The Colorado Rockies had four of the top 50 picks in Monday MLB first-year player draft. The club went with all high school players in the 50th draft in the MLB’s history.
With the third pick in the draft, the Rockies selected shortstop Brandon Rodgers out of Lake Mary high School in Florida. The Rockies believe Rodgers was the best player available best player – he was the top rated prospect in the entire draft by MLB.com.
A special message from 1st round pick Brendan Rodgers: https://t.co/bKp9NryijA
— Colorado Rockies (@Rockies) June 8, 2015
The 6-foot, 199-pound shortstop hit .360 with 23 RBIs and eight homeruns in 25 games in his senior year playing in Orlando, FL.
Rodgers was the third shortstop off the board – making it the first time in the history of the draft that shortstops have gone 1-2-3. The Arizona Diamondbacks selected Vanderbilt’s Dansby Swanson with the first pick then the Houston Astros went with Alex Bregman out of LSU. Rodgers is considered by many to have the highest ceiling of the bunch.
Swanson was previously drafted by the Rockies in the 38th round of the MLB draft, but he elected to develop his game at Vanderbilt instead.
After hearing his name called, Rodgers wiped tears from his eyes as he hugged his parents. The 18-year-old was clearly very emotional in his interview on MLB network.
The power hitter will have the opportunity to take his time, develop, and learn from one the greatest shortstops in the game with Troy Tulowitzki in Colorado. The last time the Rockies took a shortstop in the first round was when they selected Tulo at seventh overall back in 2005. Rodgers has drawn comparisons to both Tulowitzki and Carlos Correa of the Houston Astros.
“It’s going to mean the world to me getting tips and stuff like that from an All-Star,” Rodgers told Sam Ryan of MLB Network. “I’m excited to meet him and stuff.”
Tulowitzki was asked about the Rockies first selection in his post-game interview after the Rockies 11-3 win over the St. Louis Cardinals on Monday night.
“I know he’s probably trying to take my job so I better get my act together,” Tulowitzki said jokingly. “I hear he’s a pretty good player.”
With their second pick in the draft, 27th overall, the Rockies took high school pitcher Mike Nikorak out of Stoudsburg, PA. The Rockies got the pick, the first selection in the compensatory draft, when Michael Cuddyer signed with the New York Mets in the offseason.
“I’m really grateful that the Rockies decided to go with me and I’m really excited to get going with them,” Nikorik said.
Nikorik was the 15th rated prospect in the draft by MLB.com. He has a 0.94 ERA in 29.2 innings with 50 K’s in his senior season. The 6-foot-5, 224-pound righty’s explosive fastball can reach 97 MPH. Nikorik – a former quarterback – may have the highest ceiling of any pitcher in the draft. He has experience playing with Rodgers – which should make them both a little more comfortable.
“That’s pretty awesome,” Nikorik said. “Going into the first year knowing somebody is going to be awesome.”
Next, the Rockies selected high school third baseman Tyler Nevin at 38th overall. Nevin, out of Poway High School in San Diego, is the son of Phil Nevin – the top overall selection in the 1992 draft. The 6-foot-4, 220-pound infielder is regarded as one of the more developed high school hitters in the draft. The 18-year-old had Tommy John surgery in 2013.
Six picks later, with the 44th pick overall, the Rockies took Peter Lambert – a right-handed pitcher out of San Dimas High School in southern California. The 6-foot-2, 190-pound pitcher went 13-0 with a 0.34 ERA, nine complete games, five shutouts and a 113/16 K/BB ratio in his senior season.
Nathan is a staff writer for Mile High Sports. He can be reached on Twitter at @TheRealNatron.
