Scouting Report

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Scouting grades: Hit: 60 | Power: 55 | Run: 50 | Arm: 55 | Field: 55 | Overall: 55

There have been high school outfielders in the Class of 2020 who have been "famous" for a lot longer than Veen, a Daytona Beach-area standout. While he was the 2018 PG WWBA Underclass World Championship MVP a year ago, it really wasn't until he was arguably the most consistent performer on this past summer's showcase circuit that he jumped up Draft boards. With a hot start to his spring, he kept soaring up lists to be considered the top high school bat in the class.

Veen has the kind of left-handed swing that scouts can dream on, all coming from a projectable 6-foot-4 frame that can definitely add strength. He's more hit over power in games with excellent bat speed, especially because he utilizes a spread out stance, but he'll show off big-time power in batting practice when he stands more upright and creates leverage, showing the ability to loft the ball consistently. He's reminded some of Cody Bellinger offensively and has drawn some Kyle Tucker comps as well, though he's not quite as athletic.

A solid average runner underway, Veen plays center field now, but is probably better suited for a corner spot. The Florida recruit is athletic enough with enough arm to profile in right, where his power potential could be a fit as well. If he continues to swing the bat like he did over the summer, he could very well figure into first-round conversations. His step forward at the start of the 2020 season, picking up from where he left off over the summer, has him very much in conversations among teams picking in the top 10.

Video scouting report »

Scouting grades: Hit: 50 | Power: 45 | Run: 60 | Arm: 60 | Field: 55 | Overall: 55

Veen was the top-ranked high school player in the 2020 Draft class, going one pick behind fellow prep outfielder Robert Hassell III to the Rockies and getting $5 million as the No. 9 overall pick. A solid first full year with Single-A Fresno (.901 OPS) raised the bar and he came out of the chute well in 2022, hitting 11 homers and stealing 50 bases in 92 games with High-A Spokane before struggling after a promotion to Double-A. He reversed that with a solid Arizona Fall League performance but couldn’t carry that over back with Hartford in 2023 as wrist surgery ended his season after just 46 games.

When he’s healthy, Veen has shown the ability to do a lot of things well on the baseball field. Still only 22 years old for all of the 2024 season, there is plenty of projection in the 6-foot-3 left-handed-hitting outfielder. It’s hard to know exactly what his power potential is because his attempts to play through his wrist injury changed his mechanics. The Rockies like where his swing is now, staying more on a plane; but when his top hand wrist was hurt, he couldn’t finish balls and had gotten way too steep with his swing.

While Veen has above-average pure run speed, his instincts and aggressiveness on the bases make him a plus basestealing threat. He’s improved defensively and should see time in both outfield corners, with the organization excited to see what a truly healthy Veen can do at the upper levels.

Scouting grades: Hit: 55 | Power: 50 | Run: 60 | Arm: 60 | Field: 55 | Overall: 55

The first seven selections in the pandemic-shortened 2020 Draft were college players. The Padres took the first high schooler off the board at No. 8 (OF Robert Hassell III) and the Rockies doubled up on prep outfielders by taking Veen out of the Florida high school ranks. He showed what the fuss was about by posting a .901 OPS with 15 homers and 36 steals in his first full season and hit well enough in High-A in 2022 to earn a bump to Double-A, where he struggled. He finished off on a high note by hitting .333 with 16 steals in 21 Arizona Fall League games. He was off to a slow start back with Hartford in 2023, when surgery to repair his left extensor carpi ulnaris (ECU) tendon, an issue he had been trying to play through since the second half of 2022, ended his season.

Though he’s reached the upper levels, there’s still a lot of projection in the tall, lanky left-handed hitter. He’s shown the ability to hit the ball hard to all fields, and when he’s on time, there’s plenty of juice. There should be more over-the-fence power as he adds strength to his 6-foot-4 frame. He’s shown a solid approach, with an ability to draw walks, and his strikeout rate actually went down a tick in 2022 despite the fact he got out of his approach in Double-A, struggling especially against breaking stuff.

