A third round draft selection by the Phillies in 2019 out of Benedictine Prep, a military school in Virginia, shortstop Jamari Baylor signed his first pro contract for a reported $675,000 and put his significant tools on display during his brief initial minor league stint.
In four games in the rookie level Gulf Coast League, five-foot-11 190-pounder sported a .273 average with a pair of doubles. His playing time that season was limited due to an undisclosed ailment.
Baylor was initially slated to take part on the Australian Baseball League this winter, but did not make the trip down under in time for the season. He trained at Driveline Baseball this off-season and got some game action at Fall Instructs in Florida as well.
With a loose approach at the plate, Baylor generates plenty of bat speed and squares up well on pitches. Many project the right-handed hitter to develop more of a power stroke as he advances in his career.
A speedster, Baylor could certainly become a stolen base threat and trouble opposing batteries.
Brandishing a plus arm, Baylor has quick feet and solid range. He possesses the ability to stick at shortstop as he climbs the developmental ladder.
Full season Class A should be the destination for Baylor to open this coming season. It will be critical for the talented youngster, who missed an entire season of baseball last year, to get a campaign worth or reps in 2021. Baylor's certainly a significant distance from reaching the big leagues, but if he progresses at a pace similar to how he projects, it won't be long before he factors into the team's future plans.
You can keep tabs on this year's Phillies prospects countdown by clicking on this link.
Comments