5. Brandon Nimmo, OF
Height: 6’3
Weight: 185
DOB: 3/27/1993 (Age: 20)
Bats/Throws: Left/Right
Hit: 35/55 Power: 30/50 Run: 60/60 Field: 50/60 Arm: 50/50
Nimmo entered 2013 coming off a solid season for the Cyclones in 2012. While the numbers weren’t overly impressive during his time in Brooklyn, he held his own against mostly college-aged competition in a tough hitting environment. Much of the same applies to Nimmo’s 2013 campaign. Aside from his .397 OBP there aren’t any numbers on his stat line that jump out at you. However there’s more to a prospect than his numbers. Brandon once again faced older competition that was certainly much more experienced (Nimmo’s home state of Wyoming does not have High School baseball). He also played in a brutal home ballpark which dragged down his numbers. The former first-round pick also suffered a wrist injury that cost him a month and hampered his swing for the remainder of the season. Despite all that, Nimmo still posted a very solid .273/.397/.359 slash line while improving his play in center field to the point that scouts are starting to believe he’ll stick there.
On the tools side, Nimmo is similar to Gavin Cecchini in that there’s no real standout tool. His swing tends to get long, mostly due to his swing mechanics that start with his hands held too high. It’s likely he ends up a tick below average as a hitter– meaning he isn’t winning any batting titles but his excellent approach may allow it to play up a bit. His power potential is a highly debatable topic. Some look at his meager home run and doubles totals and don’t see much room for projection. Others look at the swing and a body that is likely to fill out and see the potential for solid-average power or more. Brandon possesses above-average speed which helps his outfield play but hasn’t led to stolen base success. Defensively he’s solid in center, making good reads and showing the ability to catch whatever he gets to. There’s a chance his body fills out, causing him to lose speed and requiring a move to left field– something that could significantly change Nimmo’s prospect stock. For now it’s a least a solid-average center field profile.
Outlook: I think I’m a bit higher on Nimmo than some of my colleagues at MMN, but I see a very solid regular here. I’ve been very impressed with his development and advanced approach at the plate for a player with such little experience. I’m not overly concerned with results just yet. Sure, he isn’t Jose Fernandez (sorry to bring it up), but an everyday center fielder with solid tools across the board and a high-OBP is a very valuable asset. So while he’s no Mike Trout, it’s important to realize that only 11 center fielders topped 3 WAR in 2013.
ETA: 2016
MMN Top 40 Prospects