Garrett Hampson

Organization Prospect Rankings

• 
  Ranked Colorado Rockies #2 prospect in 2019
  Track Record: Hampson gets lost in the shuffle with the likes of shortstops Brendan Rodgers and third baseman Colton Welker in the organization, but what can't be overlooked is that Hampson made his big league debut in just his third pro season and was part of the Rockies' postseason roster. He has hit .300 at each stop in the minor leagues, skipping low Class A and spending just two months at Double-A in his rise to the Rockies.
  
  Scouting Report: Hampson's plus speed and consistency in making contact are the foundation for his success. He has struck out just 15 percent of the time in his minor league career, despite being fast-tracked to the big leagues, and has hit a composite .317 in his three minor league stops. His arm is best suited for second base and center field, but he is an alternative when a need arises at shortstop. He will unload an occasional home run, but his well below-average power is a sidelight to his game. His offensive approach is to hit the ball on the ground or on a line, trying to avoid lazy fly balls.
  
  The Future: Versatility is a key for Hampson. Signed as a shortstop, he has been most comfortable at second base, but also has shown the skills to play center field. The infield depth in Colorado's system makes his ability to play multiple positions critical.
• 
  Ranked Colorado Rockies #8 prospect in 2018
  Hampson is next in a long line of Long Beach State shortstops in the big leagues, headed by Bobby Crosby, Troy Tulowitzki, Danny Espinosa and Matt Duffy. Drafted in the third round and signed for $750,000 in 2016, Hampson led the minors with 113 runs and finished fourth with 51 steals in his first full season at high Class A Lancaster. A top-of-the-lineup catalyst, Hampson is an undersized plus-plus runer who plays at full speed all the time. He keeps the ball on the ground or strokes it on a line to let his speed play, and he shows hints of power, although that will never be his game. His plate discipline is improving, allowing him to project as an above-average hitter with a lot of steals. Hampson gets too big in his swing sometimes, but generally self-corrects. Drafted as a shortstop, Hampson's arm is a bit short for the position, but his exemplary hands, quick-first step and top-notch reaction times fit at second base, where he shows flashes of being a plus defender. He also got some exposure to center field last year. Most evaluators see Hampson as a future super utility player, but a few see enough for him to start at second base. Double-A Hartford is next in 2018.
• 
  Ranked Colorado Rockies #14 prospect in 2017
  Hampson has been getting attention since he was 10, when he won the competition for his age group at the Pitch, Hit and Run competition at the 2005 All-Star Game. The Rockies drafted Hampson 81st overall in 2016 and signed him for $750,000 after a decorated three-year career as Long Beach State's starting shortstop. Hampson doesn't have the size, power or arm strength of Troy Tulowitzki, Evan Longoria or Danny Espinosa, who preceded him playing shortstop for the Dirtbags, but he has that feel for how to play and for big situations. He earns comparisons with Marco Scutaro as a hitter who pesters pitchers, works the count and gets a mistake he can drive. He is a quality shortstop with good footwork and range as well as an average arm. He has shown the ability to play any infield position, adding to his potential big league value. Pitchers need to be aware with his plus speed and aggressiveness on the basepaths. Hampson had a strong debut at short-season Boise. He led the Northwest League in stolen bases (36) and walks (48). Hampson could move quickly as a utility infielder and potentially more if he keeps getting on base.

Draft Prospects

• Ranked #156 prospect in 2016 draft
  A 26th-round pick out of Reno (Nev.) High in 2013, Hampson turned down the Nationals and joined Long Beach State's shortstop tradition, which has produced big leaguers such as Bobby Crosby, Troy Tulowitzki, Danny Espinoza and Matt Duffy in the last 15 years. Hampson should be next, as scouts consider him a high-floor player who plays hard and has enough tools to contribute to a big league roster. His best tool is his plus speed, as he's an aggressive baserunner who needs to refine his base stealing technique. He has the range and actions to stay in the middle of the diamond defensively. His average arm should allow him to stick at shortstop at least in a utility role, as his offensive ceiling may be limited. At 5-foot-11, 185 pounds, Hampson has slugged under .400 for his career and has the approach of a larger hitter, with too many flyball outs as his swing gets uphill at times. His safe profile could push him up as high as the third round.
• Ranked #84 prospect in 2013 draft
  Though he wasn't at many major showcase events over the summer, Hampson has some experience on a big league field as the 9-10 year old winner of Pepsi's MLB Pitch, Hit & Run competition at the 2005 All-Star Game in Detroit. Hampson is just 6 feet and 165 pounds but has exciting athleticism. He played point guard for his high school's basketball team and has been the starting shortstop for UCLA head coach John Savage's brother, Pete, for the past three years. Hampson's best tool is his well above-average speed. A righthanded hitter, he's also a line-drive machine at the plate and profiles as a sparkplug at the top of the lineup with power to the gaps. Hampson's speed gives him plenty of range, and he is surehanded. His arm is a little fringy, but he makes up for it with good footwork and a quick release. He shows toughness and is a smart player. He is committed to Long Beach State, but will likely be drafted high enough--especially with this year's dearth of shortstops--to go pro instead.

