SoCal ProCase Spotlight: INF/OF Roc Riggio

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THE REPORT:

Body: 5-foot-9, 175-pounds; defined musculature throughout the frame, particularly in the upper body where he’s added significant strength over the spring cancellation. 

Hit: LH - The first thing that stands out is the pure bat speed where his average of 76.7 mph and peak speed of 81.5 mph are above the MLB average of 70.3 mph per Blast Motion. These numbers registered over two BP rounds in front of close to 70 pro scouts in attendance. Very impressive 66% line drive percentage. Average rotational acceleration of 25.2g (28.4g max). Those numbers support what the eyes see which is a powerful hitter who shows the ability to adjust late to pitches and consistently gets the barrel on the ball. It’s a controlled violent swing. 

Power: 101.3 mph exit velo (avg 93.5 mph) in BP via Trackman using a wood bat. A dive into his metrics show the power to be very real and very consistent. With a peak hand speed average of 23.9 mph (25 mph max), Riggio shows consistency with the hands that allow him to adjust late to pitches while still maintaining barrel plane through the zone. His rotational acceleration of 25.2g is well above the MLB average of 16.8g from the 2019 season. Add it all together and you have a hitter with legitimate over-the-fence power that is able to adjust to pitches after starting his swing. Something not many high school players are capable of combining. 

Field: Here’s where it gets interesting, is Riggio a 2B of an OF at the next level? He showed himself more than capable of handling both positions at the ProCase and in other viewings. His actions are clean at both positions with fluid footwork and excellent body control. While his size may seem like a deterrent for the outfield, he makes up for it with excellent jumps on the ball and very good routes. He gets very good reads off the bat at both positions. Throws are accurate from both positions (threw from SS at ProCase) while flashing carry. 

Arm: 92 mph (OF), 86 mph (INF) velo. Like the rest of his game, there’s power in the arm. Among the outfielders in the group at the ProCase his velocity was the best, and was third best for infielders proving that is an area of strength rather than a deterrent. The raw velocity numbers will undoubtedly stick in the minds of scouts who have seen Riggio on the biggest stage now for at least a couple of years. 

Run: Did not run the 60 yard dash at the ProCase. 

Summary: Riggio is an interesting prospect if for nothing else the indecision as to where to play him defensively. He certainly can handle both the outfield - where he profiles as a corner outfielder - and the infield where his power numbers would put him amongst the best second baseman at the next level. Getting that kind of power output from a second baseman is something that scouts desire. Combine that with his defensive abilities and you have a very desirable prospect heading into his senior season of high school. While committed to Oklahoma State, there’s a feeling that Riggio is headed for pro ball after the 2021 MLB Draft. He profiles best as a power hitting second baseman in pro ball where, barring serious injury, he should have a long career. Hitters hit, and Riggio is nothing if not a hitter. He’s shown he can hit and handle elite pitching both at the high school level and above. He’s been seen hitting tanks in Big League stadiums during workouts where he’s facing pitchers several years older than him. The ability to do that should have Riggio in a position to hear his name early in July’s MLB Draft.