Zach Collier

Name: Zach Collier
Position: OF
Bats: LH
Throws: LH
DOB: 9/8/90 (20 as of April 1, 2011)
Height: 6’2”
Weight: 185 lbs
Drafted: 1st (supp.) round, 2008 ($1,020,000 bonus)

 

Pre Draft Report:  Zach Collier was selected with the 34th overall pick in the 2008 draft out of Chino Hills High School in suburban Los Angeles, where he was a teammate of Chris Parmelee, the 20th overall pick in the ’06 draft.  Collier was a Baseball America 2nd Team High School All-American after his senior year during which he hit .450 with 7 HR and 12 SB.  In addition to his performance, Collier’s high school career was marked by his open heart surgery to correct an anomalous left coronary artery that was pinched and caused him to collapse after a practice in 2006.  Following his recovery from surgery, Collier struggled the regain his stroke until he began working with former major leaguer Chris Gwynn.  Collier then shined in workouts in front of scouts at the Urban Youth Academy in Los Angeles and shot up the draft board.  Heading into the ’08 draft, Baseball America rated Collier as the 7th best prospect in California and the 22nd best prospect in the country.  Its report noted above-average speed and projectable power, while also noting that as Collier matured physically, his average arm would make him more of a right fielder.  It projected Collier going as high as the middle of the first round.

 

Career Synopsis:  Collier began his career in the GCL and fared well as a 17-year old, posting a .271/.347/.357 and striking out 28 times and walking 17 times in 150 plate appearances.  He logged time at all three outfield positions (although he did play LF more than CF and RF combined).  Following the season, he participated in the Florida Instructional League.  Heading into 2009, Collier was ranked as the Phillies #8 prospect by Baseball America.  He was sent to Lakewood to begin the season and was one of the few prospects on that loaded roster not to take a step forward.  He struggled to a .218/.275/.319 line, going homerless, and seeing his K/BB ratio balloon to 80/23 in 326 PAs.  He was demoted to Williamsport where his struggles continued to the tune of .226/.280/.336 with 42 Ks and 9 BBs.  Scouting reports pointed to a loss of the swing that got him drafted in the first place, along with the obvious lack of strike zone discipline.  He again participated in the FIL following the season.  BA knocked Collier down to #30 on its ranking list for 2010.  Collier’s 2010 was a total loss, as he had spring surgery on his hamate, then suffered a small tear in his hand while rehabbing and had additional surgery in June that cost him the season.

Hit: Collier has a lot of what you want in a hitter, there is bat speed, and at times a solid approach.  He really has struggled with making solid contact in 2013 and struggled to make contact in general against breaking balls.  If he puts it all together he could be an average hitter in the long run, but there is a bit to go to get there.  Additionally, his approach is good enough should put up a decent on base percentage as well.

Power: There is a surprising amount of pop in Collier’s bat.  If he can make enough contact he could have a season where he hits 15 HRs, but he is more likely to be around 8-10 HRs in a season, with a decent amount of doubles and triples. 30/35

Speed: Speed is Collier’s main weapon.  He is a plus plus runner home to first, and a good base stealer when he can get to first base.  Additionally the speed has allowed him to consistently stretch out doubles to triples through out his career. 70

Arm:

Glove: Collier is a plus defender in center field where he can use his speed to cover gap to gap.   He can continue to refine his routes, but e can play all three outfield positions on the major league level right now.  60

Upside:  Collier has slowly moved along through the minors with set backs for drug suspensions (Adderall) and injuries.  He doesn’t flash a bunch of sexy tools and projection, but he has the skill set that fits as a good 4/5th outfielder for a major league team.  If he can make enough contact he could be a major league regular who could provide solid CF defense and a decent lead off profile.

Videos:

7/1/2009

Pre-draft video

UPDATE: After reaching his high water mark in the Arizona Fall League following his 2012 season in Clearwater, Collier returned to mediocrity at Double A Reading for two seasons.  He reached free agency after the 2014 season and went unsigned.  Collier spent the 2015 season playing Independent ball for the Lancaster Barnstormers in the Atlantic League. (JP)

Updated: 9/9/2015

10 thoughts on “Zach Collier”

  1. ” Collier’s 2010 was a total loss, as he had spring surgery on his hamate, then suffered a small tear in his hand while rehabbing and had additional surgery in June that cost him the season.”

    The Domonic Brown injury.

    Collier was once very young for his level, now he’s old for that level. Hope he found his swing again and developed physically over this time and has some pop.

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    2. Collier is 20. That is not old for Low A. He is no longer young for the level, but he would be the same age that Domonic Brown was at in low A.

      I also disagree with the upside. I think Collier still has big upside and any talk about only a 4th or 5th OF is very premature. The injury hopefully has little to do with his upside (other than losing development time). His upside is still that of a Garrett Anderson type player even if there is only a small chance of him getting there.

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      1. On upside, I tend to write in terms of what I think to be the most likely upside generally taken from as many outside scouting reports as I can find. Of course Collier could become Garret Anderson, just like Santana could become Vladimir Guerrero, etc. This would have to be the deepest system in baseball to have a guy outside the Top 30 whose upside is that of Garrett Anderson. This isn’t to say I don’t want Collier to be mroe than an extra outfielder, but three years after being drafted, he hasn’t really done enough to tag him with that comparison.

        His upside has undoubtedly been influenced by a horrible performance in his only full professional season, one which saw scouts question his swing and power, followed by missing an entire season with an injury that has been known to sap power.

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  2. Collier’s one of those guys that dropped off my radar. I’m hoping he will have a big comeback year. He has to or he’ll be lumped into the Hewitt zone.

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  3. Calling Chris Gwynn, calling Chris Gwynn.

    Hope Collier went back and worked with him over the winter. It is now or never.

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    1. He’s not in the “now or never” bracket yet. He was picked in 2008 and that is the first year that counts against him. With 5 years before he has to go on the 40 man, he still has time. He is now 3 seasons in, meaning he will have to be protected after the 2012 season. If he is healthy in 2011, he should get some ABs in Lakewood. He should be close to AA after 2012, assuming he’s healthy and performing. The Phillies should have a good idea as to his potential future by then. They protected Cesar Hernandez, who hasn’t played full season ball, on the 40 man. So he has time. But 2011 is obviously a big year for him. He needs 500+ PA.

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  4. He’s got kind of a 3/4 uppercut in his swing, seems he is going for lift. A speedy guy like him maybe wants a more level swing, hit to all fields, drive the ball in the alley, etc.

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  5. That swing will also limit contact. He is not squaring up on the ball, has to meet the ball on just a small arc of his swing trajectory to make contact. If he does not me it right, lots of grounders or popups.

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