Vince Rooi

Organization Prospect Rankings

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  Ranked Washington Nationals #22 prospect in 2004
  Rooi missed part of the 2003 season when he suited up for the Dutch national team. He led the European championship with two homers and was named the tournament's best defensive player as he helped the Netherlands to a first-place finish. Then he played a part-time role as the Dutch finished second at Europe's Olympic qualifying tournament to earn a berth in the 2004 Athens Olympics. Rooi has made slow but steady progress in the Expos system. He returned for his second stint at high Class A last season and showed marked improvement at the plate. He has a medium-sized frame with a muscular upper body and strong wrists. He has good power potential and a fairly compact stroke, but his body is wound so tightly that there's stiffness in his swing. Rooi has a solid approach at the plate but must improve his flexibility and bat speed to have success as he moves up the ladder. His .254 average and .379 slugging percentages were career highs, yet far short of the production he's going to need to make it to the majors. Defensively, he has quick actions at third base. His hands, range and arm are all assets. Rooi will begin 2004 in Double-A.
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  Ranked Washington Nationals #12 prospect in 2001
  Rooi signed with the Expos in 1998 after helping the Dutch national team win the European youth championships. He won the Ron Fraser Award as the Netherlands’ most talented youth player that year. He’s a big kid with an athletic body, and he hasn’t stoped growing. Rooi is a polished hitter for his age, though he has been overmatched in his first two seasons in the United States. His stance is similar to Carlos Delgado’s, and Rooi has a smooth righthanded stroke with first-rate bat speed, which enables him to drive the ball to all fields when he makes contact. He projects to hit with plus power down the road. At third base, he offers good range, soft hands and a solid arm. Rooi isn’t a burner but he doesn’t clog up the bases either. Considering he’s 19 and has struggled, he might be best off with a third stint in short-season ball this year.