Christian Koss

Organization Prospect Rankings

• 
  Ranked Boston Red Sox #26 prospect in 2022
  Track Record: Koss had a strong Cape Cod League summer in 2018 but a junior year struggle dropped him to a 12th-round pick by the Rockies in 2019. He bounced back with a strong debut in the Pioneer League with impressive defense at short. The Red Sox acquired him after 2020 in exchange for lefthander Yoan Aybar, and Koss delivered a solid all-around season with High-A.
  
  Scouting Report: Koss makes hard contact with a compact righthanded swing that is geared more for an up-the-middle approach with all-fields contact than power. That said, even while he grades as below-average in terms of power, he does have the strength to clear the fences from left to center. Koss spent all of 2021 at shortstop and showed the ability, body control and athleticism to make plus plays with a solid arm at the position. He’s already seen time in pro ball at second and short, and some evaluators believe that he has the speed and reads to add outfield to his repertoire. He is an above-average runner.
  
  The Future: Koss has the defensive ability and hit tool to project as a utilityman with at least the ability to get in the lineup against lefties and could make more contact against righties than a pure platoon player.
  
• 
  Ranked Colorado Rockies #25 prospect in 2020
  TRACK RECORD: Koss entered the year as one of the top 2019 draft prospects on the West Coast. But he scuffled at the plate during his junior year at UC Irvine and fell to the 12th round, signing for $180,000. He rebounded well in the Rookie-level Pioneer League, where he ranked among the league's top prospects.
  
  SCOUTING REPORT: In college, Koss stood out for his slick defense at shortstop. He's an athletic, highenergy player with good actions in the field and a quick transfer to a solid-average arm. Some scouts think he should stay at shortstop, though others think his range and inconsistency in the field might move him off the position. During his junior season, Koss changed his approach to try to hit for more power, and it ended up with him piling up strikeouts until he adjusted at the end, which carried over into his pro debut.
  
  THE FUTURE: Koss could end up being a nice buy-low grab for the Rockies if he can replicate his early success higher up the ladder. Low Class A Asheville is up next.

Draft Prospects

• Ranked #347 prospect in 2019 draft
  Koss was a Cape Cod League All-Star last summer as a slick defensive shortstop and entered the year as one of the West Coast's top draft prospects. He instead changed his approach to try and hit for more power, stumbled badly, and then carried his offensive struggles into the field with him. At his best, Koss is a sure-handed shortstop with the range, athleticism and above-average arm strength to stay at the position. His defense became erratic as his offense cratered early this spring, however, leading more evaluators to project him to second base. Koss has never been a natural hitter, and his attempt at more power this spring instead resulted in more strikeouts early on, but eventually he began to figure out a plan at the plate. He hit .483 (30 of 62) from May 1 on, raising his average from .228 to .307. He also hit five home runs this season after hitting one in his first two seasons. Overall he hit .307/.397/.490. His late turnaround has put him back into consideration for the draft's second day.

Minor League Top Prospects

• 
  Ranked Pioneer League #16 prospect in 2019
  Known more for his shortstop defense during a three-year career at UC Irvine, Koss surprised with the bat in Grand Junction, finishing just behind teammate Brenton Doyle in most offensive categories. A disappointing junior season negatively impacted his draft stock, but the Rockies believe they scored big by getting Koss in the 12th round. Koss has a good approach at the plate, with above-average opposite field power. His plate discipline and two-strike approach were especially impressive. "He's been able to slow the game down at times and can take his walks," Grand Junction manager Jake Opitz said. Koss profiles best as a utility infielder, an average defender at all three positions but without the range to play shortstop on a regular basis. His average arm strength plays up because of how quickly he gets rid of the ball. What impressed opposing managers the most was the energy he showed on the field, with one observer calling him an old school-type of player.

• December, 2021 Scouting Report
  Track Record: Koss had a strong Cape Cod League summer in 2018 but a junior year struggle dropped him to a 12th-round pick by the Rockies in 2019. He bounced back with a strong debut in the Pioneer League with impressive defense at short. The Red Sox acquired him after 2020 in exchange for lefthander Yoan Aybar, and Koss delivered a solid all-around season with High-A.
  
