Colorado Rockies: Grading the 2016 Corner Infielders

JORDAN PATTERSON: 2016 GRADE C, fWAR 0.2

Surprised? You should be. Jordan Patterson has always traditionally been listed as an outfield prospect for the Rockies, but he actually logged 20 out of his 36 big league innings in 2016 at first base.

Patterson has a lot going for him that the others that played first base just don’t. First, Patterson is youngest on our list at the tender age of 24. Second, Patterson is regarded as one of the club’s top 20 prospects. On the scout’s scoring scale of 20-80, Jordan registers scores of 50 across the board. The only exception is that scouts score Patterson’s arm at a 60.

In 119 Triple-A games last season, Patterson hit for a .293 average and a .376 OBP. Although he only registered 19 plate appearances as a September call-up in 2016, he didn’t slow down. Patterson hit for an impressive .444 average. Clearly, 19 PAs is too small of a sample size, but the potential is higher with Patterson than any of the since-departed players listed thus far. Come Spring Training, Patterson will be fighting for an Opening Day role.

Patterson most likely isn’t the long-term answer at first base. However, he is a serviceable bat who can pinch hit, play the outfield and provide depth to a Rockies squad looking to compete in 2017.

There is excellent rationale why Patterson is the only returning player who logged the majority of his innings at first base from a year ago. As a team, only the Yankees, Athletics, and Nationals got worse play at first base in 2016 than Colorado.