Scouting Report

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Scouting grades: Hit: 55 | Power: 50 | Run: 40 | Arm: 45 | Field: 45 | Overall: 45 

Playing alongside Athletics first-rounder Max Muncy at Thousand Oaks (Calif.) HS in 2021, Riggio might have gone in the first three rounds if he had been signable away from Oklahoma State. He turned down the Brewers as an 11th-rounder and capped his 2022 freshman season with one of the best NCAA regional playoff performances ever, going 15-for-27 (.556) with four homers, five doubles and 17 RBIs in five games. A Draft-eligible sophomore, he has bounced back from a rough summer with wood bats in the Cape Cod League by showing more power and plate discipline this spring. 

Riggio's small stature and swagger are reminiscent of Dustin Pedroia, and he's similarly aggressive at the plate. He's doing a better job of managing the strike zone and making contact in 2023, but he's still looking to drive balls in the air to his pull side. He has a quick left-handed swing, good timing at the plate and more strength than most players listed at 5-foot-9 -- ingredients that give him 20-homer power. 

Riggio has below-average speed but is an opportunistic baserunner. With his lack of quickness and fringy arm strength, he's an adequate defender at second base; left field might be his only alternative. His desire and work ethic allow him to get the most out of his tools.

Scouting grades: Hit: 50 | Power: 50 | Run: 40 | Arm: 45 | Field: 45 | Overall: 40 

Playing alongside Athletics first-rounder Max Muncy at Thousand Oaks (Calif.) HS in 2021, Riggio could have gone in the top three rounds had he been signable away from Oklahoma State. He spurned the Brewers after sliding to the 11th round and spent two years with the Cowboys, capping his freshman season with a legendary performance in the NCAA regional playoffs (15-for-27, four homers, five doubles, 17 RBIs in five games). Signed for an over-slot $693,000 in the fourth round last July, he batted .192 in his 22-game pro debut. 

Riggio's 5-foot-9 build, swagger and maximum-effort are reminiscent of a lefty-hitting Dustin Pedroia. He's all about launching balls in the air to his pull side, though he managed the strike zone more efficiently and made better contact in 2023 than he had the year before. He could provide 20 homers per season thanks to his bat speed, strength and good timing at the plate, though he's not the pure hitter that Pedroia was. 

Riggio's aggressive extends to the bases, where he's daring despite his below-average speed. While amateur scouts rated him as a merely adequate defender at second base because he lacks quickness and has fringy arm strength, the Yankees thought he looked better than his reputation in his first taste of pro ball. Though he made two errors in three games at shortstop, they may give him more time there in order to enhance his versatility. 

Scouting grades: Hit: 55 | Power: 50 | Run: 40 | Arm: 45 | Field: 45 | Overall: 45 

As a teammate of Athletics first-rounder Max Muncy at Thousand Oaks (Calif.) HS in 2021, Riggio might have gone in the first three rounds if he had been signable away from Oklahoma State. He turned down the Brewers as an 11th-rounder and capped his 2022 freshman season with one of the best NCAA regional playoff performances ever, going 15-for-27 (.556) with four homers, five doubles and 17 RBIs in five games. He bounced back from a rough summer with wood bats in the Cape Cod League by showing more power and plate discipline this spring before signing for an over-slot $693,000 in the fourth round.

Riggio's small stature and swagger are reminiscent of Dustin Pedroia's and he's similarly aggressive at the plate. He did a better job of managing the strike zone and making contact as a sophomore, but he still looks to drive balls in the air to his pull side. He has a quick left-handed swing, good timing at the plate and more strength than most players listed at 5-foot-9 -- ingredients that give him 20-homer power. 

Riggio has below-average speed but is an opportunistic baserunner. With his lack of quickness and fringy arm strength, he's an adequate defender at second base and left field might be his only alternative. His desire and work ethic allow him to get the most out of his tools.

Video scouting report »

Scouting grades: Hit: 55 | Power: 50 | Run: 40 | Arm: 50 | Field: 45 | Overall: 45

In the summer of 2019, Riggio played on a scout team against what would eventually be USA Baseball’s 18-and-under national team as a tune-up for Team USA before international competition and arguably was the best performer on either team at the time. An alum of Team USA himself -- he hit .480 for the 15U team that won gold in the Pan Am Games in 2017 -- Riggio was not as impressive this summer as he had been previously, but he did impress with how he swung the bat during his high school season this spring.

More than anything, Riggio is about his left-handed bat. He has a knack for barreling up the baseball and making loud contact with excellent bat speed. He has gotten stronger and has legitimate power, especially to the pull side, that should only increase as he continues to mature. Riggio is a real grinder who clearly loves to hit.

Beyond that, however, are some question marks. Riggio doesn’t run all that well, often opting out of running 60-yard dashes at events, and it’s unclear what his defensive home should be. He’s played both second and the outfield, with scouts feeling he’s probably better suited to be an offensive-minded second baseman than a center fielder. Hitters do find a way into the lineup and a team that believes enough in the bat will sign the Oklahoma State recruit and figure out where to put him.

Transactions

Team	Date	Transaction
	03/31/2024	2B Roc Riggio assigned to Hudson Valley Renegades from Tampa Tarpons.
	03/07/2024	New York Yankees Prospects activated 2B Roc Riggio.
	08/08/2023	2B Roc Riggio assigned to Tampa Tarpons from FCL Yankees.
	07/31/2023	2B Roc Riggio assigned to FCL Yankees.
	07/31/2023	New York Yankees signed 2B Roc Riggio.
	06/15/2023	2B Roc Riggio assigned to College Workout.
	02/14/2023	Oklahoma State Cowboys activated 2B Roc Riggio.
	02/14/2023	2B Roc Riggio assigned to Oklahoma State Cowboys.
	02/16/2022	OF Roc Riggio and assigned to Oklahoma State Cowboys.
	06/16/2020	OF Roc Riggio assigned to PG National 4 - Gray.
	06/16/2020	2B Roc Riggio assigned to PG National 4 - Gray.
	07/23/2019	CF Roc Riggio assigned to 17U National Team Development Program.