Veen’s swing to the left is still vulnerable to the inside half’s speed, and he remains more in a liminal prospect space than he is a big-league slam dunk star.
This class remains skeptical of Veen’s future ability to hit and utilize his raw power, but appreciates how impactful his speed will be in a part-time outfield role.
I’m excited about Veen for the same reasons as everyone else: he’s a brutal rotator capable of hitting some epic home runs, and he’s built like Maserati started making people. Veen has one of the more electric power/speed combinations in the minors, but his handles and long, low ball swing make it very difficult for him to get to the point of contact in time, especially against fastballs, which has led to quite a few strikeouts and mediocre contact. Pitchers work him on the hands and then swing him over the top of the backfoot breaking balls once Veen starts cheating with heaters in that spot. He is best able to create power against bad breaking balls and pitches that are down and away from him when he can get his arms fully extended. If he does, it’s quite lovely and easy to understand why so many people (including your author) have loved Veen at various points in his prospectdom. Still, as currently constructed, he has below-average contact and game power looks.
Veen brings other meaningful things to the table. He plays with an elite motor, moves from base to base with just a few gigantic steps and, in borderline situations, commits himself to the next base with dedication. There are now more opportunities for speed to impact the big league game, which can elevate Veen to a more impactful FV level. On defense, his speed allows him to turn potential doubles into singles by chasing them before they can trickle into the gap or corner, but he doesn’t get good reads and looks awkward at the catch point. Despite his wheels, the Rockies have never actually given Veen an extended run in center field because his results and routes are not good. It makes Veen feel like a turbocharged fifth outfielder on a good team, rather than a true fourth or platoon guy.
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