockies before suffering an injury that eventually required season-ending surgery. Rodgers compiled a 1.035 OPS in 37 games at the high altitude of Triple-A Albuquerque to earn his callup, but he scuffled to hit .224 with two extra-base hits in 25 games with Colorado.
  
  SCOUTING REPORT: Rodgers’ bat gets most of the attention when he is the subject of conversation. He has high-level bat speed, consistently hits the ball off the barrel and makes frequent contact. He has legitimate, above-average power and can drive the ball hard the other way, an approach that works well with the large outfield at Coors Field. Rodgers rarely walks and needs to control his aggression, which he has worked on at higher levels, where experienced pitchers will exploit a free-swinger. A shortstop out of high school, the Rockies are confident Rodgers could play the position in the big leagues. With Trevor Story entrenched there, however, second base is likely to be Rodgers’ long-term position. Rodgers played an increasing amount of second base in the minor leagues last year and his brief big league exposure. He is still working on going to his left and adjusting to a different angle for the throw to first base, and his hands have been a little stiff in his initial move to the right side of the infield, but he should become an above-average defender at the keystone in time.
  
  THE FUTURE: A Rodgers-Story double play duo would give Colorado one of the most powerful middle infields in the game. Rodgers’ initial struggles in Colorado fits his history. At each level he goes through a growth period before settling in. He will get a late start on the 2020 season as he recovers from shoulder surgery. SCOUTING GRADES Hit: 60. Power: 55. Run: 50. Field: 55. Arm: 60. BA GRADE 60 Risk: Medium
• February, 2020 Scouting Report
  TRACK RECORD: The Rockies selected Rodgers with the No. 3 overall pick in 2015, the third shortstop taken in the draft's first three picks. The other two are established in the big leagues—Dansby Swanson, who went No. 1 overall to the D-backs and was traded to the Braves; and Alex Bregman, taken second overall by the Astros and moved to third base. Swanson and Bregman were three years older than Rodgers, however, and debuted in the majors at the same age Rodgers was last May when he received his first big league callup. Rodgers played only 25 games for the Rockies before suffering an injury that eventually required season-ending surgery. Rodgers compiled a 1.035 OPS in 37 games at the high altitude of Triple-A Albuquerque to earn his callup, but he scuffled to hit .224 with two extra-base hits in 25 games with Colorado.
  
  SCOUTING REPORT: Rodgers' bat gets most of the attention when he is the subject of conversation. He has high-level bat speed, consistently hits the ball off the barrel and makes frequent contact. He has legitimate, above-average power and can drive the ball hard the other way, an approach that works well with the large outfield at Coors Field. Rodgers rarely walks and needs to control his aggression, which he has worked on at higher levels, where experienced pitchers will exploit a free-swinger. A shortstop out of high school, the Rockies are confident Rodgers could play the position in the big leagues. With Trevor Story entrenched there, however, second base is likely to be Rodgers' long-term position. Rodgers played an increasing amount of second base in the minor leagues last year and his brief big league exposure. He is still working on going to his left and adjusting to a different angle for the throw to first base, and his hands have been a little stiff in his initial move to the right side of the infield, but he should become an above-average defender at the keystone in time.
  
