Cam Collier draft profile: The 2022 MLB draft is scheduled to take place July 17-19. One player looking to have his name called is Cam Collier. The third baseman will only be 17 at draft time but has a chance to be picked in the first round. Currently, mlb.com has Collier ranked number 12 in their prospect rankings.
Path to the MLB Draft
Cam Collier’s draft profile begins with a one-of-a-kind journey. He was considered a high school standout after his sophomore season and Baseball America had him rated as the third-best prospect for 2023. However, he obtained his GED and enrolled in and played for Chipola Junior College in Florida. Collier was then able to reclassify and be eligible for the 2022 draft.
Chipola Junior College, by the way, has produced several current and former MLB players, most noticeably José Bautista, Patrick Corbin, Russell Martin, and former manager Buck Showalter.
Strengths
Collier, a left-hander, stands 6’2 and weighs 215. He demonstrated patience at the plate and a selective eye during his junior college games. Also, he proved that he could drive the ball to all parts of the field. Collier has the potential to be a power hitter—25 to 30 home runs; 85 to 100 RBIs—at the big-league level.
One other thing that helps Collier is the fact that he’s the son of former player Lou Collier, who played eight years in MLB mostly with the Pittsburgh Pirates and the Milwaukee Brewers.
Cam learned a lot from the elder Collier and flourished under his coaching. He also might find the draft process easier than others since his dad went through it. Having someone who’s been there, and done that to rely on, can help ease some of the mental stresses of the game as well.
Concerns
There are things he needs to work on, however. Scouts have listed his speed as average and his fielding needs some improvement. His age could also be a factor. At only 17 years of age. He will be facing competition a few years older and more physically established than he is currently.
Then there is always the travel. Long bus rides and staying in motels in small towns, etc. can wear on a player mentally as well as physically. Could his age be a factor in his mental preparedness, or can that be offset by having his father’s experience to lean on?
MLB Comparison
Cam Collier’s draft profile and looking around MLB, there are some similarities between Cam Collier and Eduardo Escobar, especially if we look back at the beginning of Escobar’s journey in baseball. Escobar was also 17 when he played his first professional baseball game. When Collier gets drafted and chooses to sign, he will be doing the same thing as Escobar.
Escobar played multiple positions throughout his minor and MLB career to show everyone he belonged in baseball. Like Escobar, Collier has played multiple positions, including third base, shortstop, and the outfield. He even pitched. Although scouts don’t see him as a pitcher, he would be happy playing any position to showcase his skills.
With Collier’s approach and quick bat, he should be able to match the production that Escobar has been putting up over the past five years.
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Players Mentioned:
Cam Collier, José Bautista, Patrick Corbin, Russell Martin, Lou Collier, Eduardo Escobar
