The Prospect Stock Watch: Rooker, Cody, Atkinson

Today’s Prospect Stock Watch takes a look at a breakout 2017 draftee, a fast-rising starter who’s leaving the controversy of a failed physical behind him, and an undrafted pitcher who has become one of the top strikeout pitchers in the minors.

Brent Rooker, OF, Twins: I don’t typically write about same-season draft picks in the Prospect Stock Watch because first-year (half-season) stats often don’t mean much after long amateur seasons. Rooker, though, deserves some ink. Selected 35th overall out of Mississippi State University, this outfielder has defied his scouting reports and is quickly proving that his outstanding junior season in college was not a fluke.

He has some swing-and-miss to his game (50 Ks in 51 games) but he also has some of the best useable power in the low minors; he’s slugged 13 homers so far. Along with the power, he’s also shown a willingness to take a walk. Rooker opened his pro career in advanced-rookie ball but, after 22 games, was pushed all the way up to high-A ball where he’s continued to hit well with an .826 OPS. The first-year pro may return to high-A ball to open up the 2018 season but it may not take long for him to experience double-A. He has middle-of-the-order potential for the Twins.

Kyle Cody, RHP, Rangers: Cody was selected 73rd overall in the 2015 amateur draft by the Minnesota Twins (Hey, they have some pretty good scouts!). A failed physical, though, squashed his dream of signing (not to mention a pretty decent payday). The hard-throwing right-hander returned to the University of Kentucky for his senior season and earned a sixth round selection by the Rangers. This time, he passed the physical and Texas received a pitcher capable of hitting the upper 90s with his heater — and a slider that can be a wipeout pitch at times.

His command is still a work in progress but the control has been good with just 37 walks in 107 innings split between two A-ball levels. At 6-7, 245 pounds, Cody has the frame to develop into a workhorse starter. He’ll quite likely move up to double-A to begin the 2018 season and the 23-year-old hurler could reach the majors later that year. The Twins may be soon kicking themselves for letting this talented arm get away.

Ryan Atkinson, RHP, Diamondbacks: The strikeout leaders in the minors read like a Top 100 prospect list: Michael Kopech, Brent Honeywell, Triston McKenzie, A.J. Puk, Alec Hansen… and then we find Atkinson. The kid that all 30 teams passed on for all 40 rounds in both the 2014 and 2015 amateur drafts. The University of Cincinnati alum moved on with life and then decided to dabble with pitching in an independent baseball league. Two appearances later, the Diamondbacks came calling… and one year later, he’s among the pitching leaders in the minors.

Atkinson, now 24, has played at three minor league levels this season and is currently pitching at double-A. Combined, he’s struck out 145 batters in 116.2 innings. The pitcher is not overpowering but he has a solid fastball in the low-90s and mixes it in with his curveball and changeup. He also has solid control and has walked just 49 batters but his best weapon might be deception — hitters just don’t pick up the ball well when it leaves his hand. Atkinson is a good story and is worth watching. He could develop into a solid No. 4 hurler who’s gone from a penny stock to a true asset.