Alan Roden Stats & Scouting Report — College Baseball, MLB Draft, Prospects

AB	47
AVG	.319
OBP	.385
SLG	.511
HR	2

Full name Alan Eric Roden
Born 12/22/1999 in Middleton, WI
Profile Ht.: 5'11" / Wt.: 215 / Bats: L / Throws: R
School Creighton
Drafted in the 3rd round (98th overall) by the Toronto Blue Jays in 2022 (signed for $497,500).

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With an open, crouched stance and the barrel resting on his shoulder with a stance reminiscent of Sean Casey, the 6-foot, 210-pound Creighton first baseman delivered 25 doubles this year with four home runs in the pitcher’s park of Charles Schwab Stadium, home of the College World Series. Roden’s most impressive stat of the spring is the fact that he only fanned eight times in 194 at-bats. Roden was the second toughest hitter in Division I to strike out. Scouts seem to be less enamored with Roden, as he’s a contact-first first baseman with a somewhat stiff swing and he hasn’t been challenged much by top-level competition. Between Creighton and his stint last summer in the New England Collegiate Baseball League, Roden has rarely seen premium velocity. Almost assuring contact every at-bat, his team-leading .387 average is no surprise and his numbers will likely intrigue analytically-inclined teams. Playing mostly first base, Roden is comfortable playing right field as well, adding some versatility to his profile. Roden has a chance to get selected in the eighth-to-10th-round range.

Top Rankings

Organization Prospect Rankings

BA Grade: 45/High

Track Record: Roden maintained freshman eligibility into his third season at Creighton after redshirting in 2019 and seeing just three games of action during the shortened 2020 season. He spurned draft interest following his 2021 freshman campaign in order to complete his physics degree. The Blue Jays drafted Roden in the third round in 2022 and signed him for an under-slot $497,500. Assigned to High-A Vancouver in 2023, he hit his way to Double-A New Hampshire on July 19 and batted .310/.421/.460 in 46 games at the higher level.

Scouting Report: Roden has always shown elite bat-to-ball skills and approach. He has a stockier build with broad shoulders but is a better athlete than he appears. Roden has an unusual setup and swing, as he sets up with his hands high above his head in a similar fashion to Angels first baseman Nolan Schanuel. This is an alteration from Roden’s setup during college, when his bat rested on his shoulder in a deep crouch. Roden is now more upright and his front leg drift has been replaced by a more traditional leg kick. Despite the unusual setup and mechanics, Roden is able to control his barrel with high accuracy, rarely swinging and missing. He shows fringe-average game power, but it’s not a matter of hard contact. It’s a lack of lift in his bat path. Most of Roden’s hardest-hit balls in play are line drives. He’s an average runner underway, which allows him to play an average to perhaps a touch better defense in the corner outfield. Roden has an above-average arm that plays well in the corners.

The Future: Roden has a hit tool-driven profile with limited power upside due to his unusual swing and setup. He can be a solid second-division regular with the ability to play an outfield corner and provide high batting averages and on-base ability.

Scouting Grades Hit: 55 | Power: 45 | Run: 50 | Field: 50 | Arm: 55

Draft Prospects

School: Creighton Committed/Drafted: Never Drafted
Age At Draft: 22.6
With an open, crouched stance and the barrel resting on his shoulder with a stance reminiscent of Sean Casey, the 6-foot, 210-pound Creighton first baseman delivered 25 doubles this year with four home runs in the pitcher’s park of Charles Schwab Stadium, home of the College World Series. Roden’s most impressive stat of the spring is the fact that he only fanned eight times in 194 at-bats. Roden was the second toughest hitter in Division I to strike out. Scouts seem to be less enamored with Roden, as he’s a contact-first first baseman with a somewhat stiff swing and he hasn’t been challenged much by top-level competition. Between Creighton and his stint last summer in the New England Collegiate Baseball League, Roden has rarely seen premium velocity. Almost assuring contact every at-bat, his team-leading .387 average is no surprise and his numbers will likely intrigue analytically-inclined teams. Playing mostly first base, Roden is comfortable playing right field as well, adding some versatility to his profile. Roden has a chance to get selected in the eighth-to-10th-round range.