| |
Physical Description:
Slightly undersized but well-built frame. Strong core, thick lower half.
Minimal physical projection remaining. Solid athlete.
Hit:
Compact swing. Wide base in stance. Starts vertical with a slightly open
stance and utilizes a short leg kick timing device. Has quick hands and is
loose at the plate. Possesses plus bat speed. Tracks the ball well. Swing
can get long, creating a hole on the inner half. Has a lot of
swing-and-miss at present. Still developing an approach, he is aggressive
early in the count, hunting fastballs and looking to pull the ball.
Susceptible to breaking balls, but pitch recognition has improved and
strikeout rate decreased as he has moved up the system. Ability to make
contact once suffered due to his tendency to sell out for power and try to
hit every pitch out of the park, but reined in that tendency to a
significant degree in 2017, leading to positive results. Has not
completely lost tendency to swing for the fences on occasion, and will pop
balls up as a result. Not a walker. Potential fringe-average hit tool.
Power: Could develop plus power, capable of hitting
25-plus home runs a year. Easy raw power comes from bat speed and ability
to barrel the ball with backspin. Has already shown in-game,
over-the-fence power, especially to the pull side. How much power
actualizes at the highest level will be determined by how his hit tool
develops.
Run:
Fringe-average runner. Won't be a major part of his game, but could steal 5-10 bases a
year mainly due to instincts.
Field: Not the most fluid defender. Footwork is choppy
and lets the ball play him at times. Hands work and has solid range. Has
the raw tools to be at least a fringe-average defender at third base, but
could have to move to the corner outfield or first base eventually.
Started playing first base in the 2017 Arizona Fall League. Played
shortstop initially after signing, but was moved off the position to third
base very soon thereafter. Began seeing time at first base in late
2018 and at second base in early 2019. Still early in his
development at those positions.
Arm: Plus arm, able to make all the
throws from third base, including deep against the foul line. |
|
Career Notes:
Committed to Clemson before signing. Played shortstop, third base,
and outfield in high school. Participated in 2014 and 2015 Fall
Instructional League. Missed six weeks of the 2016 season with a
left thumb injury, then broke a finger two weeks after coming
off of the DL and didn't tell the
team until September about the newer injury, leading in part to poor
numbers after a great start. An elbow injury originally suffered before
the start of the 2017 season put him on the DL for 11 days after playing
in the season opener and limited him to DH duty until early May. Did not
play back-to-back days at third base until the end of May. Improved
previously crude approach by taking meticulous notes about plate
appearances since 2017. A non-roster invitee to MLB Spring Training in
2018, suffered an oblique injury early in camp and was shut down.
Suspended for 80 games in april 2018 for violating the Minor
League Drug Prevention and Treatment Program. Had been a
consensus top 100 prospect in baseball prior to that. Showed
impressive power during MLB Spring Training in 2019.
Summation:
Has the potential to develop into an everyday regular. Needs to make major
strides defensively and continue to develop his approach and pitch
recognition. Will always be a bat-first player with potential for an
average hit tool and plus power. Bat would be an asset if he can stick at
third base long-term, but defensive struggles or team needs could push him to
first base or second base. Has already worked out at first base, although he is an awkward fit there due to his height. Really
confident player. Enthusiastic; enjoys playing the game. Hard worker.
Student of the game. Injuries have slowed his development.
Note: This page will be
updated with a complete scouting report after the scouting team
has seen the player in person.
Links
2014 Top 40 Season in Review (11.5.14)
Anxious Chavis opens spring training with... (3.18.15)
Scouting Scratch: Notes from the backfields (3.19.15)
Chavis Video from Spring Training 2015 (3.31.15)
Podcast: Interviews with Chavis and Longhi (8.21.15)
Scouting Scratch: Guerra, Chavis, Longhi (9.3.15)
The Write-Up: Chavis, Basabe, Espinal (10.23.15)
2015 Top 40 Season in Review
Notes from the Field: Espinoza, Chavis... (3.18.16)
Chavis optimistic after offseason adjustments (3.29.16)
Scouting Scratch: Basabe and Chavis (7.26.16)
Scouting Scratch (7.28.17) |
|