  THE FUTURE: A Rodgers-Story double play duo would give Colorado one of the most powerful middle infields in the game. Rodgers' initial struggles in Colorado fits his history. At each level he goes through a growth period before settling in. He will get a late start on the 2020 season as he recovers from shoulder surgery.
• December, 2018 Scouting Report
  Rodgers hit .350 with 20 extra-base hits in 37 games with Albuquerque to earn his first two big league promotions this year. He settled in as the Rockies' second baseman before having season-ending labrum surgery in July. A more patient approach helped Rodgers record the lowest strikeout rate and second-highest walk rate of his career. Combined with his premium hand-eye coordination and bat speed, he drew grades as a future plus hitter with above-average power. "He just didn’t miss pitches,” Salt Lake manager Lou Marson said. Rodgers struggled with the transition from his natural shortstop to second base and his surgery clouds his future, but his bat gives him promise.
• July, 2018 Scouting Report
  After scuffling in his first taste of Double-A last year, Rodgers returned to Hartford better than ever. Sporting a leaner, trimmer frame, Rodgers has cut his strikeout rate, increased his walk rate, set a new career-high in stolen bases and hit .276/.340/.504. Rodgers remains a capable shortstop with a plus arm, and he’s played some third base for the first time as the Rockies try to enhance his versatility. Importantly, Rodgers has stayed healthy. After missing at least 30 games due to injury each of his first three seasons, Rodgers played 83 of a possible 88 games before heading to the Futures Game.
• December, 2017 Scouting Report
  Track Record: The Rockies made Rodgers the third overall pick in the 2015 draft, behind fellow shortstops Dansby Swanson and Alex Bregman, and signed him to a franchise-record $5.5 million bonus. Rodgers worked with former big leaguers Dante Bichette and Tom Gordon during his high school days, and has proven at ease in the professional environment since signing. He played only 89 games due to a hand injury and quad strain during the 2017 season, but shined when he was on the field. He flirted with .400 at high Class A Lancaster during the first half of the year and made his way to Double-A Hartford at the minor league all-star break. Scouting Report: Rodgers' calling card is his smooth, controlled swing that bodes well for him to hit for average and power. He possesses the bat speed to handle any velocity and the balance and pitch recognition to barrel breaking balls. At times Rodgers becomes too pull-happy, but he has shown he has the strength to drive the ball the other way. Rodgers rarely walks, but knows how to work a count and doesn't miss the pitch he wants. Evaluators nearly universally regard him as a future plus hitter with enough power to impact a game. A natural shortstop, Rodgers has also seen time at second and third base with the Rockies' approach of having players work at multiple positions in the minors. Rodgers has the reliable hands, quick release and plus arm strength to play shortstop, but his fringy footspeed could be a deciding factor in an eventual move to second base. Rodgers makes up for his lack of natural range by positioning himself well and showing advanced instincts, enough that some evaluators give him a chance to stay at shortstop and be a possibly average defender there, although not all are convinced. The Future: The idea of having a middle infielder with an impact bat is exciting, which is why Rodgers isn't likely to end up at third base. How Rodgers' body changes over time, particularly if he gets bigger and loses a step, will determine whether he stays at shortstop or makes the move to second base. Even if he does end up at second, he can be an impact player along the lines of Bobby Grich or Ryne Sandberg. The Rockies have brought Rodgers along slowly, but it is not out of the question for him to be in the big leagues at some point after the 2018 all-star break.
• December, 2016 Scouting Report
  Background: Rodgers grew up in a family that had a focus on soccer, but his attention turned to baseball at the age of 5. His best friend's father, Ralph Nema, introduced Rodgers to baseball and coached him a good part of his youth. He was a multi-sport participant during his youth, but in kindergarten he proclaimed he would be a baseball player when he grew up. He certainly had big league touches to his development. While Nema was his youth coach, former big leaguers Dante Bichette, an original Rockies outfielder, and all-star closer Tom Gordon also coached Rodgers. He was considered the top prospect in the 2015 draft but slipped to the Rockies with the No. 3 pick when the two teams ahead of them opted for college shortstops. The Diamondbacks took Vanderbilt's Dansby Swanson at No. 1 and the Astros selected Louisiana State's Alex Bregman at No. 2, and they both reached the majors in 2016. The Rockies signed Rodgers to a franchise-record $5.5 million bonus. His pro beginning was a challenge. He battled nagging foot, hamstring and hip injuries at Rookie-level Grand Junction in 2015, limiting him to 37 games and leading scouts who hadn't seen him as an amateur to question his attitude and potential. At low Class A Asheville in 2016, Rodgers reaffirmed his elite status. He finished third in the South Atlantic League in home runs (19) and fourth in slugging (.480) despite being one of only 14 players in the SAL who was younger than 20. Scouting Report: Don't be misled by the fact Rodgers saw time at second and third base as well as shortstop in 2016. The Rockies still feel he has a strong future at shortstop, but the front office is trying to create flexibility with its prospects so that they will be able to fill various holes. With Rodgers' athleticism and power potential he could fit anywhere in the infield. He has elite bat speed and good feel for the bat head, and he punished fastballs before SAL pitchers adjusted and fed him a steady diet of offspeed stuff. He made adjustments but will have to do so against quality sliders he rarely saw as an amateur. He has a polished approach for such a young hitter with solid plate discipline. With strength and conditioning in the offseason, he will add strength and durability. He has quality actions at shortstop and a solid, at times plus, arm that will improve in its consistency with added strength. Rodgers does not have the speed of a player who would be considered a basestealing threat, but his athletic ability and instincts give him surprising range. The Future: The Rockies see Rodgers as an eventual all-star and feel confident he can attain that goal at shortstop if he can stay healthy. A hamstring problem landed him on the disabled list in May 2016, and he went through a dead-arm period in his first full season that he must learn from. The Rockies will allow Rodgers to force the issue when he is ready--they have Trevor Story in Colorado, and he just set an NL record for homers by a rookie shortstop--but the next step is high Class A Lancaster.