Scott Rolen

Organization Prospect Rankings

• 
  Ranked Philadelphia Phillies #1 prospect in 1997
  Rolen has been the pearl of the Phillies' organization almost since he was drafted. A top candidate for National League Rookie of the Year, he’ll have the Cubs’ Steve Trachsel to thank if he wins. A Trachsel pitch broke Rolen’s forearm on Sept. 7, 1996, leaving him exactly at the 130 at-bat limit for qualifying. Rolen is one of the most well-rounded prospects in baseball. He has the ability to hit .290-20-95 within three years, while providing above-average range and arm strength on defense. Rolen is a little too contact-conscious and will drive the ball better when he lets loose. He needs a little more work on backhand plays to his right. The unquestioned starter in 1997, Rolen won’t put up home run numbers like Mike Schmidt, to whom he frequently is compared. But he has similar all-star ability.
• 
  Ranked Philadelphia Phillies #1 prospect in 1996
  Rolen was the No. 1 prospect in the high Class A Florida State League, making him, amazingly, the first Phillies farmhand since the injury-prone Ron Jones in 1986 to be ranked by Baseball America as the top talent in a full-season league. Scouting director Mike Arbuckle, who honors his Braves roots by emphasizing high school talent, gambled on Rolen two years ago and did an impressive job signing the Indiana two-sport star away from a University of Georgia basketball scholarship. Rolen has succeeded at every level. Similar in style to Dodgers outfield prospect Todd Hollandsworth, Rolen can do everything well without standing out in one area. He’s a pure hitter. His lightning-quick hands enable him to whip the bat through the hitting zone, so as he gets stronger--he’s still just 20--he should become more of a complete hitter. Scouts say he can bat .285 with 25 home runs. He has excellent range at third, particularly going to his left, and a strong, accurate arm. He also has outstanding makeup. Rolen often thinks too much at the plate, treating 1-0 counts as if they were 0-2. He reacts late to fastballs because he waits too long to see if they’re strikes. He needs to become more aggressive and realize his talent can take over. He’ll pull balls with more authority when that occurs. His perfectionism also prevents him on occasion from cutting loose on throws. The comparisons, however premature and unfair, will begin soon to another Phillies third baseman drafted in the second round: Mike Schmidt. But Rolen will never have Schmidt’s raw power. Because of Rolen's skills and approach, scouts see him more as a healthy Dave Hollins. He’ll begin 1996 at Double-A Reading, probably move up to Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre at midseason and begin what should be a standout major league career in 1997.
• 
  Ranked Philadelphia Phillies #1 prospect in 1995
  The Phillies had a horrible record of procuring top high school talent under scouting director Jay Hankins. They drafted few top prep players to begin with, and lost second-round picks Chris Roberts (1989) and Tim Schweitzer (1990) to college. Mike Arbuckle made a quick statement with his second pick for the Phillies. He chose Rolen, who was considered a tough sign because of a basketball scholarship from the University of Georgia. It took a while, but the club finally signed him for $250,000. This move, perfected by so many organizations over the years, gave the Phillies their best hitting prospect since Ricky Jordan. Rolen has a fantastic hitter’s body: big but lanky, with room to fill out without making him inflexible. The most striking aspect of his game, especially for a teenager, is his ability to adjust from pitch to pitch. He projects as a .290 to .300 hitter. Agility remaining from his basketball days gives Rolen fine range at third base. He’s not afraid to dive for balls, and he has an above-average arm. The Phillies love his makeup. He’s smart, tough and responds well to instruction, and he didn’t need college to prepare him for professional baseball. Rolen hurries some throws, one of the few indications of his youth. His patience at the plate will improve with experience, which is all he really needs. Rolen hasn’t focused on pulling pitches, another sign of his age, but the Phillies are confident that when he does he’ll hit 25 home runs per year. The Phillies’ third base situation is quite muddled now, with Dave Hollins moving to first and Mariano Duncan and Craig Worthington looking to replace him. But Rolen is a potential all-star who probably will be ready in 1997. He should start 1995 at Double-A Reading as one of the Eastern League’s youngest players.

