Although Rocchio received just the ninth-highest bonus ($125,000) in Cleveland's 2017 international crop, he has emerged as the best prospect of the bunch. He quickly earned the nickname "The Professor" for his high baseball IQ, which helped him make his U.S. debut at age 17 and arrive in the big leagues last May at age 22. After the Guardians got little production out of their shortstops in 2023, he's expected to stabilize the position for them this season.
A switch-hitter, Rocchio has become more proficient from the left side of the plate as he has gained more experience. Though he uncharacteristically tried to do too much in his first taste of the Majors, he generally employs a disciplined approach to stroke line drives to all fields. He's not very physical but has some sneaky pop that could translate into 15 homers per season if he lifts the ball more consistently.
Despite just average speed, Rocchio stole 25 bases in 32 attempts last season thanks to his savvy. His instincts and quickness give him quality range at shortstop, where he compensates for an average arm with a fast release. A smooth defender with Gold Glove potential, he could play all over the infield in a utility role if he doesn't hit enough to be an everyday shortstop.
Signed for just $125,000 out of Venezuela as part of a banner 2017 international crop reeled in by Cleveland, Rocchio quickly earned the nickname "The Professor" for his high baseball IQ. Unable to come to the United States to play at the Guardians' alternate site or instructional league program during the pandemic shutdown in 2020, he nonetheless reached Triple-A at age 21 last season while hitting a career-best 18 homers. In a system overflowing with infield prospects, he stands out as the most talented offensive player among them.
A switch-hitter, Rocchio recognizes pitches well, barrels them easily and lashes line drives to all fields. He already had a quick bat and then gained muscle during his pandemic layoff, which has helped him develop average power (solid pop as a righty, more fringy as a lefty). He could be a .275 hitter who produces 15-20 homers annually when he's a finished product.
Though Rocchio has solid speed, he's not a prolific basestealer and succeeded on just 64 percent of his attempts in his first four pro seasons. His quickness is more apparent at shortstop, where he has smooth actions and soft hands and enhances his average arm with a fast release. He wore down late last season while playing a career-high 132 games, so he needs to add some more strength.
Part of the Guardians' stellar 2017 international haul that could yield a half-dozen big league position players, Rocchio has the highest floor among that group and rivals fellow Top 100 prospect George Valera for the highest ceiling as well. Signed for just $125,000 out of Venezuela, he quickly became known as "The Professor" because of his excellent baseball IQ. Unable to come to the United States to play at Cleveland's alternate site or instructional league program in 2020, he returned last year to hit .277 while tripling his previous career high with 15 homers and reaching Double-A in his full-season debut at age 20.
Added to the 40-man roster in November, Rocchio is a switch-hitter who recognizes pitches well and drills line drives to all fields. He's not big but got stronger during his pandemic layoff and smoked the ball with more authority in 2021, displaying quick hands, at least average raw power and the ability to get to most of it during games. The youngest regular in the Double-A Northeast during the final two months of the season, he more than held his own against advanced pitchers and his feel for the barrel should allow him to continue to hit for average.
Rocchio's quickness and instincts are apparent on the bases and in the field. He has the plus speed and aggressive nature to steal and take extra bases. He's a gifted defender with smooth actions and soft hands at shortstop, where he enhances average arm strength with a fast release and impressive accuracy on his throws, and he also can handle second and third base.
The Indians assembled a potentially special international class in 2017, highlighted by outfielders George Valera and Alexfri Planez and middle infielders Rocchio, Aaron Bracho and Jose Tena. The biggest bargain of the group at $125,000, Rocchio batted .335 in his 2018 pro debut, which included coming to the United States at age 17, and held his own as the short-season New York-Penn League's youngest regular the following summer. After going home to Venezuela after Spring Training shut down in 2020, he was unable to return to play at Cleveland's alternate site or instructional league program.
Rocchio has earned the nickname "The Professor" because of his outstanding baseball IQ. It's apparent at the plate, where he's a switch-hitter with precocious bat-to-ball skills and pitch recognition. He may never walk much because he makes contact so easily, but his hitting ability and quick, strong hands should yield double-digit home run totals once he adds some needed strength.
Rocchio's quickness and instincts also make him an asset on the bases and in the field. He has the plus speed and aggressiveness to steal bases, though he succeeded in only 63 percent of his attempts in his first two pro seasons. He's a reliable defender who covers plenty of ground at shortstop, where he compensates for an average arm with a quick release.
