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Physical Description: Tall,
athletic frame with substantial remaining projection. Has plenty
of room to add muscle as he physically matures without
sacrificing any athleticism. Considered one of the top athletes
in the 2023 draft class. Those who saw him as an amateur noted
in 2024 that he looked less athletic and explosive.
Hit: Starts upright and slightly open with his
hands high. Toe-tap timing device. Quick hands and solid bat
speed. Has strong wrists and really whips the bat through the
zone. Swing is unorthodox, leading to some inconsistencies at
the plate, but has also had stretches of making a lot of hard
contact. Performance at the plate in 2024 was very concerning,
showing an extreme amount of swing-and-miss in the zone en route
to posting a nearly 44 percent strikeout rate. Solid knowledge
of the strike zone for his age and does not chase out of the
zone much. Could take some time to adjust to professional
pitching, but has the raw tools you look for. Potential
below-average hit tool.
Power: Will show
at least above-average raw power. Has shown the ability to
produce high exit velocities and drive the ball over the fence.
How power actualizes in-game will depend almost entirely on his
ability to significantly improve on his ability to make contact
in the zone
Run: Average speed. Was
timed at 6.3 seconds in the 60-yard dash in high school, but has
gotten slower in pro ball and likely will continue trending down
as he physically matures.
Field:
Potential average defensive profile. Premium athlete who looked
good at whatever position he has played as an amateur. Has
played only shortstop as a professional despite the team saying
he would also be exposed to center field when he was drafted.
Fluid actions and good range, but might get too big for
shortstop depending on how he physically matures.
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Arm: Above-average arm strength. Plenty for the
left side of the infield or the outfield.
Career
Notes: Was named MVP at the 2022 MLB Breakthrough
Series. Originally committed to Miami but reopened his
recruitment in February 2022 and committed to Arkansas that
October before eventually signing. Played for Team USA's 18U
team in 2022. Impressed at the 2023 MLB Draft Combine. Signed
for a significantly over-slot bonus. Participated in the 2023
Fall Performance Program. 2023 season ended roughly three weeks
early due to a hamstring strain. Reinjured his hamstring in
spring training 2024, missing most of April, then the injury
recurred in his sixth game back, costing him another two-plus
weeks. Struggled mightily in 2024 when he was on the field,
putting up very concerning strikeout numbers in particular.
Summation: Seen as a premium athlete with
five-tool potential when drafted, but has a long way to go
developmentally and his performance in 2024 raised significant
questions about his future potential. Despite once showing tools
that made him an extremely intriguing talent, there is now a
question of whether he will hit enough to get out of the low
minors. Struggled in his debut, but has the potential to become
a very exciting two-way talent. Strong work ethic and great
makeup. How much he hits will go a long way to determining his
future upside and it is unclear where he will settle on defense.
At either shortstop or the outfield, has the type of athleticism
and upside teams are always searching for.
Links
Red Sox select Zanetello with No. 50 overall pick (7.9.23) |
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