The MLB draft is a strange blend of magic and reality. A player is getting a taste of the dream they have chased, but just a taste. Unlike the NBA and NFL drafts, anyone selected in the MLB draft is usually a few years away from contributing. There are no instant stars here, no Lebron James stepping in to change the face of a sport. It may happen, but not yet. However, every dream has a beginning, and Bryson Stott is hoping that his begins this year.
Bryson Stott 2019 MLB Draft Profile
Bryson Stott is a junior shortstop for UNLV. He was named to the Freshman All-American Team in 2017 and was named a third-team All-American in 2018. He has unconventional throwing mechanics for a shortstop, so his future there is uncertain, though it is generally believed that his glove will play. That said, Stott’s calling card is his bat.
Stott stands 6’3″ and weighs close to 200 pounds. He has posted a three-year slash line of .340/.433/.515 with 109 walks against 81 strikeouts, numbers that should see his name called in the first round.
Strengths
As a junior, Stott has begun to tap into his power. After hitting one home run as a freshman and four as a sophomore, Stott collected 10 this year. He did that in 30 fewer at-bats and without sacrificing plate discipline or speed. For the season, Stott slashed .356/.486/.599 with 20 doubles, 10 home runs, 36 RBI, 16 steals, and 55 walks to 39 strikeouts.
Stott is an elite hitter. The plate discipline and potential future at shortstop will see him drafted. Adding burgeoning power and strong contact skills to the mix makes him a near certainty to go toward the top of the first round.
According to MLB.com, scouts give a solid 60 grade to Stott’s hit tool, noting that even when he is fooled and off-balance, he has shown the ability to keep his hands back and go to left field. All of his tools rate at least average on the 20-80 scale, with power coming in at 45, and field, run and throw all at 55.
Weaknesses
Stott’s all-around game is fairly solid. If there is a concern, it is his ability to stick at shortstop. He moves well, and both his glovework and footwork suggest he can play the position. The concern generally lies with his arm. He throws with a very short, almost shot-put style arm motion. While that has not been a problem yet, there are concerns that it will affect his accuracy at some point. As such, it is possible that teams will look to change his mechanics or move him off of shortstop in the future.
MLB Comparison
One of Stott’s most frequent comparisons is Brandon Crawford. Both are left-handed hitters who play an old-fashioned style of baseball, favoring contact over selling out for power. However, Stott’s plate discipline is vastly superior to Crawford’s, and Crawford’s glovework has been his calling card. While it would be a dream, Stott’s college stats and plate discipline align nicely with what Alex Bregman did in his tenure at LSU. With Brandon Crawford as a floor and Alex Bregman as a ceiling, Bryson Stott should stabilize some lucky team’s middle infield for the foreseeable future.
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