Veen generally is thought to have above-average speed, though he did record some plus sprint times in the AFL. Combine that with excellent instincts and a passion for baserunning and he’s become a legitimate threat to steal. He’s improved his defense and looks very much like the protypical athletic right fielder, one who will grow into the power and run production teams like to see from the outfield corner.

Scouting grades: Hit: 60 | Power: 50 | Run: 55 | Arm: 60 | Field: 55 | Overall: 55

Despite having a pandemic-shortened senior season of high school in Florida's Daytona Beach, Veen went from being a solid prospect to one of the best prep players in the country, leading to his selection at No. 9 overall by the Rockies in the 2020 Draft. They didn’t get to really see what Veen was capable of until he made his pro debut in 2021, and he didn’t disappoint, posting a .301/.399/.501 line and helping Fresno reach the Low-A West playoffs.

Though Veen finished his first full season with 15 homers and 36 steals, he might still be scratching the surface of his offensive potential. The left-handed hitter has a very sustainable swing that did not require a ton of tinkering, though an ability to stay on his legs more and not lunge enabled him to start driving the ball more consistently as the 2021 season wore on. When he’s balanced and on time, he has power to all fields, with more to come as he matures. His ability to not carry over poor at-bats should serve him well.

While he might have a smidge above-average speed as a runner, Veen is super-aggressive on the basepaths, showing an affinity for stealing bases and taking the extra base. He also dedicated himself to his corner outfield play and liked showing of his plus arm in the process. A natural leader, Veen has the chance to become an elite-level corner outfielder in the big leagues if he continues to follow this development path.

Scouting Grades: Hit: 60 | Power: 55 | Run: 50 | Arm: 55 | Field: 55 | Overall: 55

A product of Spruce Creek High School in the Daytona Beach area in Florida, a school that previously had just one draftee, Veen came out of the summer showcase circuit as a solid prospect for the Class of 2020, an outfielder who ranked No. 22 on MLB Pipeline’s Top 100 Draft prospects the December before the Draft. The 2020 season may have been cut short, but Veen made the most of it, coming out on fire and jumping all the way up to No. 7 by the time the Draft rolled around. He ended up being the second prep bat taken, going No. 9 overall and signing with the Rockies before making his unofficial pro debut in instructional league play.

Long and lean, Veen has already shown off plus hitting ability and plus raw power, with much more to come as he fills out his projectable 6-foot-4 frame. The left-handed hitter has a pretty swing with plus bat speed and can create leverage and loft when he stands more upright, drawing some Cody Bellinger comps along the way.

A good athlete who is a solid average runner, Veen has played center field in the past and the Rockies certainly could let him play up the middle until he shows he can’t. He has the arm, and the future offensive profile, to look very good in right field should he slow down enough to necessitate the move.

Scouting Grades: Hit: 60 | Power: 55 | Run: 50 | Arm: 55 | Field: 55 | Overall: 55

Hailing from the Daytona Beach area of Florida, Veen performed consistently well throughout the summer showcase circuit heading into his senior year of high school to put him firmly on the radar. That, plus a hot start to his spring, turned out to be very important when the season shut down early, allowing him to leapfrog other prep bats and become the highest-ranked high school position player in the class and the second one taken, going to the Rockies at No. 9 overall and signing for $5 million, just a touch above pick value

Veen has the kind of left-handed swing that scouts can dream on, all coming from a projectable 6-foot-4 frame that can definitely add strength. He's more hit over power in games with excellent bat speed, especially because he utilizes a spread out stance, but he'll show off big-time power in batting practice when he stands more upright and creates leverage, showing the ability to loft the ball consistently. He's reminded some of Cody Bellinger offensively and has drawn some Kyle Tucker comps as well, though he's not quite as athletic.

A solid average runner underway, Veen played center field in high school, but is probably better suited for a corner spot. He has enough arm to play right, with the power potential to profile there as well.

