Bubba Chandler Scouting Report

Player Name: Bubba Chandler

Position: RHP

Team/Organization: Indianapolis Indians/Pittsburgh Pirates

Height: 6'2''

Weight: 200

Age: 22

Bats/Throws: S/R

Notes:

Bubba Chandler might just be my favorite right-handed pitching prospect in 2025. The 22 year old stands 6'2'' with an average fastball of 96.7 and two great breaking ball pitches. In his pitching arsenal, Chandler has a 4-seam fastball, slider, 12-6 curveball, and a changeup. My two favorite are the fastball that blows by the hitters and his 12-6 curveball that makes hitters look silly when they swing and miss. In 2024, Chandler posted a 3.08 ERA with a WHIP 1.02 across two teams and an impressive 1.83 ERA in 39 innings with the triple A Indians. This kid so far is showing a lot of promise in the minors so far and is looking to be a dominant starting pitcher for Pirates here soon. Posting a 11.13 K/9 through 119.2 innings is very solid, however his BB/9 is a 3.08 and seems to lose control of at-bats. He doesn't give up many hits and rarely gives up the long-ball.

I absolutely love his pitching mechanics. It is a very smooth transition from the windup to home plate and carries excellent balance towards the plate. He has an over-the-top release point that all four of his pitches come out of and has great pitching tunneling to mask the pitches. The way he pitches certainly looks a lot like Dylan Cease of the Padres. Same release point and similar pitches who racks up a ton of strikeouts.

This 2025 season should be a good one for Chandler. I don't see him making the opening day roster, but he can very well be a call-up later in the year, like Skenes, and fit right into this young Pirates rotation. He has the potential to be part of a young three-headed monster in Pittsburgh with Paul Skenes and Jared Jones, not to mention having a veteran Mitch Keller in the rotation as well. There's still some things he needs to work on, such as control and walk rate, but he has the pitching arsenal to compete in the show.

Projection:

MLB Comparison: Dylan Cease

Potential Role: Number 2 all-star starter with potential to be an ace

Developmental Needs: Work on controlling counts, limit walks, and utilize the breaking balls and off-speed pitches more often.

Kristian Campbell Scouting Report

Player Name: Kristian Campbell

Position: 2B/SS/OF

Team/Organization: Worcester Red Sox/Boston Red Sox

Height: 6'3''

Weight: 191

Age: 22

Bats/Throws: R/R

Notes: 

One of Boston's top prospects Kristian Campbell looks to take another huge step in his development this upcoming 2025 season. Currently listed as the #7 prospect on MLB's top 100, this kid can do it all. Drafted in the 4th round out of Georgia Tech, hitting .376 with an OPS of 1.033, he has certainly panned out to be the steal of the draft in 2023 so far. Looking to replicate his 2024 season slashing .330/.439/.558, I'm sure Campbell is ready to improve on that. While he doesn't have the best arm or glove, he can outright hit and run at the second-base position. Gathering a 20-20 season in 2024 through 3 leagues, those numbers can easily jump and get better when he gets to the majors. Only 22, he has amazing baseball IQ on the basepaths and gets good jumps on stealing bases. He plays a versatile defense having games played at 2B, SS, 3B, and CF; with most of his games at the middle infield positions. While his strikeout rate was around average last season, his chase and whiff rate had great percentages, ranking 90+ for both of them. This shows how great of a contact hitter he is and how well this will progress into. Not to mention, his walk rate also ranked in the 90th percentile with his short stint in triple A.

His hitting style draws similarities to Yuli Gurriel in my opinion. Campbell does however start his foot more in and opens up a bit when swinging, but the finish in the swing is very similar. The swing draws a very contact approach in my opinion and will get you your home runs, but there's nothing I would tweak about it just yet, given that his hitting numbers have been phenomenal. While his hitting is similar to that of Yuli Gurriel, he runs the bases similarly to Nico Hoerner of the Cubs. This can really translate into a weapon to have at the 2B position with the potential of a possible 30-30 season.

With Campbell at 2nd, Mayer at SS, and Anthony at CF; this Boston team is going to be looking really good in 2-3 years. The amount of talent that each one of these prospects possess is absurd. Campbell can easily be called up to the show if he starts out hot and if Boston has struggling platoon players in their middle infield and corner outfield spots. Overall, Campbell has had tremendous growth in the minors so far and is knocking on the door for the majors.

