Chad Spanberger
| AB | 1431 |
|---|---|
| AVG | .259 |
| OBP | .328 |
| SLG | .477 |
| HR | 72 |
- Full name Chad Spanberger
- Born 11/01/1995 in Granite City, IL
- Profile Ht.: 6'3" / Wt.: 235 / Bats: L / Throws: R
- School Arkansas
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Drafted in the 6th round (176th overall) by the Colorado Rockies in 2017 (signed for $260,200).
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No player in the country did more to help themselves as the draft approached, as Spanberger had a three-game span for the ages. One of them was a three-homer game against Auburn; in a 16-0 win against Florida, he hit a 95 mph Brady Singer fastball for one of his two homers. He hit five homers and three doubles in the tournament overall in one of the year's most heavily-scouted events. Power is the 6-foot-3, 235-pounder's only plus tool; he hit 11 homers with wood in the Cal Collegiate League last summer and 19 for the season entering the postseason. None of his other tools rates average, though he has some arm strength and played right field as a sophomore. Spanberger had 60 strikeouts entering regional play, and usually his below-average feel for hitting would push him down draft boards. But his big week could push Spanberger into the first five rounds.
Top Rankings
Organization Prospect Rankings
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Track Record: A sixth-round pick out of Arkansas in 2017, Spangberger was showing promising signs as a hitter when the Rockies traded him to the Blue Jays in the 2018 deal for reliever Seung-Hwan Oh.
Scouting Report: Power is Spanberger's best tool. He's extremely strong and can turn around quality fastballs, blasting balls out to all fields with 70 raw power. He put the ball in play more frequently in 2018, cutting his strikeout rate from 26 percent in 2017 to 21 percent last season. Spanberger would benefit from a more selective plan at the plate. Spanberger is a below-average runner, but he has some sneaky athleticism for his size. He's a fringe-average defender at first base, and some scouts would like to see him get time in the outfield corners (something he did a little bit at Arkansas) to increase his versatility.
The Future: Spanberger might be a one-trick pony, but if he can keep making strides with his pure hitting ability and approach, his power will continue to give him opportunities as he moves up. He will likely open 2019 with high Class A Dunedin, with a mid-season move to Double-A New Hampshire possible. -
Spanberger finally settled in at first base his junior year at Arkansas, and made more starts (58) in 2017 than the previous two years combined (55). A catcher/third basemen in high school in Granite City, Ill., he saw limited time as a DH his freshman year at Arkansas and played some outfield his sophomore year. He finally became a regular as a first baseman in 2017, and responded by becoming the sixth player in Arkansas history to hit 20 home runs. The Rockies drafted Spanberger in the sixth round in 2017, signed him for $260,200, and watched with glee as he hit 19 more home runs in 60 games at Rookie-level Grand Junction. Power is Spanberger's lone plus tool. He is physically imposing at 6-foot-3, 235 pounds and can turn around premium velocity and send it a long way. His below-average feel for hitting pushed him down draft boards despite his raw power, and that also showed up with 71 strikeouts in his pro debut. Spanberger is a work in progress defensively at first, but has embraced the challenge. He will head to low Class A Asheville in 2018 and keep rising as long as he gets to his power.
Draft Prospects
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No player in the country did more to help themselves as the draft approached, as Spanberger had a three-game span for the ages. One of them was a three-homer game against Auburn; in a 16-0 win against Florida, he hit a 95 mph Brady Singer fastball for one of his two homers. He hit five homers and three doubles in the tournament overall in one of the year's most heavily-scouted events. Power is the 6-foot-3, 235-pounder's only plus tool; he hit 11 homers with wood in the Cal Collegiate League last summer and 19 for the season entering the postseason. None of his other tools rates average, though he has some arm strength and played right field as a sophomore. Spanberger had 60 strikeouts entering regional play, and usually his below-average feel for hitting would push him down draft boards. But his big week could push Spanberger into the first five rounds.
