Matt Chapman got here in at no. 3 when our 2015 Oakland Athletics High Prospects listing was revealed in February of that 12 months. Assigned a forty five FV by our then lead prospect analyst Kiley McDaniel, Chapman had been drafted twenty fifth total out of Cal State-Fullerton the earlier summer time. Enjoying most of his preliminary skilled season within the Low-A Midwest League, the 21-year-old third baseman swatted 5 house runs and put up a modest .672 OPS over 202 plate appearances.
What did Chapman’s 2015 scouting report seem like? Furthermore, what does he consider all of it these years later? Wanting to search out out, I shared a few of what McDaniel (now with ESPN) wrote and requested Chapman to answer it.
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“A standout hitter and pitcher for Fullerton that didn’t have a lot first-round buzz for causes I didn’t perceive.”
“He was considering like I do,” Chapman replied. “I believed I used to be just a little underrated. Clearly, the A’s took an opportunity on me and all of it labored out. However that’s humorous, as a result of I believed I had all of the instruments. I simply wasn’t getting the love.”
“Chapman, has an 80 arm and has been into the excessive 90s on the mound, however is generally an arm-strength man with a brief observe report of pitching.”
“They wished me to be a pitcher, it looks like,” Chapman recalled. “I had a very good arm, however I by no means actually pitched. I solely pitched two innings in faculty, however I feel scouts thought I might be a pitcher, that possibly I profiled higher that means. Some groups within the draft known as to see if I might go as a pitcher. I wished to play third base, although. I used to be by no means going to pitch. I don’t suppose my arm would have held, to be trustworthy. I in all probability would have ended up having [Tommy John surgery].”
“Tasks to be above common defensively at third.”
“Protection was my sturdy go well with, for positive,” mentioned Chapman, who has received 5 Gold Gloves in his eight large league seasons. “I feel I used to be already large league able to play protection — not hit, however able to play protection. [As for “projected”] whoever wrote that possibly didn’t consider in me. I feel I received the Gold Glove in faculty that 12 months, so I used to be prepared.”
“He placed on a present in BP for Staff USA, flashing uncooked energy that was second solely to Kyle Schwarber on the staff.”
“That sounds fairly correct,” Chapman mentioned. “Schwarber has ridiculous energy. And we performed loads of Residence Run Derby on that USA staff. All we tried to do throughout BP that summer time was see who might hit the ball the farthest. A whole lot of guys on that staff had energy.”
“The query on Chapman, like [Matt] Olson, is how a lot contact he’ll make.”
“Truthful evaluation,” Chapman agreed. “I didn’t strike out very a lot in faculty, however as soon as it’s professional baseball, you begin making an attempt to hit extra homers and there’s some extra swing and miss. I imply, hanging out is a part of the sport. It’s a part of my sport just a little bit, for positive. It’s one thing that I’m all the time making an attempt to enhance. So, I don’t suppose that was very far off.”
“Fullerton emphasised an reverse area/floor ball sort offensive method much like Stanford however not as delicate, which explains why Chapman by no means dominated on the plate as an beginner.”
“I agree with that,” Chapman mentioned. “We had been advised to hit the ball on the bottom the opposite means. I might bunt in faculty. I’d be hitting third and would bunt with runners on first and second with none out. You simply do what your coaches need you to do, and be a very good teammate.
“I don’t suppose that I reached my full potential offensively till I acquired to skilled baseball, as a result of then I acquired to vary my method. They wished me to faucet into my energy just a little bit extra. I had the liberty to attempt to drive the ball as an alternative of simply getting base hits. I imply, that labored in faculty. It doesn’t work in faculty anymore, however once I performed it was loads about pitching and protection and small ball. We received loads of video games doing that, though it didn’t take us all the best way. If you wish to go all the best way, you’ve acquired to hit.”
“Oakland sees 55 sport energy and a 50 bat on the low finish, with comparisons like Matt Williams, Travis Fryman and Josh Donaldson for his upside.”
“I don’t know who the center man is, however I feel Donaldson is an effective comp,” mentioned Chapman, who was in preschool throughout Fryman’s prime. “And it’s positively an honor to be in comparison with Matt Williams. What a heck of a participant. The truth that he’s been my coach now for a few years… I imply, it’s fairly cool. I want I’d have gotten to see him play extra. I used to be fairly younger when he was taking part in within the large leagues.
“So yeah, I feel it was fairly correct to be in comparison with them. Matt Williams, good hitter, good defender. Josh Donaldson, good defender, good hitter. I think about myself an above-average main league hitter. I’ve had some good seasons and a few good numbers. I’d say my worst season might be a median offensive season, and my greatest seasons have positively been above common. I’d say that was a reasonably truthful evaluation.”
