Matt Chapman got here in at no. 3 when our 2015 Oakland Athletics Prime Prospects checklist was printed 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 reply to 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 pondering like I do,” Chapman replied. “I assumed I used to be somewhat 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 assumed 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 usually an arm-strength man with a brief monitor file 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 school, however I believe scouts thought I could possibly be a pitcher, that perhaps I profiled higher that means. Some groups within the draft referred to 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 assume my arm would have held, to be trustworthy. I most likely would have ended up having [Tommy John surgery].”
“Initiatives to be above common defensively at third.”
“Protection was my sturdy go well with, for certain,” stated Chapman, who has received 5 Gold Gloves in his eight huge league seasons. “I believe I used to be already huge league able to play protection — not hit, however able to play protection. [As for “projected”] whoever wrote that perhaps didn’t imagine in me. I believe I received the Gold Glove in school that 12 months, so I used to be prepared.”
“He placed on a present in BP for Crew USA, flashing uncooked energy that was second solely to Kyle Schwarber on the workforce.”
“That sounds fairly correct,” Chapman stated. “Schwarber has ridiculous energy. And we performed lots of House Run Derby on that USA workforce. All we tried to do throughout BP that summer time was see who may hit the ball the farthest. Loads of guys on that workforce had energy.”
“The query on Chapman, like [Matt] Olson, is how a lot contact he’ll make.”
“Honest evaluation,” Chapman agreed. “I didn’t strike out very a lot in school, however as soon as it’s professional baseball, you begin attempting to hit extra homers and there may be some extra swing and miss. I imply, hanging out is a part of the sport. It’s a part of my recreation somewhat bit, for certain. It’s one thing that I’m all the time attempting to enhance. So, I don’t assume that was very far off.”
“Fullerton emphasised an reverse subject/floor ball kind offensive strategy just like Stanford however not as refined, which explains why Chapman by no means dominated on the plate as an beginner.”
“I agree with that,” Chapman stated. “We had been advised to hit the ball on the bottom the opposite means. I might bunt in school. 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 assume that I reached my full potential offensively till I acquired to skilled baseball, as a result of then I acquired to alter my strategy. They wished me to faucet into my energy somewhat bit extra. I had the liberty to attempt to drive the ball as a substitute of simply getting base hits. I imply, that labored in school. It doesn’t work in school anymore, however after I performed it was rather a lot about pitching and protection and small ball. We received lots 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 recreation 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 believe Donaldson is an effective comp,” stated Chapman, who was in preschool throughout Fryman’s prime. “And it’s undoubtedly 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 enjoying within the huge leagues.
“So yeah, I believe it was fairly correct to be in comparison with them. Matt Williams, good hitter, good defender. Josh Donaldson, good defender, good hitter. I contemplate 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 finest seasons have undoubtedly been above common. I’d say that was a fairly truthful evaluation.”