Minor League Prospect Report: Kyle Parker, OF, Colorado Rockies
Colorado Rockies outfield prospect Kyle Parker went 2-for-5 with a triple and four RBI yesterday for the Modesto Nuts in the High-A California League. On the season, he's now hitting .308/.415/.558 with 17 doubles, six triples, 22 homers, and 72 RBI. In 380 at-bats over 99 games, he's posted a 64/85 BB/K ratio.
This represents significant improvement in his approach at the plate. Last year, although he hit .285/.367/.483 with 21 homers for Low-A Asheville, he rang up an unattractive 48/133 BB/K ratio in 445 at-bats. He's boosted his walk rate and lowered his strikeouts this year, without losing any of his power production.
Drafted in the first round in 2010 out of Clemson, Parker is a 6-0, 200 pound right-handed hitter and thrower, born September 30, 1989. His raw power was among the best available in the '10 draft class, but with an extensive football background (he was Clemson's quarterback), he was considered somewhat (and understandably) raw as college hitters go. The sabermetric improvements for Modesto are good to see, and matches subjective scouting reports of greatly improved plate discipline and a more mature, less "pull everything" approach.
Parker will move to Double-A to begin 2013. He still needs work on his right field defense, and of course we'll have to see if he maintains his offensive progress against better pitching. If he does, we could see him in Colorado sometime in the second half next year. He could be something like Ryan Ludwick. I had Parker as a Grade B- pre-season, and I think he's done well enough to move that up to Grade B.
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