prospecthype

Zach Collier- OF- L/L- Philadelphia- 6’2” 190 pounds- D.O.B.- 9/8/1990

Placement Overview: Coming out of high school, Collier was selected in the first round of the 2008 draft by the Philadelphia Phillies. The youngster played in 37 games for the GCL Phillies where he batted .271, was 5 for 5 on stolen base attempts, and posted OBP/ SLG/ OPS of .347/.357/.703. Look for Collier to begin 2009 in single A.

Scout: Despite decent size already, Collier has a projectable frame. He has good strength, but he should fill out even more as he matures. Collier also has a very raw, but solid repertoire of tools. He has a very upright stance, but his swing is fairly mechanically sound, as he is quick to the ball and generates a great deal of power with his hips. He has very good power already, and it should develop even further as he fills out and adds some more muscle to his frame. He gets good extension and finishes his swing high. He has above average speed and an average to above average arm, which should allow him to play any outfield position.

Projection: Collier has the tools, now it is just a matter of how he is able to develop those tools fundamentally, to reach his full potential. Scouts rave about his power/speed combo, but they say that with better instruction, he should be able to take his game to the next level. It will be a lot easier to predict Collier’s timetable and development after we see how he performs in his first full professional season in 2009, but as of right now, he’s got all the tools and athleticism to carry him to greatness. He just has to keep working on refining those tools as much as possible.

Expected Year of Arrival: 2012

Grade: B+

Bottom Line: Collier fits the mold of an MLB star in the making. He has great raw tools and is extremely athletic. It is difficult to predict the future and timeline for Collier at such a young age, but this should become easier when we see what he can do in 2009. But for now, the sky is the limit for this outfield slugger.

Card Investing Analysis: Collier has cards in a few different 2008 products, but his best is his 2008 Bowman Chrome autograph from 2008 Bowman Draft. The base autos sell for $8-$10, while refractors go for a few dollars more. He’s still pretty unproven as a player, but it’s not a bad time to invest when his stuff is so cheap.