Matt Holliday, LF, Rockies

Sporting News, The, June 7, 2004 by Lewis Shaw

Ht/Wt: 6-4, 235. B/T: R/R. Ago: 24. First season.

Vital stats: Called up because of injuries to outfielders Larry Walker and Preston Wilson, this rookie is taking advantage of his opportunity--especially at Coors Field. He entered the week batting .320 at home, and six of his eight home runs were at Coors Field. Overall, Holliday was hitting .292 with a .361 on-base percentage and .538 slugging percentage.

Offense: Holliday has shown plus bat speed, an easy swing and the ability to go with the pitch. He attacks the ball in his hitting zone, which he quickly is learning. He is not easily intimidated and has displayed unusual pitch recognition and patience for a rookie, though he needs to cut down his strikeouts--like most young hitters with power potential. He keeps his hands back and drives sweeping curveballs and hanging sliders. He is a quick study of pitchers and learns their weaknesses as a game progresses. Finesse lefties with good cutters and breaking balls who mix their pitches intelligently are toughest on Holliday. He uses the gaps and--unusual for a rookie showing power hits the ball where it is pitched. He can turn on plus fastballs up in the zone but struggles to extend his arms on hard stuff down and in. Sinkerballing righthanders throwing first-pitch strikes and working ahead in the count can set him up down and in, then throw soft stuff away. He is proving to be a tough out with runners in scoring position (.323 batting average, .400 OBP).

Defense: Holliday is a converted third baseman who still is learning to play the outfield. He has decent speed and the arm strength of a prep All-American quarterback, which he was in Stillwater, Okla. He has struggled at times getting good reads on the ball, running fly-ball routes and reacting instinctively in knowing where to throw the ball. Those weaknesses should fade with experience.

Bottom line: Holliday has been so productive since being called up in mid-April that the Rockies will have a tough time sending him down when Wilson and Walker return. He is a legitimate Rookie of the Year candidate, and he should develop into a consistent 30-homer hitter with the potential to hit .300.

Grade (on a scale of 1 to 10): 7.0 and rising.