Scouting Report

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

Nivens had a humble start to his college career, redshirting in his first year at Missouri State and having to compete for a roster spot in his second. He responded by winning Freshman All-America honors in 2022 and won Missouri Valley Conference player of the year honors this season. A club that believes he has average power and can stay in center field could take him as early as the late third round. 

Nivens had elite non-chase rates in 2022, and while he has been more aggressive this spring, he's still making consistent contact and hitting the ball harder than ever. His left-handed swing has some natural loft and he shows some feel for backspinning balls to his pull side for home runs. He's doing a better job of driving the ball in the air and could get to 20 home runs on an annual basis. 

Scouts clock run times anywhere from below-average to well-above-average with Nivens, and the consensus is that he's a solid runner if not much of a basestealing threat. A high school shortstop who's still adapting to the outfield, he has the quickness to remain in center, but needs to continue to refine his reads and routes. He has fringy arm strength that's playable in center or left.

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

Nivens redshirted in 2021 at Missouri State and competed for a roster spot in 2022, only to be named a Freshman All-American that spring. He won Missouri Valley Conference Player of the Year last spring after posting a .341/.437/.650 line with 14 homers in 56 games for the Bears. Ranked as MLB Pipeline’s No. 119 Draft prospect in his class, Nivens went in the fifth round (142nd overall) to the Royals and signed for just above slot at $472,500. He opened his first full season with High-A Quad Cities but was limited by a hamstring injury early on. He hit 13 homers in August alone, most among any affiliated hitter in baseball.

The left-handed-hitting outfielder rarely expanded the zone during his breakout campaign in 2022, but he got more aggressive at the plate last year at the same time he exhibited harder contact. Those improved exit velocities, along with the promising approach, could make Nivens an above-average hitter in time. He also specializes in lifting the ball with natural loft in his swing, and combined with his ability show pull-side pop, there’s some hope that he could contend for 20 homers in the Majors. He really got that pop to play late in 2024 as he became more of a power-over-hit type, though he says he isn't necessarily chasing the long ball.

Nivens can be slow to get his engine going, and that can hurt him from being a true stolen-base threat. However under way, he’s an above-average runner who can be dangerous on balls hit to the gaps. His subpar arm strength has pushed him into left field for the most part in the pros, but he could cover enough ground to play a capable center field too. The move to the corner will only raise the emphasis on Nivens’ need to hit as he closes in on Kansas City.

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

Nivens had a humble start to his college career, redshirting in his first year at Missouri State and having to compete for a roster spot in his second. He responded by winning Freshman All-America honors in 2022 and won Missouri Valley Conference player of the year honors this season. He became Kansas City’s fifth-round pick in July and signed for around slot at $472,500.

Nivens had elite non-chase rates in 2022, and while he has been more aggressive this spring, he's still making consistent contact and hitting the ball harder than ever. His left-handed swing has some natural loft, and he shows some feel for backspinning balls to his pull side for home runs. He's doing a better job of driving the ball in the air and could get to 20 home runs on an annual basis. 

Scouts clock run times anywhere from below-average to well-above-average with Nivens, and the consensus is that he's a solid runner if not much of a basestealing threat. A high school shortstop who's still adapting to the outfield, he has the quickness to remain in center but needs to continue to refine his reads and routes. He has fringy arm strength that's playable in center or left.

Awards

MID Player of the Week

Week	Team
09/08/2024
08/25/2024

MID Player of the Month

Month	Team
08/2024

Transactions

Team	Date	Transaction
	05/07/2024	Quad Cities River Bandits activated OF Spencer Nivens from the 7-day injured list.
	05/04/2024	Quad Cities River Bandits sent OF Spencer Nivens on a rehab assignment to ACL Royals.
	05/04/2024	Quad Cities River Bandits sent OF Spencer Nivens on a rehab assignment to ACL Royals.
	04/17/2024	Quad Cities River Bandits placed OF Spencer Nivens on the 7-day injured list retroactive to April 16, 2024.
	04/03/2024	OF Spencer Nivens assigned to Quad Cities River Bandits from Columbia Fireflies.
	03/21/2024	OF Spencer Nivens assigned to Kansas City Royals.
	08/04/2023	OF Spencer Nivens assigned to Columbia Fireflies from ACL Royals.
	08/04/2023	Columbia Fireflies activated OF Spencer Nivens.
	07/29/2023	OF Spencer Nivens assigned to ACL Royals.
	07/18/2023	Kansas City Royals signed OF Spencer Nivens.
	06/06/2023	OF Spencer Nivens assigned to College Workout.