The Colorado Rockies selected shortstop Brendan Rodgers out of Lake Mary High School (Fla.) with the No.3 pick in the 2015 MLB Draft on Monday.

Rodgers, widely regarded as the top prospect in the 2015 draft, was passed up by the Arizona Diamondbacks and Houston Astros before falling to the Rockies.

In Rodgers, the Rockies get a highly promising infielder, with superb power, solid speed, and above average defense. No part of his game is below average and, according to Jeff Ellis of Scout, he is the most solid and safest pick a team could make in the draft, despite his lack of college experience.

Rodgers hit .378 with 54 hits, 41 RBI, and 16 home runs in 47 games at Lake Mary High School according to the two seasons worth of stats entered into MaxPreps. These aren’t superstar numbers, but they are consistent and the Rockies are confident that Rodgers can further his skill and expand these numbers within in their organization.

Rodgers is most valuable at shortstop given his superior power.  But his power is not just superior among shortstops, it is superior to any other position player in the draft.  He has been compared to Oakland A’s third baseman Brett Lawrie, Toronto Blue Jays All-Star third baseman Josh Donaldson, and yes, Troy Tulowitzki.  Jeff Ellis compares Rodgers closest to Donaldson, given Donaldson’s similarly dangerous power and solid defense.

The Rockies had a compensatory first round pick in this year’s draft as a result of losing Michael Cuddyer in free agency to the New York Mets over the winter.  Colorado took high schooler Mike Nikorak with the 27th pick, hoping that the hard-throwing right hander from Stroudsburg, Pennsylvania can work his way up through the minors and into the Rockies starting rotation within a couple of years.  Nikorak’s selection marks the third straight year that the Rockies have selected a pitcher in the first round.

The Rockies also selected third baseman Tyler Nevin from Poway High School in California with their pick in the Competitive Balance Round A later Monday night.

The 2015 MLB Draft continues Tuesday and ends with the final round on Wednesday.


Jordan Gillmore, a Mile High Sports intern and CU-Boulder student, contributed to this report