  Scouting Report: Koss makes hard contact with a compact righthanded swing that is geared more for an up-the-middle approach with all-fields contact than power. That said, even while he grades as below-average in terms of power, he does have the strength to clear the fences from left to center. Koss spent all of 2021 at shortstop and showed the ability, body control and athleticism to make plus plays with a solid arm at the position. He’s already seen time in pro ball at second and short, and some evaluators believe that he has the speed and reads to add outfield to his repertoire. He is an above-average runner.
  
  The Future: Koss has the defensive ability and hit tool to project as a utilityman with at least the ability to get in the lineup against lefties and could make more contact against righties than a pure platoon player.
  
• July, 2020 Scouting Report
  TRACK RECORD: Koss entered the year as one of the top 2019 draft prospects on the West Coast. But he scuffled at the plate during his junior year at UC Irvine and fell to the 12th round, signing for $180,000. He rebounded well in the Rookie-level Pioneer League, where he ranked among the league’s top prospects.
  
  SCOUTING REPORT: In college, Koss stood out for his slick defense at shortstop. He’s an athletic, highenergy player with good actions in the field and a quick transfer to a solid-average arm. Some scouts think he should stay at shortstop, though others think his range and inconsistency in the field might move him off the position. During his junior season, Koss changed his approach to try to hit for more power, and it ended up with him piling up strikeouts until he adjusted at the end, which carried over into his pro debut.
  
  THE FUTURE: Koss could end up being a nice buy-low grab for the Rockies if he can replicate his early success higher up the ladder. Low Class A Asheville is up next.
• February, 2020 Scouting Report
  TRACK RECORD: Koss entered the year as one of the top 2019 draft prospects on the West Coast. But he scuffled at the plate during his junior year at UC Irvine and fell to the 12th round, signing for $180,000. He rebounded well in the Rookie-level Pioneer League, where he ranked among the league's top prospects.
  
  SCOUTING REPORT: In college, Koss stood out for his slick defense at shortstop. He's an athletic, highenergy player with good actions in the field and a quick transfer to a solid-average arm. Some scouts think he should stay at shortstop, though others think his range and inconsistency in the field might move him off the position. During his junior season, Koss changed his approach to try to hit for more power, and it ended up with him piling up strikeouts until he adjusted at the end, which carried over into his pro debut.
  
  THE FUTURE: Koss could end up being a nice buy-low grab for the Rockies if he can replicate his early success higher up the ladder. Low Class A Asheville is up next.
• December, 2018 Scouting Report
  Koss was a Cape Cod League All-Star last summer as a slick defensive shortstop and entered the year as one of the West Coast's top draft prospects. He instead changed his approach to try and hit for more power, stumbled badly, and then carried his offensive struggles into the field with him. At his best, Koss is a sure-handed shortstop with the range, athleticism and above-average arm strength to stay at the position. His defense became erratic as his offense cratered early this spring, however, leading more evaluators to project him to second base. Koss has never been a natural hitter, and his attempt at more power this spring instead resulted in more strikeouts early on, but eventually he began to figure out a plan at the plate. He hit .483 (30 of 62) from May 1 on, raising his average from .228 to .307. He also hit five home runs this season after hitting one in his first two seasons. Overall he hit .307/.397/.490. His late turnaround has put him back into consideration for the draft's second day.
• December, 2018 Scouting Report
  Known more for his shortstop defense during a three-year career at UC Irvine, Koss surprised with the bat in Grand Junction, finishing just behind teammate Brenton Doyle in most offensive categories. A disappointing junior season negatively impacted his draft stock, but the Rockies believe they scored big by getting Koss in the 12th round. Koss has a good approach at the plate, with above-average opposite field power. His plate discipline and two-strike approach were especially impressive. "He's been able to slow the game down at times and can take his walks," Grand Junction manager Jake Opitz said. Koss profiles best as a utility infielder, an average defender at all three positions but without the range to play shortstop on a regular basis. His average arm strength plays up because of how quickly he gets rid of the ball. What impressed opposing managers the most was the energy he showed on the field, with one observer calling him an old school-type of player.