Three of the Indians' best prospects hail from their 2017 international class: Dominican outfielder George Valera and Venezuelan switch-hitting middle infielders Rocchio and Aaron Bracho. While Bracho ($1.5 million) and Valera ($1.3 million) landed seven-figure bonuses, Rocchio was a bargain at $125,000. He batted .335 as a 17-year-old who finished his 2018 pro debut in the United States and held his own as the short-season New York-Penn League's youngest regular last year.
Rocchio stands out with his advanced feel for hitting and his high baseball IQ, which has earned him the nickname "The Professor." He recognizes pitches better than most teenagers and makes line-drive contact with a smooth stroke from both sides of the plate, though he puts the bat on the ball so easily that it cuts into his walk totals. He's small but has quick hands and snap in his wrists that should produce double-digit home run power once he matures physically.
With plus speed and an aggressive nature on the basepaths, Rocchio could pile up steals once he refines his technique. His quickness and instincts give him plenty of range at shortstop, where he's a quality defender with reliable hands. He should be able to stay at the position despite average arm strength, compensating by getting rid of the ball quickly.
The Indians' 2017 international class has a chance to be special, highlighted by three potential impact hitters in Rocchio, fellow Venezuelan switch-hitting shortstop Aaron Bracho and Dominican outfielder George Valera. His $125,000 bonus was a fraction of what Cleveland paid Bracho ($1.5 million) and Valera ($1.3 million), and he already looks like a bargain. Rocchio hit his way to the United States as a 17-year-old last summer, finishing third in the Arizona League batting race (.343) as the rookie circuit's third-youngest qualifier.
Rocchio has advanced feel for hitting and pitch recognition, along with a sweet swing from both sides of the plate. He commands the strike zone but makes contact so easily that he doesn't draw many walks. While he's small and not physically mature, he has quick hands and snap in his wrists that should produce at least gap power.
Rocchio has plus speed and is very aggressive on the bases, so he could be a prolific basestealer once he improves his reads and jumps. His quickness and instincts give him solid range at shortstop, though his arm is merely average and might prompt an eventual move to second base. The Indians love his makeup and he has earned the nickname "The Professor" for his high baseball IQ.
The Indians landed Rocchio during the same 2017-18 international signing period that also netted the organization rising prospects George Valera and Aaron Bracho. While those two players were both plagued by injuries in '18, Rocchio excelled in his first taste of pro ball at age 17, beginning in the Dominican Summer League and then moving stateside to the Rookie-level Arizona League, where he was named a postseason All-Star after producing a .343 average, the circuit's third-best mark.
The switch-hitting Rocchio possesses one of the more advanced bats in Cleveland's system, as some evaluators have pegged him as a plus hitter. He has preternatural feel for finding the barrel from both sides of the plate to go along with an advanced approach and present pitch recognition. And while he's currently lean and somewhat undersized, Rocchio does have a projectable frame that portends modest game power in future years.
Rocchio's speed is another plus tool, one that gives him impact potential on the basepaths and translates to above-average range at shortstop, where he's an above-average defender with average arm strength. What's more, club officials are quick to praise the teenager's maturity, makeup and intelligence, qualities that they believe help make him a special player.
Note: xHR tells how many of this player's home runs would have been out of other stadiums. The "Adjusted" view here accounts for different wall heights, distances and environmental effects using Statcast Park Factor data.
Standard
Year
HR
2023
0
1
0
1
0
0
1
0
1
0
0
1
0
0
1
0
0
0
0
1
0
0
1
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
2024
9
4
5
10
7
8
9
9
7
4
7
8
7
8
9
7
8
6
8
8
8
8
9
9
7
6
6
4
7
7
6
Player
9
5
5
11
7
8
10
9
8
4
7
9
7
8
10
7
8
6
8
9
8
8
10
9
7
6
6
4
7
7
6
Note: xHR tells how many of this player's home runs would have been out of other stadiums. The "Standard" view here accounts for different wall heights and distances but excludes environmental effects. It is based purely on the observed trajectory of the hit.
! Note: Shifts are through the 2022 season, Shaded starting from the 2023 season, Shift: three or more infielders are on the same side of second base, Shade: positioned outside of their typical responsible slices of the field. Learn more about how positioning is defined here