March 14, 2022 at 8:00 AM
Scouting Report Updates: Brandon Howlett, Stephen Scott, Frank German and Hudson Potts
For the last few months, we've been updating the scouting reports of many players in the system. Over the next few weeks, we will highlight these updated reports. Today's update focuses on the players ranked 50-53 in the current SoxProspects Rankings: Brandon Howlett, Stephen Scott, Frank German and Hudson Potts. These scouting reports are written by Director of Scouting Ian Cundall.
Physical Description: Strong, sturdy frame. Has some projection remaining in his upper body. Looks the part.
Hit: Starts vertical and open and utilizes a high leg kick. Average bat speed. Brings hands up and down during his load, which can cause his swing to get out of sync. Will take a walk, but has a lot of swing-and-miss in his game and has posted strikeout rates over 30 percent in full-season ball. Will expand the zone against breaking balls and struggles with velocity up in the zone due to the length in his swing. Potential below-average hit tool.
Power: Plus raw power. Potential average power in-game. Strong, has the ability to drive the ball, especially to the pull side. Ability to tap into power will be tested by inconsistent hit tool.
Run: Below-average speed. Not a major part of his game.
Field: Soft hands, below-average range. Fundamentally sound, professional defender and will make the plays on balls at him, but struggles when he has to move. Potential fringe-average defender.
Arm: Average arm strength. Not a stand-out arm, but strong and accurate enough for third base.
Career Notes: Was committed to Florida State before signing. Saw immediate gains in pitch recognition after being fitted for proper contact lenses after signing and had something of a breakout debut as a result. Participated in the Fall Instructional League in 2018 and 2020.
Summation: Potential bat-first organizational player. Ceiling of a bench bat if hit tool improves. Will show several average-ish tools, but lacks a carrying tool. Needs to cut down significantly on strikeouts in order to tap into his power more effectively.
Physical Description: Short, sturdy frame. Very strong, stocky build. No remaining projection.
Hit: Starts square and utilizes a short, leg lift timing device. Average bat speed, smooth swing. Direct to the ball, keeps the barrel in the zone a long time. Has swing-and-miss in his game, but also will take a walk. Knows the strike zone and has some feel for recognizing spin. Potential fringe-average hit tool.
Power: Above-average raw power. Average game power. Can lift the ball and drive it with some authority, especially to the pull side.
Run: Well below-average speed. Passable speed for his size.
Field: Long-term, best suited for a utility defensive role. Reportedly, will primarily catch in 2022. Played catcher, first base, and corner outfield in 2021. Caught some in college and began working out at the position before games in his 2019 pro debut. First began catching in pro games in 2021. Scouts are skeptical that he can stick behind the plate long-term. Lacks mobility and clearly looks like someone who just started playing the position. Profiles better defensively at first base or in the corner outfield. Surprisingly agile for someone with his build and has soft hands.
Arm: Fringe-average arm.
Career Notes: Also played football in high school. Was not drafted out of high school. Spent four years at Vanderbilt, winning the College World Series with the Commodores in 2019. Signed for a below-slot bonus, but a solid one for a day two college senior. Participated in the Fall Instructional League in 2019 and 2020. Lived with teammate Joe Davis in a trailer during the 2021 season and the two, dubbed the "Meatball Gang," held weekly cookouts for teammates on Monday off days. Participated in 2022 Winter Warm-Up.
Summation: Profiles as a solid organizational player. Can play first base and corner outfield adequately and is now getting significant run at catcher. Type of player every organization needs. If he continues to hit, has a chance to make it as an up-and-down emergency bench bat.
Physical Description: Sturdy right-hander who has filled out considerably over the last few years. Minimal remaining projection.
Mechanics: Throws from a high-three-quarters arm slot. Long arm action with lots of moving parts. Slight trunk twist before coming forward. Effort in delivery. Has had trouble repeating delivery over longer outings.
Fastball: 97-98 mph. Tops out at 99 mph. Below-average command. Velocity has increased in pro ball. Sat in the low-mid-90s as a starter, but velocity jumped considerably after moving to the bullpen. Potential plus-to-better offering with refined command.
Changeup: Best secondary pitch. Has improved since he got into pro ball and provides a nice compliment to his fastball. Still needs refinement and improved consistency. Potential average offering.
Slider: Lags behind changeup. Average potential at best.
Career Notes: Velocity spiked during the Conference tournament of his draft year and stock rose, leading the Yankees to draft him in the 4th round. Named First Team All-Conference in his sophomore and junior years at North Florida. Participated in 2022 Winter Warm-Up.
Summation: Potential up-and-down middle-reliever with the ceiling of a middle reliever, but looked improved in all facets during September 2021 bullpen stint. If he consistently shows improved stuff and command displayed in that stretch over a longer period of time, projection will change.
Note: This page will be updated with a complete scouting report after the scouting team has seen the player in person.
Physical Description: Large, sturdy frame. Looks the part, well proportioned. Minimal remaining projection. Below-average athlete, on the stiff side.
Hit: Starts slightly open with his hands by his shoulders. Utilizes a leg lift timing device. Swing is on the stiff side. Below-average bat speed and length in swing cause him to have a lot of trouble catching up with high fastballs. Pitch recognition is below-average. Struggles especially with quality breaking balls. Will take a walk on occasion, but approach needs refinement. Lot of swing-and-miss in his game, especially on pitches within the zone. Will be tested by more advanced pitching and has to show he can hit velocity. Potential below-average hit tool.
Power: Plus raw power. Power is primarily to the pull side, but will flash all-fields power on occasion. Hits the ball hard, but could stand to add more loft to his swing. Has the potential for solid-average in-game power, capable of hitting 25 home runs a year in his peak. How his power actualizes will depend on how his hit tool develops.
Run: Well below-average runner. Not a part of his game.
Field: Soft hands, but lacks fluidity in the field. Can make the routine plays at third base, but struggles to move laterally. Does not seem to read the ball off the bat well and has slow reactions. Below-average range. Looks better suited for first base or left field. Potential below-average defensive profile at third base.
Arm: Above-average arm, plenty for third base.
Career Notes: Went by Hudson Sanchez until 2016, when he took his stepfather's last name. Signed for more than $1 million under slot with San Diego in 2016. Was advanced aggressively through the minors by the Padres, reaching Double-A at age 19 in his second full season. Acquired in Mitch Moreland deal along with Jeisson Rosario at the 2020 trade deadline and reported to the Alternate Training Site. Was on the roster at the 2020 Fall Instructional League but did not participate in games. Was added to the 40-man roster in November 2020 to protect him from selection in the Rule 5 Draft; 40-man logjam in San Diego was part of what made him available. Missed the first month of the 2021 season with an oblique injury suffered in Major League Spring Training.
Summation: Projects as a power-first organizational bat. Has the ceiling of a bench major leaguer, but has a ways to go to reach his potential. Biggest question mark is whether he can hit enough to tap into his power potential. Has to refine his hit tool and cut some of the swing-and-miss out of his game. Took a step back after being aggressively promoted to Double-A. Although initially extremely young for the league, has continued to struggle with high-minors pitching. Needs to show he can handle third base to reach his potential, as his bat profiles better there than first base or left field.
Photo Credit: Brandon Howlett, Stephen Scott, Frank German and Hudson Potts by Kelly O'Connor.
Ian Cundall is Director of Scouting for SoxProspects.com. Follow him on Twitter @IanCundall.