Minor League Top Prospects

• 
  Ranked Eastern League #2 prospect in 1996
  Some players might have been overwhelmed by the hype, but for his three months in the Eastern League, Rolen handled the comparisons to a former Reading Phillie from a quarter century ago, Hall of Famer Mike Schmidt. “I played with Mike Schmidt,” Norwich manager Jim Essian said, “and Rolen appears to be every bit the athlete Mike was at that age, which says a lot for Scott Rolen because Mike Schmidt is one of the greatest athletes of all time.” Rolen has a very disciplined stroke and doesn’t swing at many bad pitches. He also has a great makeup. “He’s impressed them up there in Philadelphia just by his demeanor,” Reading manager Bill Robinson said. “He’s probably one of the most likable young men you will ever meet. When he was promoted to Triple-A, there was no animosity with the other players. There were standing ovations and hugs.”
• 
  Ranked Florida State League #1 prospect in 1995
  Rolen played just 66 Florida State League games before getting promoted to Double-A Reading. He made a can’t-miss impression with his skills and attitude. He showed good gap power and has a strong arm with Clearwater. He needs to work on minimizing the size of his strike zone and improving his defensive consistency. “He’s going to play for the Phillies for a long time,” Daytona manager Dave Trembley said. “He’s got a good strong body. He’ll hit a lot of doubles and home runs, and he’s going to be something on turf. He also plays a lot older than he is.”
• 
  Ranked South Atlantic League #9 prospect in 1994
  Rolen plays third base with passion, range and arm strength. He has excellent hand-eye coordination and foot speed, as one would expect of an athlete offered a basketball scholarship by the University of Georgia. Rolen also impressed managers with his ability to hit for both power and average with Spartanburg. “He’s one of the best third baseman I’ve ever seen in a long time.” Hickory manager Fred Kendall said. “He’s a tough kid and he knows what he’s doing at the plate.”

Top 100 Rankings

• Ranked Baseball America's #13 prospect in 1997
• Ranked Baseball America's #27 prospect in 1996
• Ranked Baseball America's #91 prospect in 1995

