Every Thursday leading up to the 2015 MLB Draft Perfect Game will provide detailed scouting reports, and video (when available) on 8-12 of the top players eligible. The first report each week will be available for free, the rest can be viewed with a PG Insider subscription. To learn more about Perfect Game's subscription packages and to sign up today please visit this link.
Prospects covered this week: Alex Bregman, Daz Cameron, Dakota Chalmers, Ian Happ, Juan Hillman, Tyler Jay, Nathan Kirby, Nick Plummer, Cody Ponce and Austin Smith.
Alex Bregman – SS
Height/Weight: 6-0/186
Bats/Throws: R/R
Birthdate: March 30, 1994
College: Louisiana State
Hometown: Albuquerque, N.M.
Projected Draft Round: 1
Alex Bregman is a performer. He’s long been in the business of proving people wrong, and he’s done since his days in the high school ranks. Bregman has never been known as the toolsiest player in the world, but he’s emerged as arguably the premier superstar in college baseball since he arrived at LSU three years ago.
Bregman has starred for the USA Collegiate National Team for two summers now, and he’s once again leading one of the elite teams in college baseball in 2015. Through his first 25 games, Bregman is hitting .327 with six home runs and 13 stolen bases. And, at this point in his career, those types of numbers don’t come as even the slightest surprise to scouts.
The most difficult tool to project for scouts is the hit tool, but Bregman is viewed by many as one of or perhaps the safest bet in the draft class to hit at the next level. The owner of an extra compact, lightning quick righty stroke, Bregman covers the plate well and is a line drive hitter to all fields. And, particularly this spring, he’s become an especially potent power threat on mistake pitches inside. He’s had some of his best moments against premium velocity, and he’s simply a very difficult hitter to get out the same way twice.
But, the questions around Bregman tend to center around his position. There are some scouts who believe he may have to move off shortstop and slide over to second base. That camp seems to be the minority this spring, however, as Bregman has seemingly won over a majority of the scouting world. Bregman has a step above average speed, but will never be known as a burner. He steals bases on baseball intellect, and that same intellect serves him well at shortstop. There are shortstops with more pure range and raw arm strength, but Bregman’s footwork and positioning may be second to none in college baseball. He knows how to circle the ball in the hole and maximize his arm strength.
Also worth noting is that Bregman has just one error in his first 25 games this spring. That’s not to say errors are indicative of defensive prowess, but it also speaks loudly to the consistent and mistake free brand of baseball Bregman plays.