Nick Madrigal

Position: 2B
Born: 3/5/1997
Ht: 5’7″ Wt: 165 lb B-T: R-R
Acquired: Drafted 4th overall in the 2018 draft out of Oregon State University
Career Stats

FutureSox Prospect Rankings

  • #4 – 2018 Midseason
  • #5 – 2019 Preseason
  • #5 – 2019 Midseason
  • #4 – 2020 Preseason
  • #4 – 2020 Midseason
  • #4 – 2021 Preseason

FutureSox Media

Accolades

  • Carolina League All-Star, 2019 Midseason
  • Futures Game, 2019
  • MiLB Gold Glove, 2019

Scouting Report

After being drafted in the 17th round as a California prep player, Madrigal wisely chose to attend Oregon State and took NCAA baseball by storm, slashing .333/.380/.456 and was named the Pac-12 Freshman of the Year. He built upon those numbers in his sophomore and junior year, improving in every offensive statistic and earning Pac-12 Player of the Year honors this season thanks an absurd .367/.428/511 slashline in his final season there.

Madrigal puts up such prestigious numbers thanks to a contact-oriented approach at the plate that sprays line drives to all fields. Over his three collegiate seasons, Madrigal struck out a mere 37 times compared to 58 walks covering a staggering 612 at-bats.

The one notable caveat to his offensive game is raw power and MLB Pipeline graded it a 40 on the traditional 20-80 scouting scale. But he is equipped with good speed and is aggressive on the base paths, making him a prototypical top of the order difference maker.

A natural shortstop through high school and the beginning to his college career, Madrigal moved to second base to accommodate his slick-fielding teammate Cadyn Grenier. There is a split between scouts if Madrigal can return to shortstop at the pro level, citing average arm strength. But there is no question that he plays an elite second base and many believe he has Gold Glove potential there.

In the beginning of his professional career, Madrigal showed his polish. He slashed .303/.353/.348 in his draft year across three levels in 43 games. With only five strikeouts (it took an improbable 72 PA for the first one to happen) and seven extra base hits, Madrigal was as advertised. Madrigal also reached three levels in 2019, returning to High-A Winston-Salem and ending at Triple-A Charlotte. He hit .341 at Double-A Birmingham and .331 in Charlotte with one home run at each stop over 71 games.

Madrigal made his MLB debut early in the 2020 season and held his own as an everyday player in the shortened season (.340/.376/.369). His 2020 season was comically similar to his scouting report with elite contact skills and almost no power.