Baseball Prospectus | | Eyewitness Scouting Report


	Josh Naylor Born: 06/22/1997 (Age: 19)
	Bats: Left	Throws: Left
	Height: 5' 11"	Weight: 250
	Primary Position: 1B
	Secondary Position: DH

Body: Average height, stocky build, compact musculature, carries extra padding in the middle, thick lower half; first base-only frame

Swing: Wide, straight-on base, deep crouch; fairly large hand load, takes a big stride into the pitch, gets too heavy on his front foot; noisy swing at present, aggressive hacks, natural hitter who trusts his hands

Evaluator	Adam McInturff
Report Date	07/08/2016
Dates Seen	5x April - June 2016
Affiliate	Greensboro Grasshoppers (Low A, Marlins)

MLB ETA	Risk Factor	OFP	Video
2019	High	50	Yes

Tool	Future Grade	Report
Hit	45	Streaky hitter, present issues recognizing spin, struggles to make consistent contact against same-side pitching; shows rhythm and loose hands, but limited present ability to track secondary pitches; will over-swing, frequently expands the zone down with two strikes; has time to make adjustments, fringe-average projection at highest level
Power	55	Plus raw power, won't play up to full utility in games; ball flies off the barrel to all fields with ease, home run carry from pole to pole, notable opposite-field power for a young hitter; carrying tool, should get to above-average in prime, potential for 20+ home run seasons
Baserunning/Speed	35	Below-average runner, portly body and thick lower half limit projection; speed not a part of his game
Glove	50	First base-only body, already has significant experience playing there, displays comfort, good lower-half flexibility on the long stretch; stays calm on bad throws at the dirt, ability to make the back-hand pick and start double-plays
Arm	45	Fringy arm that rarely comes into the equation throwing first to third

Ceiling: regular first baseman
Floor: platoon power off the bench

Naylor is a bad-body first baseman with power and hitting tools you can't teach. There's lots of natural loft and strength in his swing, and he consistently shows power to both fields. He has held his own all year in full-season leagues as a young player assigned aggressively. He has demonstrated an ability to make adjustments as the year has progressed, and showed big flashes of power and some hitting ability. All the pressure is on his bat, but the offensive tool set and left-handed power gives him the best-case ceiling of a regular first baseman at the highest level. His aggressive approach and issues with same-side pitching leave the floor as that of a platoon player or a bat that gives a jolt of power off the bench.