Rockies prospect rankings: No. 27 Jordan Patterson started slow, finished hot in 2014

Editor's note: We've made a change with the PuRPs list this year, deciding to unveil each player individually over the course of a few weeks. To keep track of the list, keep checking our PuRPs list StoryStream.

PuRP No. 27: Jordan Patterson (76 points, 10 ballots) | Summer 2014 Ranking: 29 | High Ballot 13, Mode Ballot 20, 25, 27

Patterson, a 22-year-old outfielder who played at Low-A Asheville in 2014, is a big guy (6'4) who has the power and hit tools to profile as a corner outfielder. but who also is overshadowed at times by his outfield teammates in Asheville -- David Dahl and Raimel Tapia -- both of whom occupy places far higher up on this list.

Patterson, Colorado's fourth round pick out of South Alabama last year, looked like a disappointment halfway through the season. His batting line at that point was just .256/.350/.391, but he heated up enough in the season's second half to finish a more respectable .278/.359/.430 (122 wRC+) hitter, with 14 home runs and 25 steals

Kiley McDaniel of FanGraphs called Patterson "a 6'4/215 athlete with a fourth outfielder profile if he can hit enough," and I agree. Patterson probably needs to stick in the outfield for him to stay on the prospect radar. The numbers by themselves are fine, but he was a slightly older-than-average prospect in the South Atlantic League and more is expected out of that level. That and his reserve outfielder profile led me to leave him off my personal list this time. I'd like to see the lefty swinger at a higher level to better gauge his prospect status and see if a reevaluation is in order.

Contract Status: 2013 4th Round, Not Rule 5 Eligible, 3 options remaining

MLB ETA: Late 2017