Spencer Nivens Stats & Scouting Report

AB	322
AVG	.233
OBP	.328
SLG	.444
HR	16

Full name Spencer Clay Nivens
Born 11/16/2001 in Columbia, MO
Profile Ht.: 5'11" / Wt.: 185 / Bats: L / Throws: R
School Missouri State
Drafted in the 5th round (142nd overall) by the Kansas City Royals in 2023 (signed for $472,500).

View Draft Report

School: Missouri State Source: 4YR

Commit/Drafted: Never Drafted
Age At Draft: 21.7
BA Grade:45/High
Tools:Hit: 50. Power: 50. Run: 55. Field: 50. Arm: 40.

Nivens redshirted during the 2021 season but was one of the team’s top hitters in 2022, when he slashed .346/.443/.542 with 11 home runs, 12 doubles and nearly as many walks (44) as strikeouts (45). Nivens did more of the same in his 2023 season and slashed .341/.437/.650 with 14 home runs, a 16.3% strikeout rate and 12.6% walk rate while moving from left field to center field. Nivens crushed fastballs in the 2023 season, and against 92-plus mph velocity he made contact at a 92% clip and posted a 1.253 OPS, leaving little doubt about whether he has the bat speed to catch up to premium velocity. The 5-foot-11, 185-pound lefthanded hitter is loose in the box with quick hands and minimal pre-pitch movement, but with a fierce uppercut path through the zone that has translated to a lot of pull-side power. He’s not a massive slugger, and he doesn’t have the biggest pure exit velocities, but he has shown enough to project for solid power with solid pure hitting ability and fair overall bat-to-ball skills. Nivens can get out of the box slowly at times, with a lengthy finish to his swing, but he has turned in plus run times at his best, and looks like a solid-average runner overall who should be a fine defensive center fielder with below-average arm strength.

Top Rankings

Draft Prospects

School: Missouri State Source: 4YR

Commit/Drafted: Never Drafted
Age At Draft: 21.7
BA Grade:45/High
Tools:Hit: 50. Power: 50. Run: 55. Field: 50. Arm: 40.

Nivens redshirted during the 2021 season but was one of the team’s top hitters in 2022, when he slashed .346/.443/.542 with 11 home runs, 12 doubles and nearly as many walks (44) as strikeouts (45). Nivens did more of the same in his 2023 season and slashed .341/.437/.650 with 14 home runs, a 16.3% strikeout rate and 12.6% walk rate while moving from left field to center field. Nivens crushed fastballs in the 2023 season, and against 92-plus mph velocity he made contact at a 92% clip and posted a 1.253 OPS, leaving little doubt about whether he has the bat speed to catch up to premium velocity. The 5-foot-11, 185-pound lefthanded hitter is loose in the box with quick hands and minimal pre-pitch movement, but with a fierce uppercut path through the zone that has translated to a lot of pull-side power. He’s not a massive slugger, and he doesn’t have the biggest pure exit velocities, but he has shown enough to project for solid power with solid pure hitting ability and fair overall bat-to-ball skills. Nivens can get out of the box slowly at times, with a lengthy finish to his swing, but he has turned in plus run times at his best, and looks like a solid-average runner overall who should be a fine defensive center fielder with below-average arm strength.

Career Transactions

Quad Cities River Bandits activated OF Spencer Nivens from the 7-day injured list.
Quad Cities River Bandits sent OF Spencer Nivens on a rehab assignment to ACL Royals.
Quad Cities River Bandits sent OF Spencer Nivens on a rehab assignment to ACL Royals.
Quad Cities River Bandits placed OF Spencer Nivens on the 7-day injured list retroactive to April 16, 2024.
OF Spencer Nivens assigned to Quad Cities River Bandits from Columbia Fireflies.
OF Spencer Nivens assigned to Columbia Fireflies from ACL Royals.
OF Spencer Nivens assigned to Columbia Fireflies from ACL Royals.
OF Spencer Nivens assigned to ACL Royals.
Kansas City Royals signed OF Spencer Nivens.
OF Spencer Nivens assigned to College Workout.