The MLB draft is a special time for teams and players alike. Teams use this time to restock their farm systems and find talented players that will help the organization for years to come. For the player, it is a memorable day like none other. The dream of playing in MLB becomes much more realistic once a player’s name is called. One such player hoping to be selected in the 2019 draft is outfielder Corbin Carroll.
Corbin Carroll 2019 MLB Draft Profile
Carroll is a senior outfielder for Lakeside High School in Seattle. The UCLA commit is projected to be a first-round pick in the draft. His 5’10” frame does not jump off the page, but he is still only 18 years old and still has a little time to grow. His career high school numbers are a .450 batting average with 22 home runs and 101 RBI. This past season he batted .540 and had an OPS of 1.859.
Carroll is repeatedly called the most polished high school hitter in this year’s draft class. He has what is described as “sneaky” power, as he can hit the ball farther than expected. As he grows, his power will certainly increase. Corbin Carroll is considered a five-tool player who has been successful everywhere he has played. He also has been described as having a very high baseball IQ.
Strengths
Carroll has a quick and balanced swing. He is patient and has a good understanding of the strike zone. The left-handed hitter can spray the ball to all fields. He ran the 60-yard dash in 6.33 seconds and has spent much of his high school career leading off, so he is willing to take walks and let his speed do damage on the basepaths. Carroll also gets out of the box quickly, and with his speed and left-handed hitting, he keeps the infielders on their toes.
Defensively, his speed translates to center field, although he can play all three outfield positions. He is regarded as an outstanding defensive player with a solid arm. His low power numbers translate to center field, even though he will hit with more power if his body fills out. Carroll plays with a lot of energy to go along with his many baseball skills.
Weaknesses
At times Carroll’s swing can be flat, so he hits more ground balls then desired. Carroll needs to add more loft to his swing to generate more power. At 5’10” and weighing in the 160-pound range, that is considered small, not just undersized. Consequently, there are still minor concerns on how much bigger he will get. Carroll will turn 19 just seven weeks after the draft. That is considered old for a prep player and also seems old for a player to get bigger.
MLB Comparision
Andrew Benintendi is a player he is mostly compared to. Benintendi is listed at 5’10” and 170 pounds, and he also bats and throws left-handed. Their skill sets are almost identical. Benintendi has a 162 game average of 19 home runs and 91 RBI with 21 stolen bases and is considered one of the best young players in the game.
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