• December, 1996 Scouting Report
  Rolen has been the pearl of the Phillies' organization almost since he was drafted. A top candidate for National League Rookie of the Year, he’ll have the Cubs’ Steve Trachsel to thank if he wins. A Trachsel pitch broke Rolen’s forearm on Sept. 7, 1996, leaving him exactly at the 130 at-bat limit for qualifying. Rolen is one of the most well-rounded prospects in baseball. He has the ability to hit .290-20-95 within three years, while providing above-average range and arm strength on defense. Rolen is a little too contact-conscious and will drive the ball better when he lets loose. He needs a little more work on backhand plays to his right. The unquestioned starter in 1997, Rolen won’t put up home run numbers like Mike Schmidt, to whom he frequently is compared. But he has similar all-star ability.
• December, 1995 Scouting Report
  Rolen was the No. 1 prospect in the high Class A Florida State League, making him, amazingly, the first Phillies farmhand since the injury-prone Ron Jones in 1986 to be ranked by Baseball America as the top talent in a full-season league. Scouting director Mike Arbuckle, who honors his Braves roots by emphasizing high school talent, gambled on Rolen two years ago and did an impressive job signing the Indiana two-sport star away from a University of Georgia basketball scholarship. Rolen has succeeded at every level. Similar in style to Dodgers outfield prospect Todd Hollandsworth, Rolen can do everything well without standing out in one area. He’s a pure hitter. His lightning-quick hands enable him to whip the bat through the hitting zone, so as he gets stronger--he’s still just 20--he should become more of a complete hitter. Scouts say he can bat .285 with 25 home runs. He has excellent range at third, particularly going to his left, and a strong, accurate arm. He also has outstanding makeup. Rolen often thinks too much at the plate, treating 1-0 counts as if they were 0-2. He reacts late to fastballs because he waits too long to see if they’re strikes. He needs to become more aggressive and realize his talent can take over. He’ll pull balls with more authority when that occurs. His perfectionism also prevents him on occasion from cutting loose on throws. The comparisons, however premature and unfair, will begin soon to another Phillies third baseman drafted in the second round: Mike Schmidt. But Rolen will never have Schmidt’s raw power. Because of Rolen's skills and approach, scouts see him more as a healthy Dave Hollins. He’ll begin 1996 at Double-A Reading, probably move up to Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre at midseason and begin what should be a standout major league career in 1997.
• December, 1995 Scouting Report
  Some players might have been overwhelmed by the hype, but for his three months in the Eastern League, Rolen handled the comparisons to a former Reading Phillie from a quarter century ago, Hall of Famer Mike Schmidt. “I played with Mike Schmidt,” Norwich manager Jim Essian said, “and Rolen appears to be every bit the athlete Mike was at that age, which says a lot for Scott Rolen because Mike Schmidt is one of the greatest athletes of all time.” Rolen has a very disciplined stroke and doesn’t swing at many bad pitches. He also has a great makeup. “He’s impressed them up there in Philadelphia just by his demeanor,” Reading manager Bill Robinson said. “He’s probably one of the most likable young men you will ever meet. When he was promoted to Triple-A, there was no animosity with the other players. There were standing ovations and hugs.”
• December, 1994 Scouting Report
  The Phillies had a horrible record of procuring top high school talent under scouting director Jay Hankins. They drafted few top prep players to begin with, and lost second-round picks Chris Roberts (1989) and Tim Schweitzer (1990) to college. Mike Arbuckle made a quick statement with his second pick for the Phillies. He chose Rolen, who was considered a tough sign because of a basketball scholarship from the University of Georgia. It took a while, but the club finally signed him for $250,000. This move, perfected by so many organizations over the years, gave the Phillies their best hitting prospect since Ricky Jordan. Rolen has a fantastic hitter’s body: big but lanky, with room to fill out without making him inflexible. The most striking aspect of his game, especially for a teenager, is his ability to adjust from pitch to pitch. He projects as a .290 to .300 hitter. Agility remaining from his basketball days gives Rolen fine range at third base. He’s not afraid to dive for balls, and he has an above-average arm. The Phillies love his makeup. He’s smart, tough and responds well to instruction, and he didn’t need college to prepare him for professional baseball. Rolen hurries some throws, one of the few indications of his youth. His patience at the plate will improve with experience, which is all he really needs. Rolen hasn’t focused on pulling pitches, another sign of his age, but the Phillies are confident that when he does he’ll hit 25 home runs per year. The Phillies’ third base situation is quite muddled now, with Dave Hollins moving to first and Mariano Duncan and Craig Worthington looking to replace him. But Rolen is a potential all-star who probably will be ready in 1997. He should start 1995 at Double-A Reading as one of the Eastern League’s youngest players.
• December, 1994 Scouting Report
  Rolen played just 66 Florida State League games before getting promoted to Double-A Reading. He made a can’t-miss impression with his skills and attitude. He showed good gap power and has a strong arm with Clearwater. He needs to work on minimizing the size of his strike zone and improving his defensive consistency. “He’s going to play for the Phillies for a long time,” Daytona manager Dave Trembley said. “He’s got a good strong body. He’ll hit a lot of doubles and home runs, and he’s going to be something on turf. He also plays a lot older than he is.”
• December, 1993 Scouting Report
  Rolen plays third base with passion, range and arm strength. He has excellent hand-eye coordination and foot speed, as one would expect of an athlete offered a basketball scholarship by the University of Georgia. Rolen also impressed managers with his ability to hit for both power and average with Spartanburg. “He’s one of the best third baseman I’ve ever seen in a long time.” Hickory manager Fred Kendall said. “He’s a tough kid and he knows what he’s doing at the plate.”