50 in 50: Cory Spangenberg

Cory Spangenberg
IF / Indian River (Fla.) JC

Bats-Throws: L-R
Height/Weight: 6-1/190
Hometown: Clarks Summit, Pa.
Previously Drafted: Never drafted
College Commitment: Miami (Fla.)

SCOUTING PROFILE: Along with Miami-Dade outfielder Brian Goodwin, Spangenberg has become the most-likely junior-college player to emerge as a first-round talent in this year’s draft. He blossomed this spring at Florida’s Indian River State JC, earning state player-of the-year honors by hitting .477-5-32 with 33 stolen bases in 37 attempts. An unheralded player from a small Pennsylvania high school, Spangenberg has improved his prospect worth by leaps and bounds in just two years. He burst on the scene as a freshman at Virginia Military Institute in 2010, hitting .370-11-49 with 24 stolen bases, and setting school records for hits (87), runs (62) and total bases (140). He then tore up the Valley League last summer, earning MVP honors while leading that league with a .399 average, 46 runs and 81 hits. With his prospect status on fast forward, he subsequently elected to transfer to Indian River State for his sophomore year, and has only continued to hit at a fast clip. Not only does Spangenberg hit, but he does so with one of the most-advanced approaches of any player in this year’s draft. He has excellent bat speed, with a very short, flat, compact swing and hits balls hard to all fields, especially to the gaps. Spangenberg played third base this spring, more on the basis of team need, but profiles more as an offensive second baseman at the pro level. He has the sure hands and actions of a middle infielder, but simply lacks the raw arm strength to play on the left side of the infield. His speed and athleticism are ideally suited for second. On the slim chance that the draft doesn’t work out for Spangenberg, he would spend the 2011 college season at Miami.

Projected Draft Position: Late first round / early compensation round.

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