Awards

AFL Hitter of the Year

Year	Team
2022

NWL Top MLB Prospect

Year	Team
2022

NWL Post-Season All-Star

Year	Team
2022

NWL Most Valuable Player

Year	Team
2022

AFL Rising Stars

Year	Team
2022

MiLB.com Organization All-Star

Year	Team
2022
2021

AFL Player of the Week

Week	Team
10/08/2022

Futures Game Selection

Year	Team
2022

NWL Player of the Week

Week	Team
04/24/2022

CAL Top MLB Prospect

Year	Team
2021

CAL Post-Season All-Star

Year	Team
2021

CAL Player of the Week

Week	Team
07/18/2021

+ View More Awards

Transactions

Team	Date	Transaction
	09/25/2024	Albuquerque Isotopes activated OF Zac Veen from the 7-day injured list.
	09/18/2024	Albuquerque Isotopes placed OF Zac Veen on the 7-day injured list.
	08/23/2024	OF Zac Veen assigned to Albuquerque Isotopes from Hartford Yard Goats.
	07/27/2024	Hartford Yard Goats placed OF Zac Veen on the 7-day injured list retroactive to July 25, 2024.
	07/09/2024	Hartford Yard Goats activated OF Zac Veen from the 7-day injured list.
	07/01/2024	Hartford Yard Goats sent OF Zac Veen on a rehab assignment to Spokane Indians.
	06/25/2024	Hartford Yard Goats sent OF Zac Veen on a rehab assignment to ACL Rockies.
	06/10/2024	Hartford Yard Goats sent OF Zac Veen on a rehab assignment to ACL Rockies.
	06/10/2024	Hartford Yard Goats sent OF Zac Veen on a rehab assignment to ACL Rockies.
	05/19/2024	Hartford Yard Goats placed OF Zac Veen on the 7-day injured list.
	03/07/2024	Colorado Rockies Prospects activated OF Zac Veen.
	02/01/2024	Colorado Rockies invited non-roster OF Zac Veen to spring training.
	11/28/2023	Leones de Ponce activated OF Zac Veen.
	11/06/2023	Hartford Yard Goats activated OF Zac Veen from the reserve list.
	11/06/2023	Hartford Yard Goats activated OF Zac Veen from the reserve list.
	11/03/2023	OF Zac Veen assigned to Leones de Ponce.
	07/08/2023	Hartford Yard Goats transferred OF Zac Veen from the 7-day injured list to the 60-day injured list.
	06/20/2023	Hartford Yard Goats placed OF Zac Veen on the 7-day injured list.
	05/04/2023	Hartford Yard Goats activated OF Zac Veen from the 7-day injured list.
	04/28/2023	Hartford Yard Goats placed OF Zac Veen on the 7-day injured list retroactive to April 27, 2023.
	04/22/2023	Hartford Yard Goats placed OF Zac Veen on the temporarily inactive list.
	01/27/2023	OF Zac Veen roster status changed by Colorado Rockies.
	01/27/2023	Colorado Rockies invited non-roster OF Zac Veen to spring training.
	11/05/2022	OF Zac Veen assigned to National League Fall Stars.
	09/16/2022	Salt River Rafters activated OF Zac Veen.
	09/16/2022	Salt River Rafters activated OF Zac Veen.
	08/09/2022	OF Zac Veen assigned to Hartford Yard Goats from Spokane Indians.
	07/07/2022	OF Zac Veen assigned to National League Futures.
	07/07/2022	National League Futures activated OF Zac Veen.
	04/06/2022	OF Zac Veen assigned to Spokane Indians.
	03/18/2022	Colorado Rockies invited non-roster OF Zac Veen and to spring training.
	05/04/2021	OF Zac Veen assigned to Fresno Grizzlies from Rockies Organization.
	05/04/2021	OF Zac Veen assigned to Fresno Grizzlies.
	05/04/2021	OF Zac Veen assigned to Fresno Grizzlies.
	02/12/2021	OF Zac Veen assigned to Rockies Organization.
	02/12/2021	OF Zac Veen assigned to Rockies Organization.
	06/24/2020	Colorado Rockies signed OF Zac Veen.
	06/24/2020	OF Zac Veen assigned to Grand Junction Rockies.
	06/24/2020	OF Zac Veen assigned to Grand Junction Rockies.
	08/08/2019	OF Zac Veen assigned to PG East.
	07/19/2019	OF Zac Veen assigned to UA National.