Minor League Top Prospects

• 
  Ranked Pacific Coast League #18 prospect in 2018
  Hampson started the year in Double-A and was promoted to the PCL a month into the season. As he has everywhere else, Hampson quickly established himself as one of the league’s top hitters, fastest runners and most versatile defenders, and he earned his first big league callup on July 21. Improperly labeled a “grinder” due to his 5-foot-11 height, Hampson again showed himself to be an elite athlete in a smaller package. He was a consistent plus runner with occasional plus-plus times at Albuquerque, showed the bat speed and quick-twitch athleticism to barrel velocity and played above-average defense in the middle infield. As a further testament to his athleticism, he played some center field for the first time and took to it like a natural. Hampson knows how to use his speed and was an effieicent basestealer, going 36-for-41 on the year. He continued to showcase excellent bat-to-ball skills and rarely struck out, drawing walks and putting the ball in play to wreak havoc on the bases. Hampson’s power and arm strength are a bit short for some, but his on-base skills, speed and defensive versatility have him in line to be an oft-used utilityman capable of starting.
• 
  Ranked California League #20 prospect in 2017
  Few players in the minors were as disruptive as Hampson. Undersized but twitchy, he created havoc on the basepaths with his plus-plus speed, had the bat control to alternately lay down a bunt for a hit or drive a 98 mph fastball into the gap, and he made highlight-reel plays in the middle infield throughout the year. Hampson led the minors with 113 runs scored, finished fourth with 51 stolen bases, hit .300 even away from Lancaster and showed himself to be a plus defender with some of the best hands in the league at second base, with the ability to fill in at shortstop ably. "He's a little bit of a nightmare on the opposing side," Inland Empire manager Chad Tracy said. "He stole quite a few hits from us. And he's just a pest, but not like the typical pest who will foul some stuff off and hit a single. You make a mistake and he'll drive it into the right-center field gap for a double." Hampson's upside is limited by his below-average power potential, but his speed, up-the-middle defense and bat-to-ball skills will be enough to carry him to the majors for most evaluators.
• 
  Ranked Northwest League #7 prospect in 2016
  The quintessential hard-nosed gamer, Hampson didn't blow away the competition with one particular tool. Instead, he impressed with a balanced set of skills and has the chops to stay up the middle. He's got appropriate actions at shortstop, despite what some evaluators termed a second baseman's body, and has just enough arm strength to stick at the position. Hampson is as steady as they come at the plate, with a line-drive approach to all fields and a willingness to work counts. He led the league with 48 walks and ranked third wiht a .404 on-base percentage. Hampson's power is to the gaps, and his plus speed helped him lead the league with eight triples. After stealing 50 bases in three years at Long Beach State, he led the NWL with 36. He doesn't project as an all-star, but he has the tools to be a solid middle-infield regular or at least a utility player.

Top 100 Rankings

• Ranked Baseball America's #87 prospect in 2019

• July, 2018 Scouting Report
  People are increasingly realizing Hampson is not a "gamer” but an elite athlete who just comes in a smaller package. Hampson made quick work of Double-A before moving up to Triple-A and continuing to hit, putting together a combined .309/.379/.463 slash line. Hampson remains an above-average contact hitter with plus-plus speed, stealing 33 bases in 38 tries, and he’s been an adequate defensive shortstop and excellent second baseman. He’s also begun playing some center field for the first time this year and held his own, another testament to his athleticism. Hampson was rewarded with his first big league callup on July 21.
• December, 2017 Scouting Report
  Track Record: Hampson is next in a long line of Long Beach State shortstops in the big leagues, headed by Bobby Crosby, Troy Tulowitzki, Danny Espinosa and Matt Duffy. Drafted in the third round and signed for $750,000 in 2016, Hampson led the minors with 113 runs and finished fourth with 51 steals in his first full season at high Class A Lancaster. Scouting Report: A top-of-the-lineup catalyst, Hampson is an undersized plus-plus runer who plays at full speed all the time. He keeps the ball on the ground or strokes it on a line to let his speed play, and he shows hints of power, although that will never be his game. His plate discipline is improving, allowing him to project as an above-average hitter with a lot of steals. Hampson gets too big in his swing sometimes, but generally self-corrects. Drafted as a shortstop, Hampson's arm is a short for the position, but his exemplary hands, quick-first step and top-notch reaction times fit at second base, where he shows flashes of being a plus defender. He also got some exposure to center field last year. The Future: Most evaluators see Hampson as a future super utility player, but a few see enough for him to start at second base. Double-A Hartford is next in 2018.