I’ve already covered a handful of 2021 draft prospects who spent this summer in the Northwoods League. Now, I’ll highlight a few players a year further from pro ball who are worth keeping an eye on.
Robert Moore, Arkansas SS
Moore was off to an otherworldly start to his college career, hitting .317/.403/.444 in his first month as a Razorback. He was equally successful this summer. Moore slashed .303/.417/.437 in 33 games in the Northwoods League. He’s small, listed at 5’9” with a really narrow frame. But Moore’s such a gifted, quick-twitch athlete that he generates a ton of bat speed despite his size. From both sides of the plate, he’s got a steep uphill bat path that allows him to make airborne contact. Between his short levers and bat speed, he should have no problem handling big velocity. That plus-plus athleticism translates to the defensive side of the ball, as well. Moore has really solid actions at shortstop and is rangy enough to stick there. He’s not all that dissimilar from the player Ozzie Albies was at the same age.
Brooks Lee, Cal Poly SS
Like Moore, Lee was one of the top prep prospects in the 2019 draft to make it to campus. A hamstring injury cost him the abbreviated season at Cal Poly, but he was back in action this summer. He’s more polish than huge tools. Lee showed really advanced infield actions and a plus arm; there’s no reason to think he can’t stick at shortstop long-term. He’s got a conservative, contact-oriented approach but he’s certainly physical enough to hit for power with a swing tweak.
Pablo Ruiz, Central Florida OF
Ruiz showed some big offensive upside. He’s pretty physically advanced, so I’m not sure there’s a ton of projection, but he’s already got above-average bat speed and pull-side raw power. He’ll need to tighten up the plate discipline (he had just nine walks against 46 strikeouts) but there’s a chance for a potent hit-power combination down the line. Ruiz had a couple tough reads in the outfield in my look, but he was primarily an infielder in high school, so increased reps should help him settle in defensively, likely in the corners.
Parker Noland, Vanderbilt 3B
Noland’s a hit-over-power corner infielder. He’s seemingly added a little bit of good weight in his lower half since high school but he’s still not overly physical. Nevertheless, he does generate above-average bat speed. An extremely flat bat path currently limits his extra-base output. Regardless, Noland’s a polished bat with advanced strike zone feel and could be a small swing tweak away from adding some offensive impact.
Bryce Matthews, Arkansas RF/Ryan Marra, Brown 1B
Matthews and Marra are pretty similar players. Each is a left-handed hitter with big raw power projection on a tall, long-levered frame. They each profile as three true outcomes sluggers down the line. Marra probably has a little bit better plate discipline than Matthews does at the moment. Matthews, though, has the more overt physical projection in his lower half thanks to a high-waisted build. I think it’s fair to prefer either one as a prospect, although Matthews has the more obvious path to a high draft status as an SEC player.