Chicago Cubs Prospect Profile: Matt Camp

The Chicago Cubs picked Matt Camp in the 13th round of the 2006 draft. Camp is having a solid year for the Iowa Cubs hitting .305/.365/.362/.726. With a slugging percentage of only .362 you might wonder what is so special about Matt Camp. He is the definition of utility man. Matt hasn’t played first base, pitched, or caught a game but he has played every other spot on the field … his two best positions are centerfield and second base.
Matt Camp won’t “wow you” with the longball or steal fifty bases a year … but he does have a career stolen base percentage of 77% with 111 stolen bases in 144 attempts. Camp is more of a singles hitter, who will hit a double from time to time as well as an occasional triple. Camp has pretty solid speed, but his main value is ability to play multiple positions. Camp’s hitting style could easily be compared to a left-handed version of Ryan Theriot.

Camp is an energetic guy with a strong work ethic that doesn’t excel at any one part of the game. He displays good contact skills and shows patience at the plate.

Camp is solid defensively in center, second and short but going by his fielding percentage third base has been his worst position to date (a .936 fielding percentage). He has good instincts on the base paths and solid instincts in the outfield. Camp could make it to the major leagues someday as utility man. It would certainly be interesting to see the Cubs with a player that has the ability to play six different positions.

Full Name: Matthew Scott Camp
Age: 26 (5/29/1984)
Height: 6’0″
Weight: 200
Bats/Throws: L/R
Positions: CF/LF/RF/3B/SS/2B

Interesting Tidbits
– The Cubs risked losing Camp prior to this year by not adding him to the 40-man roster, he could have been picked up by another team as a Rule 5 draftee.
– Matt Camp is currently hitting .290 vs. lefties and .311 vs. righties.
– Fifty Nifty Names from the Farm

Intangibles
Best Heart/Work Ethic (tie) – James Adduci, Matt Camp

CCO Prospect Profiles