Path to the Hall: The scouting of Scott Rolen

On Draft Day 1993, Phillies nationwide crosschecker Marti Wolever referred to as Mariners scouting director Roger Jongewaard. The 2 had labored collectively previously with the Tigers, and Wolever wished to know Seattle’s plans for the No. 1 general decide as Philadelphia tried to decided whom it will get at No. 4.

Jongewaard stated he most well-liked a five-tool Florida highschool shortstop however Mariners supervisor Lou Piniella wished extra quick assist in the type of Wichita State right-hander Darren Dreifort, and it appeared like Piniella would prevail. Typical knowledge was that the Dodgers and Angels additionally wished school arms, so Wolever instructed his boss, scouting director Mike Arbuckle, “I feel we’re getting Alex Rodriguez.”

Fortuitously for Seattle, Jongewaard received his manner and A-Rod grew to become a Mariner. Dreifort went to the Dodgers — and made his professional debut within the large leagues — kicking off a run of 5 straight school pitchers that included the Phillies taking Previous Dominion’s Wayne Gomes. Gomes spent six years within the Majors and served as Philadelphia’s nearer in 1999, however he did not come near approaching Rodriguez’s profession, not that many gamers have.

Whereas the Phillies simply missed out on getting the most effective participant within the 1993 Draft with their first-round choice, they did get the second-best with their second-rounder. Scott Rolen will enter the Corridor of Fame on Sunday, three a long time after Philadelphia made him the forty sixth general choice out of Jasper (Ind.) Excessive.

It is arduous to think about a participant with Rolen’s mixture of measurement (6-foot-4 and 200 kilos at age 18) and athleticism lasting 46 picks immediately, however he performed in a special period. Arbuckle stated there have been two main the reason why Rolen did not go earlier within the 1993 Draft.

“There weren’t highschool showcases again then and Scott was from a small city in southern Indiana,” stated Arbuckle, who laid the inspiration for Philadelphia’s 2008 World Collection championship membership together with his 16 drafts for the membership and is now a particular assistant with the Royals.

“Some groups backed away as a result of they puzzled how he’d do towards good pitching. The opposite issue was signability.”

A multisport star at Jasper Excessive, Rolen averaged 26.9 factors per recreation and earned all-state honors in basketball as a senior. He had a full scholarship to play capturing guard on the College of Georgia, the place he additionally deliberate on taking part in baseball. Each of his dad and mom had been academics and clearly positioned a premium on training.

Most golf equipment felt it will value an excessive amount of to signal Rolen away from the Bulldogs, particularly contemplating that he was unproven towards good competitors.

“A variety of guys thought that basketball dedication was strong so it will be a wasted decide,” stated Wolever, at the moment a nationwide crosschecker with the Cubs. “However that is the place Scott Trcka was so good. Scott wouldn’t hand over on him. With out him, this factor does not get executed.”

A Phillies space scout based mostly in Indiana, Trcka first noticed Rolen in the summertime earlier than his senior yr. He did not create early-round buzz till the next spring, doing so regardless of an ankle harm that required him to put on a brace all through the season. He starred on the plate, at third base and on the mound whereas Trcka marveled at his instruments.

“He had hand velocity, quickness, athleticism, a cannon for an arm,” stated Trcka, who has been out of Organized Baseball since his second stint with the Phillies ended once they let him go in 2016. “He may pump it as much as 92-93 mph on the mound, only a nice arm. Even together with his ankle, he nonetheless may fly. I can solely think about what he would have been like if he had been wholesome.

“His instincts on the bases and his instincts within the area had been exceptional. He often is the most instinctive participant I’ve ever seen. I keep in mind speaking about it with Dick Lawlor, my regional crosschecker, and saying that although he was going to wind up being a giant man, I feel he may play shortstop within the large leagues.”

Rolen by no means did see motion at shortstop within the Majors, primarily as a result of he might have performed third base higher than anybody ever has at that degree. He received eight Gold Gloves whereas making seven All-Star groups and hitting .281/.364/.490 with 316 homers in 17 large league seasons with the Phillies, Cardinals, Blue Jays and Reds.

Trcka remembers score Rolen’s general future potential as a 58 on the 20-80 scouting scale, grading him as a late first-round expertise. The Phillies’ scouting braintrust focused him with their second-round decide and Trcka stated the one group that nervous him was the Angels, who picked proper forward of them at No. 45. However Rolen and his household would not assure that he’d signal and the Angels opted for Brigham Younger right-hander Ryan Hancock, who would make simply 11 appearances within the Majors.

“They did not decide to me both,” Trcka stated. “I requested his father in the event that they’d signal if we supplied them a good sum of money and he stated, ‘Yeah, most likely.’ I felt like they had been honorable individuals, so we took that on. Each his dad and mom had been educators, in order that was a tricky row to hoe, however we received it executed.”

Arbuckle remembers that Trcka saved telling him, “When you take him, I can signal him” — however Rolen did not signal shortly. He wished to play within the Indiana vs. Kentucky highschool all-star basketball recreation at Market Sq. Enviornment in late June, and negotiations continued for practically a month afterward. On July 22, he agreed to show professional for $250,000, the equal of late first-round cash.

Rolen shortly emerged because the Phillies’ high prospect, reached the Majors at age 21 in 1996 and received the Nationwide League Rookie of the 12 months award the next season. He is the most effective of the 9 large leaguers Trcka signed in a 28-year scouting profession, a gaggle that features two late finds from the identical 1993 Draft in Twenty seventh-rounder David Doster and Thirty third-rounder Kevin Sefcik.

“Folks do not understand how good Trck was, particularly on the again finish of the Draft,” Wolever stated. “He had an important really feel for youths and their households. I feel the sport misses that immediately however Trck was so good at that.”

Arbuckle was working his first draft for the Phillies in 1993, He credit Wolever, whom he employed from the White Sox, and Lawlor and Trcka, whom he inherited on his new employees, for making the Rolen decide occur.

“Trck evaluated the power, the signability and the make-up and he was proper on all three,” Arbuckle stated. “Dick Lawlor fell in love with him and he and Marti Wolever pushed me to take him. All three guys believed in Scott Rolen and I used to be fortunate sufficient to hearken to them.”