Q&A with Nolan Arenado, INF, El Toro HS, 59th overall, Colorado Rockies (2009 Draft)
John Klima | June 16, 2009
Nolan Arenado hit and threw his way onto the national radar screen this season, showing two tools that have future grades in the 60 zip code, which puts him at just above major league average. Those tools are arm and power, which is a pretty nice premium combination and the major reason why the Colorado Rockies drafted the El Toro (Calif.) product with the 59th overall pick.
Arenado is a classic high school position player pick for the Rockies, who are not strangers to drafting high school power bats from Southern California, most notably Ian Stewart. Arenado’s swing turned off some observers, who felt his upper cut short changed his power. Another school of scouting thought says that an upper cut, two-handed finish is beneficial for power. That kind of swing usually plays pretty well at Coors Field.
But this is the National League, where you better be able to (at the very least) not embarrass yourself with a glove and be able to make a contribution defensively. Arenado’s arm and body type give him the best chance to become an offensive-oriented catcher whose arm can also influence a game. He’ll never run very well, but no one will pay him too, either. He was athletic enough to be an amateur shortstop in Southern California and his old club soccer skills may translate into defensive footwork behind the plate.
Baseball Beginnings caught up with Arenado a few weeks before the draft and talked about the future, the tools, and some other players who became high draft picks.
