Rosell Herrera Stats & Scouting Report

AB	383
AVG	.225
OBP	.286
SLG	.316
HR	3

Full name Rosell Amado Herrera
Born 10/16/1992 in Santo Domingo Centro, Dominican Republic
Profile Ht.: 6'3" / Wt.: 180 / Bats: S / Throws: R
Debut 04/26/2018

Top Rankings

Organization Prospect Rankings

Herrera signed for $550,000 in 2009, played well in the Rookie-level Pioneer League in 2011 but saved his big breakthrough for low Class A Asheville in 2013, when he won both the South Atlantic League batting title (.343) and MVP honors. Inflammation in both wrists sabotaged his encore at high Class A Modesto in 2014, forcing him out for five weeks early in the season and bothering him for the balance of the year. Herrera has a long, loose body and loose actions. The switch-hitter is much better from the left side, while his long limbs give him extension and enable him to make adjustments to hit different pitches in and out of the zone. Herrera still has breaking-ball and count-management issues, but he has good bat speed and has developed a balanced approach. His long actions are a hindrance at shortstop and third base, where he's a below-average defender, so the Rockies tried him in center field during 2014 instructional league. Herrera is instinctively natural when it comes to reads and first-step quickness in the outfield and has a solid-average to plus arm. His accuracy will improve as he gets experience with outfield hops. The Rockies say the outfield is an addition for Herrera, not a conversion from the infield, and now that he has been fitted for special wrist braces, he should be at full health in 2015, when he faces a likely return to Modesto.
Herrera, who signed for $550,000 in 2009, came from the Dominican Republic to the United States in 2011 and played well in the Rookie-level Pioneer League. He clearly was overwhelmed at low Class A Asheville in 2012 (.543 OPS), but a more confident, mature and aggressive Herrera returned to Asheville in 2013. He earned South Atlantic League MVP honors after leading the circuit in average (.343) and hits (162) while ranking second in total bases (242). The key for the switch-hitting Herrera was an improved swing. He still has a leg kick but now gets his front foot down on time and is more under control. He has learned to stay back and let the ball travel, and has much better balance and improved strike-zone management. He has much more power and aggressiveness from the left side but is driving the ball from the right side more than in the past. The lanky Herrera could develop more power as he fills out. An average runner, he might lose some of the quickness necessary for shortstop, where he has better range to his glove side than backhand and solid arm strength. He made too many errors by laying back on balls. However, after committing 24 miscues in his first 77 games, Herrera got more aggressive defensively and made just four in his final 49 games. Herrera will move up to high Class A Modesto in 2014. If a position change is needed, Herrera has the arm, hands and actions to play second or third base, though he also took fly balls in center field during instructional league, opening another possibility.
The Rockies signed Herrera for $800,000 out of the Dominican Republic in 2009. After he made the his pro debut in the Rookie-level Dominican Summer League in 2010, he was the only DSL player Colorado invited to instructional league that fall. He made his U.S. debut last summer at Casper, where he and Trevor Story shared shortstop and also saw time at third base. A switch-hitter, Herrera is a significantly better hitter with more power from the left side. He doesn't have the same bat speed from the right side. Herrera has a lot of moving parts at the plate but exceptional hand-eye coordination, so he's able to barrel the ball. He can get overly long and loft-happy with his swing, but he toned things down and didn't load up on his back side and whale away as often in the latter stages of 2011. Herrera has average speed and range to go with solid arm strength. He throws from a low angle and doesn't get on top of the ball, costing him accuracy, as does his inconsistent footwork. Already 6-foot-3, he figures to outgrow shortstop and could end up at third base, the outfield or even first base. The Rockies want both him and Story to play regularly at shortstop in 2012, so Herrera probably will go to Tri-City while Story heads to Asheville.
Herrera is the latest find for the Rockies' Latin American scouting department, signing for $800,000 in the summer of 2009. After making his debut in the Rookie-level Dominican Summer League in 2010, he was invited to instructional league in the fall, which underscores how the organization feels about his future. His numbers aren't eye-popping, but Herrera shows great enthusiasm to play, regardless of his struggles on the field. A switchhitter who projects to have power as his lean body fills out, Herrera showed surprising plate discipline, averaging more than nine at-bats per strikeout. He has pull power from both sides of the plate and shows the ability to drive the ball into the gaps. Colorado has smoothed out Herrera's throwing motion, and he already has a solid arm, and plus range. His hands are average but figure to soften as he gains playing experience. If he outgrows shortstop his skills should fit in center field. Herrera will make his domestic debut with Rookie-level Casper in 2011. Given his youth and lack of experience, the Rockies will take a cautious approach for a couple of years. Given his size and focus, he already has drawn comparisons to Troy Tulowitzki.

Minor League Top Prospects

Scouts and coaches who saw Herrera in the SAL last year and this year had to check their rosters to make sure they were watching the same player. He failed in his first crack at Asheville in 2012, earning a demotion after hitting .202/.271/.272. This year, Herrera led the league in batting (.343) and hits (162) and finished second in total bases (243). He also impressed everyone with his energy, enthusiasm and intensity. ?I don?t believe he?s the same player I saw last year,? the NL scout said. ?He made a liar out of me. He?s really turned it around. His bat is night and day (different) from last year. I?ve never seen a ballplayer make a transition as fast as he has.? Herrera?s tall, lanky build gives scouts plenty of room to project even more power as he fills out. It also leads some scouts to wonder if he?ll lack the quickness to remain at shortstop. He?s an average runner now who likely will be below-average by the time he?s a regular big leaguer. His arm, hands and actions would work fine at either second or third base.
Signed for $550,000 in 2009, Herrera made his full-season debut at the beginning of this season but hit just .202 in low Class A. He looked more comfortable after arriving in Tri-City, flashing the potential to have several solid tools once he adds some polish. A switch-hitter, Herrera is better swinging lefthanded and has gap power from that side. He has to tone his approach down to tap into the pop, as he has a big leg kick and recoil in his swing, which can get uphill. He has above-average speed, along with the smooth actions and arm strength for shortstop, though his consistency and focus leave something to be desired. "He's an interesting kid," a National League scout said. "He's a ways away strength-wise, but I think he's a guy. I don't know if he'll be one for another three or four years, but I think he can stay at shortstop."
Casper had the two best shortstop prospects in the league, as Trevor Story and Herrera shared the position and also spent time at third base. Signed for $550,000, Herrera struggled in his 2010 pro debut in the Rookie-level Dominican Summer League but reversed course this season, impressing PL observers with his high-energy approach and switch-hitting potential. "His offensive potential is spectacular," Casper manager Tony Diaz said. "He's got a line-drive, middle-of-the-diamond hitting approach, with good hand-eye coordination, especially from the left side." Herrera did most of his damage as a lefty, batting .301/.393/.486 with five of his six homers. One scout noted that he has a lot of excess motion in his hitting setup, but that his bat is always on time. He should mature into a plus hitter with at least average power because his swing works from both sides of the plate. At 6-foot-4 and still growing, Herrera probably will play his way off shortstop and wind up on a corner or possibly in center field. His range is adequate and his arm is average for shortstop, but his actions are long and he tends to drop his arm angle on throws to first base, costing him accuracy. A quality athlete with running speed, he presently lacks the baserunning instincts to pose as a stolen-base threat.