SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. -- The top-rated prep position player in the 2020 Draft, outfielder Zac Veen went ninth overall to the Rockies. The pandemic delayed his pro debut until 2021, when he batted .301/.399/.501 with 15 homers and 36 steals in 106 games while leading the Fresno Grizzlies to the Low-A West finals. We caught up with him right after he played in his first big league Spring Training game, going 1-for-2 with a walk and a steal against the Diamondbacks.

Jim Callis: Kind of a big day for you. You played in your first big league Spring Training game and got on base twice. What was that like?

Zac Veen: My first game and I got a couple of good at-bats. It was definitely cool to see all the fans, be able to play in front of that many people, that kind of atmosphere. So it was definitely exciting. It was fun to get out there.

Callis: You came into pro ball in the middle of the pandemic, after a truncated high school senior season, and it wasn't a normal acclimation where you went to Rookie ball. Yet you had a pretty impressive pro debut last year. What was something that was more difficult than you thought it might have been?

Veen: I think the mental side of the game was definitely something I wish I was more prepared for. And I think that's honestly the biggest part of the game. You've always got to continue to learn. So I'd say that was the biggest surprise if you want to call it that.

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Callis: Was there anything that was a little easier than maybe you would have thought?

Veen: I'd say there's nothing easy about this game. So I think trying to celebrate everything that happens and even the little accomplishments is a big deal.

Callis: What kind of development goals do you have for this season?

Veen: I'd say to be the most productive player I can be and doing whatever I can do to help the team win every day.

Callis: I like to ask guys to kind of self-scout. If you were breaking yourself down as a player, how would you? How would you describe your five tools?

Veen: I'd say they're all pretty good. I work hard at all of them. And I try to be the best well-rounded player I can be.

Callis: What do you think your best tool is? And what do you think needs the most work?

Veen: I'd say I'm a pretty good hitter but the game is humbling. So you never want to get too high or too low.

Callis: That's fair. We'll give you that one. What do you think you need the most work on at this point?

Veen: I would say honestly just learning the ins and outs of the game. And the daily grind. I went through it last year for a little over 100 games, but every year those games are going to keep rising and you're going to keep playing more.

Callis: You came out of the same Draft as Drew Romo. You guys played together last year. I assume you'll play together at the start of this year and it seems like you guys will come through the Minors together. Did you know him much from the showcase circuit?

Veen: I actually played a few tournaments with him on my travel team, the Scorpions. It was pretty cool being able to go into pro ball with them with somebody you know.

Callis: Does it make it easier? He also went high in the Draft and he's going through a lot of the same experiences.

Veen: It's definitely good to have somebody that you can relate to in kind of all aspects. It's really good to go through that season together and grind with them.

Callis: And your personalities kind of play well off each other. I was talking to [Rockies farm director] Chris Forbes today and he described you as someone who works but has more of a laid-back type of personality and Drew as very focused and on all the time.

Veen: I think we balance each other out pretty well. I think both of us have strengths and weaknesses. When I need to get on some stuff, he's always there to help me, and when he needs to loosen up a little bit, I'll always be there for him.

Callis: I remember being at the College World Series in 1995 and seeing Todd Helton's face when he found out the Rockies drafted him and started thinking about hitting in Coors Field. What was your reaction?

Veen: I'd say Coors Field is probably the best hitter's park I could have went to. They develop really good hitters, and I'm happy with how everything turned out.

Callis: Fans are always asking us about comparisons. So we've been asking player, what's your favorite guy you've been compared to?

Veen: That's a tough one. I think it's cool to be compared to Cody Bellinger and Christian Yelich and those guys, but I want to be my own player, honestly. I want to be able to be the best Zac Veen I can be.