2024-02-09 04:47:39
Rookies are the foundation of every team. They are suitable for trading and personal use. They are the key to raising the ceiling of the team. We will introduce you to the unknown minor league rookies. Hello everyone, my name is Chris. Today I want to introduce the Yankees’ 2023 fourth-round pick Roc Riggio.
Roc Riggio was born in Tarzana, CA in 2002. He attended Thousand Oaks HS in high school. This school also produced many professional baseball players. Among them, the more famous one is Max Muncy, but he is not the Dodger’s Max. Muncy, but Max Muncy, the Athletic’s first-round pick in 2021!
After Roc Riggio graduates from high school in 2021, he will have to decide between the draft and college. Before the draft, it was reported that he verbally agreed to Oklahoma State University’s invitation to attend school, so his pick went straight up. He fell to the 11th round and was drafted by the Brewers. Finally, he gave up joining the Brewers and joined Oklahoma State.
In his freshman season, he established himself as a starter with excellent results, hitting 259 times in 54 games, hitting .295/.413/.932 OPS.932, hitting 14 doubles, 11 home runs and 47 RBIs. In addition, he only struck out 58 times and walked 34 times. His excellent ball selection eye resulted in a super high on-base rate, good hitting skills and good power, making him a highly efficient self-propelled cannon.
Although his performance in the Cape Cod Summer League was average following the season, his performance improved even further in his sophomore season, with 281 at-bats in 59 games and a .335/.461/.679 OPS of 1.139. 17 doubles, 18 home runs, 61 RBIs, and 48 strikeouts and 46 walks. Compared with his freshman year, all his performance has been greatly improved. Among them, his already excellent home plate discipline has been further improved, and his long-hitting ability has been further improved. There has also been a lot of progress.
After the season, he entered the 2023 draft, and finally joined the Yankees with the 129th overall pick in the fourth round for an excess signing bonus of $693,000. Riggio is 5 feet 9 inches tall and 180 pounds (approximately 81 kilograms). He has a relatively petite figure but is always full of energy on the court. He has a strong dedication to getting on base. He is easily reminded of Red Sox star Dustin Pedroia.
He entered the professional game immediately following the draft. At first, the Yankees arranged for him to warm up in the rookie league. He played 5 games and had 21 at-bats with a batting average of only .188. He was struck out 6 times and walked 4 times. Later, he was promoted to 1A. 76 hits in 17 games, batting average of .193, struck out 18 times and walked 18 times. His long hitting ability has not yet been demonstrated, but his excellent home plate discipline is still maintained well.
The rookie report pointed out that his swing speed is quite fast, his contact ability is quite good, and he is more powerful than most players of the same size, which gives him the potential to hit 20 home runs in a single season. In terms of base running speed, he is slightly below average, but his base running skills are quite good. He is good at observing the pitcher’s center of gravity and habits, allowing him to still be destructive between the bases.
Defensively, due to his slow lateral speed and poor arm strength, he cannot guard shortstop or third base. His short height is not suitable for first base, so he can only guard second base. He played corner outfield in high school, and corner outfield might be another option for him.
To sum up the player Roc Riggio, he has good hitting ability, good power, excellent home plate discipline, and decent run defense. At 21 years old, he is still young and still has a lot of potential that can be developed.
Cover link: https://twitter.com/rocriggio
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