Finley Bates Season 2024

PRIOR TO COLLEGE: Graduated in 2023 from Douglas County High School in Castle Rock, Colorado, where he earned four varsity letters for head coach Craig Gienger… Earned first-team all-Continental League honors following his sophomore and senior campaigns, collecting his team’s Most Valuable Player award in both seasons… Hit .430 in 48 games during his prep career, racking up eight homers, 16 doubles and 41 RBIs, according to MaxPreps… Also scored 54 runs and stole 10 bases… Led the Huskies in numerous categories as a senior, including batting average (.433), OPS (1.344), hits (26), RBIs (24), runs (21) and triples (3), garnering first-team Colorado High School Activities Association all-state accolades… Additionally took home his team’s Silver Slugger award that season… Topped the squad with a .433 batting average and a 1.197 OPS after 10 games as a junior before suffering a season-ending injury… Hit .424 with a 1.270 OPS and 14 RBIs as a sophomore, posting team highs in hits (25), runs (20), home runs (4) and doubles (8)… Was rated as the No. 2 shortstop in Colorado and the No. 5 player overall in the state by Perfect Game for the 2023 high school graduating class… Also received a No. 56 national ranking at his position and was listed No. 265 among the website’s Top 500 recruits overall… Garnered first-team preseason all-West Region accolades prior to the 2023 campaign from Perfect Game after meriting the same distinction the previous season… Landed on numerous all-tournament teams at Perfect Game competitions, including the 2023 18U MLK South Championship in Tomball, Texas, where he was named the event’s Most Valuable Player as a member of the Colorado Dawgs club program… Also played for the Colorado Rockies scout team from 2019-22… Chose the Aztecs over the likes of Air Force, Brigham Young, Santa Clara, Wichita State and Xavier.

PERSONAL: Born in Wheat Ridge, Colorado… Son of Jason and Lisa Bates… His father, Jason Bates, played four years at the major-league level with the Colorado Rockies from 1995-98… Enjoys weightlifting, watching movies, playing cards, video games and hanging out with friends… Lists St. Louis Cardinals third baseman Nolan Arenado as his favorite athlete… An undeclared major who hopes to pursue a professional baseball playing career.