Red Sox select Jagger Rusconi with their fifth-round pick

With their fifth-round pick, the 141 overall pick in the 2015 MLB First-Year Player Draft, the Red Sox have selected Jagger Rusconi, a center fielder from West Ranch HS, in Santa Clarita, California. Perfect Game USA rated Rusconi as the 193rd best player in the draft, while Baseball America ranked him at 322.

Rusconi was one of the best high school position players in Southern California this season according to Baseball America. The 6-foot, 180 pound switch hitter displayed a good amount of power with 11 home runs his senior year. Much like other switch hitters, his swing is not identical from both sides, with more power from the right-hand side, and more of a line drive swing from the left-hand side. Overall, he is an offense-first player, with above-average speed in addition to his offensive ability.

The Red Sox announced Rusconi as a center fielder, signifying that is where they see him playing going forward. He was a shortstop in high school, though Baseball America said they believe he would ultimately move to either second base or the outfield. Likewise, Perfect Game USA lists him as a second basemen. His speed combined with an average arm gives him a chance to stay up the middle of the field defensively.

At almost 19 years old, he is old for a high school draftee, and is committed to the University of Southern California.

Scouting info was compiled from industry publications including Baseball America, Perfect Game USA, and MLB.com.

Photo Credit: Jagger Rusconi by MaxPreps.com

Will Woodward is a Staff Writer for SoxProspects.com. Follow him on Twitter @SPWill.

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