| |
Physical Description: Stocky,
thick frame. Catcher's build with a visibly strong lower half.
Pretty close to maxed out physically.
Hit:
Starts slightly closed and crouched with his hands high. Brief
leg lift timing device. Gets his whole body into his swing and
whips the bat through the zone, generating impressive bat speed.
Swing has some length. Approach and pitch recognition need work.
Needs to improve swing decisions and chases at a high rate.
Struggles against breaking balls and with left-handed pitching,
but so far has shown the ability to hit velocity. Potential
below-average hit tool.
Power: Plus-plus
raw power. When he makes contact, hits the ball very hard and
has recorded exit velocities that are among the best in the
system. Has shown the ability to hit the ball a long way,
especially to the pull side. Power is an MLB-caliber tool, but
how it actualizes in-game will depend on how his hit tool
develops.
Run: Well below-average
speed. Not a part of his game.
Field:
Ability to control the running game is ahead of his receiving
skills. Unlikely to stick behind the plate long-term. Will be
limited to first base or designated hitter if he moves off of
catcher and has already started to see a lot of playing time at
both positions. Actions are on the stiff side and is still
learning the nuances of framing and gamecalling. Does not move
well laterally and struggles at blocking balls in the dirt.
Potential well below-average defender behind the plate.
Arm: Above-average arm strength. Will put up
average to fringe-average pop times. |
|
Career Notes: Father, Paul, was a fourth-round
pick of the Mariners in 1990, spending four years in pro ball.
In 2022, led all high school hitters in home runs and runs
batted in with 20 HR and 91 RBI in 34 games. Was committed to
North Carolina before signing. High School team won the 2-A
State Championship in 2021 and 2022. Was set to participate in
the 2022 Fall Performance Program that was canceled due to
Hurricane Ian. Participated in the 2023 Fall Performance
Program. Has missed significant time due to injuries and for
other reasons in his first two full seasons. Played just 17
games in 2023, ending his season on July 14, in part due to
injuries, including a bone bruise on his hand, and in part due
to off-field reasons including a death in his family. Named to
the 2024 Spring Breakout roster but did not play. Opened the
2024 season on the 60-day injured list and missed the first two
months after having his left knee scoped. Was also limited to
DH/1B duty for a period of several weeks in July/August 2024 due
to shoulder soreness. Participated in the 2024 Arizona Fall
League. Started in the 2025 Spring Breakout and Futures at
Fenway South games, at DH and catcher, respectively.
Summation: High-variance prospect who has
struggled to stay healthy in his pro career and faces
significant questions defensively, but shows at least one very
intriguing tool that could play at the MLB level. Has
upside if he can stick behind the plate due to his
power, which is among the best in the system, but questions
regarding his hit tool and defense cloud his projection. If he
is unable to stick at catcher, which currently seems likely,
would be limited to first base or designated hitter, putting far
more pressure on his hit tool to improve and allow him to tap
into his impressive power. Needs to make more contact and chase
less in order to allow his power to play to its potential.
Links
Red Sox select Brooks Brannen with ninth-round pick
(7.18.22) |
|