Projection:

MLB Comparison: Yuli Gurriel, Nico Hoerner

Potential Role: All-star player, with potential MVP votes.

Developmental Needs: Work on fielding to keep errors low and build a stronger arm that would be desirable at the MLB level for the shortstop and third-base position.

Walker Jenkins Scouting Report

Player Name: Walker Jenkins

Position: OF

Team/Organization: Wichita Wind Surge/Minnesota Twins

Height: 6'3''

Weight: 210

Age: 19

Bats/Throws: L/R

Notes:

Walker Jenkins is an absolute stud and only at 19 years old standing at 6'3'', 210 pounds, he has the potential of being an top 3 centerfielder in years to come. There aren't many guys I would consider five tool athletes, but he fits every category in my opinion. At the AA level currently, he has been flying through the Twins system putting up big time hitting numbers in rookie ball and at the single A level. He has great power in his swing and his contact on getting base hits is already at an above average level. He can steal bases decently, but with more games and experience under his belt, he'll be flying around every chance he gets. His fielding can be developed a little more, but he has the potential to become an everyday gold glove/silver slugger outfielder for the Twins. He hasn't had much of a full season with any team so far in the Twins system, with the most amount of games coming from one team at 34. I'm really excited for what's to come from Jenkins in this upcoming 2025 season. I do want to see how he plays with one team for 100+ games to get a more accurate description on him settling in a grove.

He has a very a smooth swing with good hands and hip rotation. A benefit of his that will carry well into the majors is his ability to hit the out from all sides of the field. I can see why the Twins are having him speed-run through the minors. Elite talent everywhere. 

Projection:

MLB Comparison: Kyle Tucker, Cody Bellinger

Potential Role: Everyday starting all-star outfielder

Developmental Needs: Experience in playing everywhere in the outfield. Could be a corner outfielder.

Marcelo Mayer Scouting Report

Player Name: Marcelo Mayer

Position: SS

Team/Organization: Worcester Red Sox/Boston Red Sox

Height: 6'3''

Weight: 188

Age: 22

Bats/Throws: L/R

Notes:

Marcelo Mayer, like Carson Williams, is another stellar shortstop prospect from the same draft looking to make the opening day roster this upcoming season. Standing in at 6'3'', 188 pounds, he plays a smooth game. He's had his ups and downs throughout the minors since being drafted with the #4 overall pick back in 2021 by the Boston Red Sox, but finished his 2024 campaign with the Portland Sea Dogs decently well before being shut down in August due to injury. He shows average speed in my opinion as it isn't a huge part in his game. I would consider it serviceable at the shortstop position similar Geraldo Perdomo and Trevor Story to where I would grade him a 50. His hitting is his strongest attribute as he slashed a .307 BA, .370 OBP, and .850 OPS in 300 AB's to where I would give him a 60 grade on hitting with a high ceiling and his power at 55 grade slugging .480. His fielding is a little above average with a decent arm, but I can see him potentially moving to second base later in his career, similar to Xander Bogaerts.

As far as his hitting mechanics, I really like them. He's smooth and comfortable at the plate on his swings and shows great bat speed with good hip rotation and balance to follow suit. For me, draws similarity to Corey Seager hitting. Keeps hit is short to the baseball and drives his front foot.

I think in 2025, Mayer has a real shot at making the opening day roster with the Red Sox this upcoming season. With Trevor Story's injury past and the second base position running platoon, Mayer could find himself in the show sooner than expected. He'll definitely be in the top percent of hitting when he reaches the majors and could have potential on hitting for the batting title. If he stays healthy and keeps his hitting hot, he'll be up in the majors in no time. 

Projection:

MLB Comparison: Xander Bogaerts, Corey Seager

Potential Role: Everyday player, could be utilized at both middle infield positions, potentially third base, if necessary.

Developmental Needs: Improve speed and fielding while also maintaining his upward trending hitting performance.

