Top 50 Prospects: #21 – Nolan Arenado | The Golden Sombrero Baseball Blog | MLB, Fantasy, College & High School Baseball News

Top 50 Prospects: #21 – Nolan Arenado

#25 Nolan Arenado

Colorado Rockies

DOB: 4/16/1991

Previous Rank: N/R

ETA: 2013

Arenado was recently named MVP of the Arizona Fall League after slashing .388/.423/.636 with six jacks in 121 at-bats.  In the California League as a 20-year-old, Arenado posted a .298/.349/.487 line with 20 home runs and 32 doubles as well as nearly as many walks as strikeouts.  We expect Arenado to open the year in Double-A, and debut some time in Denver in 2013.

Arenado’s defense has been under scrutiny since he was an amateur, but he cut some weight last winter and improved his mobility in the process, silencing some doubters.  I am not convinced that he can be average at the hot corner yet, but he is definitely good enough to play at least a few seasons there before sliding to first.  His bat plays anywhere and has room to improve in the power category as well.  His speed is not even close to average, but it never has to be.

Year Age Tm Lg Lev G PA AB R 2B 3B HR RBI SB CS BA
2009 18 Casper PION Rk 54 225 203 28 15 0 2 22 5 2 .300
2010 19 Asheville SALL A 92 400 373 45 41 1 12 65 1 3 .308
2011 20 Modesto CALL A+ 134 583 517 82 32 3 20 122 2 1 .298
3 Seasons 280 1208 1093 155 88 4 34 209 8 6 .302
Provided by Baseball-Reference.com: View Original Table
Generated 12/23/2011.
Year Age Tm Lg Lev G PA AB HR RBI BB SO BA OBP SLG OPS TB
2009 18 Casper PION Rk 54 225 203 2 22 16 18 .300 .351 .404 .755 82
2010 19 Asheville SALL A 92 400 373 12 65 19 52 .308 .338 .520 .858 194
2011 20 Modesto CALL A+ 134 583 517 20 122 47 53 .298 .349 .487 .836 252
3 Seasons 280 1208 1093 34 209 82 123 .302 .346 .483 .829 528
Provided by Baseball-Reference.com: View Original Table
Generated 12/23/2011.
Year Age Tm Lg Lev G Ch PO A E DP Fld% RF/G
2009 18 Casper PION Rk 3B 49 139 33 92 14 9 .899 2.55
2010 19 Asheville SALL A 3B 81 235 86 134 15 17 .936 2.72
2011 20 Modesto CALL A+ 3B 131 318 85 215 18 25 .943 2.29
3 Seasons 261 692 204 441 47 51 .932 2.47
Provided by Baseball-Reference.com: View Original Table
Generated 12/23/2011.

Arenado is as exciting an infield prospect as exists in the game today, and he should make several all-star teams before he is done leaving his stamp on the NL West.

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