Joe Gray

Joe Gray - Scouting Report


Rank History
Year Team Position Team Rank OFP
2021 MIL OF 20 40

Grades Update: Jan 2021
OFP Role Hit Power Field Arm Run
40 40 40 50 50 55 55

Jan 2021 Report

Evaluator: Joe Drake

Age: 21 yr
Height: 6-1
Weight: 195 lbs
Hits/Throws: R/R
Acquired: 2018 Round 2
RuleV: 2022

Physical Description: Strong, lean, and athletic build with wide shoulders and long limbs. Looks taller than listed 6'1. Frame is close to maxed out, but has a little projection left. Muscular thighs and butt, wide back, square shoulders. High waist. Built like a wide receiver. Severe hamstring strain in 2019.

Hit: Upright stance with a shoulder-width base, open by a half step. Hands are head-high at the back shoulder with a moderate circling motion before coming to a stop. Bat angled at 45 degrees over the shoulder. Torso slightly coiled. Loads with a low leg kick that hangs and steps at the pitcher. Hands drop down and back, chest high. Swings hard; downward bat path. Aggressive at the plate; attacks the first pitch frequently, swings at most pitches in the zone. Frequent swing and miss, fails to square up pitches regularly. Fair knowledge of zone; frequent check swings. Works a surprising amount of walks given his aggressiveness. Can battle with two strikes, but typically ends up putting the ball in play. Currently well below-average, but has feel for the strike zone and good swing that should allow him to find more success if he can refine his approach. Grade: 40

Power: Live body and strength give him a chance to get to plus raw power. Likely above-average at present, but he struggles to utilize it in games. Contact issues and poor pitch selection keep him from squaring up and driving the ball. When he does connect, the ball really jumps off his bat. Legs will help him stretch for extra bases here and there. Hit tool development will drive the outcome. Grade: 50

Field: Good reads and instincts give him solid range that might allow him to stick in center if he doesn't outgrow his speed. Occasional miscues. Routes get adventurous at times, but is always able to recover and make the play. Has a better chance to stick in center than you might guess at first glance, but will need to maintain his above-average speed and improve routes. Otherwise, he's an above-average RF. Grade: 50

Arm: Solid carry from center to cutoffs. Very little if any tail. Gets into position to throw when he's able, gets his body into the throw. Enough arm for anywhere in the outfield. Grade: 55

Run: Good runner; long strides cover a lot of ground. Needs a couple steps to get up to speed. Aggressive on the basepaths; will reach for an extra base any time he sees an opening -- stole home on a pickoff to first. May lose a step depending on how much he fills out in his 20s. Grade: 55

Overall: Potential center fielder with big pop. Gray has the look of a classic high-risk, high-reward, athletic prep hitter who struggles with good pitching early in his career. He could even stick in center if he doesn't fill out much more. The ceiling is tantalizing as a power-hitting CF who anchors a lineup, but the floor is just as low as a big RF who whiffs too often and ends up as org depth. His solid defensive skills will help balance his profile a bit and should help him stick in the majors in a bench role.

OFP: 40
Role: 40 - Below-Average Player: Bench or Platoon
Risk: Extreme