Zac Veen

Zac Veen
Colorado Rockies – No. 73
Outfielder
Born: (2001-12-12) December 12, 2001 (age 23)
Port Orange, Florida, U.S.
Bats: Left
Throws: Right

Zachary Richard Veen (born December 12, 2001) is an American professional baseball outfielder for the Colorado Rockies of Major League Baseball (MLB). Veen was selected ninth overall by the Rockies in the 2020 MLB draft.

Amateur career

Veen attended Spruce Creek High School in Port Orange, Florida. As a junior in 2019, he was named The Daytona Beach News-Journal Baseball Player of the Year after hitting .414 with 36 stolen bases.[1] He played in the 2019 Under Armour All-America Baseball Game and 2019 Perfect Game All-American Classic.[2][3] In November 2019, he committed to play college baseball at the University of Florida.[4]

Professional career

Veen was considered one of the top prospects for the 2020 Major League Baseball draft.[5][6][7] He was selected ninth overall by the Colorado Rockies.[8] He signed with the Rockies on June 24 for a $5 million bonus.[9] Veen did not appear for the Rockies organization in 2020 due to the cancellation of the minor league season because of the COVID-19 pandemic.[10]

Veen made his professional debut in 2021 with the Fresno Grizzlies of the Low-A West.[11] Over 106 games, he slashed .301/.399/.501 with 15 home runs, 75 RBI, 27 doubles and 36 stolen bases.[12] He was assigned to the Spokane Indians of the High-A Northwest League to begin the 2022 season.[13] He was promoted to the Hartford Yard Goats of the Double-A Eastern League in early August. Over 126 games between the two teams, he compiled a slash line of .245/.340/.384 with 12 home runs, 67 RBI, and 55 stolen bases while being caught nine times.[14]

He played in the 2022 Arizona Fall League, where he batted .356/.467/.466, and led the league in stolen bases (16; while being caught twice).[15]

Veen spent the 2023 season with the Double–A Hartford Yard Goats, playing in 46 games and hitting .209/.304/.308 with 2 home runs, 24 RBI, and 22 stolen bases. On June 21, 2023, it was announced that Veen would undergo season–ending surgery to repair tearing and fraying to a ligament in his left hand.[16]

Veen split the 2024 campaign between the rookie–level Arizona Complex League Rockies, Spokane, Hartford, and the Triple–A Albuquerque Isotopes. In 65 appearances for the four affiliates, he slashed .258/.346/.459 with 11 home runs, 35 RBI, and 21 stolen bases. Following the season, the Rockies added Veen to their 40-man roster to protect him from the Rule 5 draft.[17]

References

  1. ^ "Spruce Creek speedy CF Zac Veen named Baseball Player of the Year". MSN.
  2. ^ "Veen gets down in the desert". Perfect Game.
  3. ^ Collazo, Carlos (22 July 2019). "5 Standout Prospects From The 2019 Under Armour All-America Workout". www.baseballamerica.com.
  4. ^ Boyle, Chris. "Signing Day Roundup: Spruce Creek baseball star, MLB draft hopeful Zac Veen chooses Florida". Daytona Beach News-Journal Online.
  5. ^ Boyle, Chris. "Scout's Take: Spruce Creek outfielder Zac Veen possesses "first-round talent"". Daytona Beach News-Journal Online.
  6. ^ Collazo, Carlos (19 February 2020). "Worth The Wait: Zac Veen's Star Turn Was Years In The Making". www.baseballamerica.com.
  7. ^ "Top Draft Prospects". MLB.com.
  8. ^ "Rockies select Zac Veen in first round of 2020 MLB Draft at No. 9 overall". June 11, 2020.
  9. ^ "Zac Veen agrees to deal with Rockies". MLB.com. 2020-06-24. Retrieved 2021-11-17.
  10. ^ "2020 Minor League Baseball season cancelled". mlb.com. Retrieved June 25, 2023.
  11. ^ Hilburn, Chris (2021-07-01). "Baseball America Prospect Report—July 1, 2021". Baseballamerica.com. Retrieved 2021-11-17.
  12. ^ "Zac Veen: Rockies 2021 Minor League Player of the Year". 4 October 2021.
  13. ^ "Spokane Indians Announce 2022 Roster".
  14. ^ "Zac Veen Stats, Fantasy & News".
  15. ^ "The Official Site of Major League Baseball". MLB.com.
  16. ^ "Rockies' Zac Veen: Campaign ended by hand injury". cbssports.com. Retrieved June 25, 2023.
  17. ^ "Rockies Add Zac Veen To 40-Man Roster". mlbtraderumors.com. Retrieved November 21, 2024.