Drafted in the 16th round (489th overall) by the Baltimore Orioles in 2007.
Top Rankings
Organization Prospect Rankings
Baltimore went with a college-heavy approach in the 2007 draft. Kolodny was the first high school player it picked, and one of just two it signed out of the entire draft. After turning pro for a $39,000 bonus, he instantly endeared himself to the Orioles by playing all-out every minute of every game, bringing great energy to the ballpark every day. Scouts and coaches said he was easy to identify because he was the one who always had the dirty uniform. Kolodny is a big, physical kid who loves to play and has a knack for hitting. He makes consistent hard contact and showed good power in his pro debut. He has a good approach for his age and loves to work on his swing. He's an average runner and shows decent range at third base, but he needs to work on his throws. He made 15 errors in 36 games at third base, and his motion costs him strength and accuracy. He made progress in instructional league, but he could end up at first base. There's no doubt he'll put in the work to try to stay at third base, though. Kolodny will open the season at 20, old for a high school player in his first full season, so he'll get the chance to jump to low Class A.
Minor League Top Prospects
Signed as a 16th-rounder out of a California high school, Kolodny was the GCL's best underdog story. A high-energy player who religiously breaks down his swing path as well as his defense, he quickly became a favorite of scouts and managers. "He never puts the bat down," a scout with a NL team said. "He'll come in from an inning in the field, in 100-plus-degree heat, and just stand there swinging, trying to time his hacks. He never slowed down and he was always dirty from the neck down by the end of every game. That's some kind of energy." Kolodny makes consistent hard contact with a line-drive stroke that produces good backspin and loft power. He works counts well for a young player. His bat will be his ticket as he moves up the ladder. Kolodny grades out as average defensively. His arm strength is a tick above average, but he sometimes has trouble moving laterally and he struggles coming in on balls.
Download our app
Read the newest magazine issue right on your phone