Carson Williams Scouting Report

Player Name: Carson Williams

Position: SS

Team/Organization: Montgomery Biscuits/Tampa Bay Rays

Height: 6'2''

Weight: 180

Age: 21

Bats/Throws: R/R

Notes:

Carson Williams is one of my favorite 22 years and under prospects who has a high ceiling in 2025 and has a chance to make it to the league later in the season and potentially make the opening day roster with a strong spring training. His arm is his strongest attribute in my opinion and his power has come a long way since being drafted in 2021. His fielding is also another great attribute of his that I would grade a 65 and his is speed is an underrated part of his game that I think can be a sneaky tool for him in the majors that I would grade a 60. This past season at the AA level, he posted a .256 BA, .353 OBP, and a .821 OPS with 20 home runs in 433 AB's. He also tacked on 58 BB and 144 strikeouts in 505 PA's. My only concern for Williams is his plate discipline as high strikeout numbers don't often translate well into the majors. I do believe that with enough experience they will get better and his walk rate vs strikeout rate will change in the opposite way.

I like his hitting mechanics for the most part, stays open in his stance and comes closed when the pitch is coming. He keeps his back foot locked into the ground, has great hip rotation, and keeps his swing path flat and straight to the ball. The one thing that bugs me a bit is that is hands are high above his head to start and comes down when the pitch arrives, but if that's what makes him comfortable, then no need to change it. Overall, I love how calm and relaxed he his at the plate and his swinging motion is fluid throughout with great bat to ball skills.

I'm excited to see what Williams has in store this upcoming season. Only 21 years of age and he's panning out to look like a 20-20 player every season in the majors with a ceiling of 30-30 consecutively every year. He certainly has a bright future ahead of him and I can definitely see him become the everyday shortstop for the Rays very soon.

Projection:

MLB Comparison: Francisco Lindor

Potential Role: Everyday starting shortstop

Developmental Needs: Work on plate discipline to create more walks to boost that on-base percentage and cut down the high strikeout numbers

Druw Jones Scouting Report

Player Name: Druw Jones

Position: OF

Team/Organization: Visalia Rawide/Arizona Diamondbacks

Height: 6'4''

Weight: 180

Age: 21

Bats/Throws: R/R

Notes:

Druw Jones is an interesting prospect to me. Shows great skills in the outfield with a tremendous arm and glove along with a 70+ speed grade. Standing at 6'4'', 180 pounds, this makes him primed to be a stellar athlete in the show. However, his bat is my biggest concern for him. In Single-A this past season he posted a .275 BA, .409 OBP, and .813 OPS in 109 games for the Rawhide, but racked up 132 strikeouts. For me personally, I would grade his power at 40 and hitting/contact at 45. Hitting 6 home runs in 378 AB's is certainly below average power for me, especially now when the game has shifted towards more power hitting. Against RHP, he accumulated 106 strikeouts over 306 AB's. Against LHP, he had 26 strikeouts over 76 AB's. I don't think this will translate well into the MLB. However, he did have 85 BB and posted a .409 OBP which translates to working counts and getting on-base at an effective level.  Now to the hitting mechanics...

One thing I never understood why the Diamondbacks took Jones with the #2 overall pick in 2022 is that even though overall his talent projection looked amazing, his hitting mechanics looked awful to me and not even close to a professional level. This is something you assumed the Diamondbacks organization can fix by now, but they haven't yet. He keeps leaking his front foot and staying open across the batters box when the pitch is coming and lifts his back foot when he makes contact with the ball, losing significant power and contact ability. This should be a simple fix for Jones, keeping the front foot in, staying closed, and keeping the back foot locked down and not dragging it across the batters box. This makes him uncompetitive for an away fastball and backdoor breaking balls. A similar player in the MLB I see hitting like this, especially with the back foot, is Dansby Swanson, and he is always racking up his strikeout numbers. I think this definitely correlates with high strikeouts numbers. As a right-handed pitcher facing Jones, I would utilize the slider and fastball away and sometimes fastball high and in for effective strikeouts numbers.

Even though only 21 years old, Druw Jones has a lot of time left to develop into the player everyone expects him to be, an elite outfielder with above average speed and a solid bat. Although Jones has had many setbacks with injuries in the past, he still needs time to grow. I don't see him being in the show anytime soon, and as far as what the Diamondbacks should do with him, I would say to give him 2-3 more healthy years. If there isn't much growth or change over that time, I would ship him off. I'm curious to what's in store for him in 2025.

Projection:

MLB Comparison: Dansby Swanson, Jose Siri

Potential Role: Platoon player or bench role.

Developmental Needs: Keep front foot in and don't lift the back foot when hitting the baseball.