With the 2018 MLB Draft quickly approaching, many teams are gearing up to select the player they hope can prosper into a star, and get them a World Series title. Teams can find anything from rare gems in the later rounds to busts in the first round. In this Last Word On Baseball Draft Profile, we take an in-depth look at outfielder Jameson Hannah.
Jameson Hannah 2018 MLB Draft Profile
Hannah comes into the draft out of Dallas Baptist University. This school has never had an MLB position player drafted in the first three rounds, let alone the first round. Jameson Hannah will most likely change all of that come Monday. Hannah is a junior, which is a little later than what seems to be the normal time for this draft, but that should have no effect on his draft position as he is ranked as the 32nd best prospect by MLB Pipeline.
Strengths
According to a scouting report done by MLB Pipeline, Hannah’s biggest strength is his running ability. His hitting is also a big strength in Hannah’s game where he has improved his power immensely during his college career and could easily become a monstrous power hitter in MLB. His fielding is also incredible which will help him no matter what side of the outfield teams decides to play him at. One thing that has really impressed scouts about Hannah is his plate presence. He is able to control the plate with a furious gusto.
Weaknesses
Hannah’s biggest weakness is his arm strength, which could give him some trouble in the outfield depending on where he goes. But if he winds up playing his familiar position in center, this won’t end up being as big of a problem. His power is still a little weak, but as mentioned, it is an aspect of his game that is drastically improving and will continue to improve.
Final Thoughts
Hannah is clearly a first round talent in this draft. He has the ability to be able to drive the ball as he proved during his time in college. His freshman year, Hannah hit an impressive .332 batting average with 4 home runs and 37 RBI. In his sophomore year, Hannah seemed to start to figure out his power game as he hit 9 home runs. He also hit .328 with 38 RBI. Hannah’s power would slightly decrease his junior year with 6 home runs, but he would hit for his highest average as he batted .363 as well as driving in 48, another college career high for Hannah. In his latest mock draft, MLB Pipeline’s Jonathan Mayo has him going to the Cleveland Indians with the 35th pick.
Mayo does acknowledge that Hannah could be gone before this pick, but for the Indians, this pick could be a steal if Hannah falls this far. With their star outfielder Micheal Brantley aging quickly, and an outfield that also consists of a 33-year-old Melky Cabrera and a potential star in Bradley Zimmer, the Indians desperately need outfield depth. But wherever Hannah lands, he will make history for his college and may make history in the MLB in the near future.
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