SF Giants Top 31 Prospect Rankings: 2020 Midyear Update

SF Giants top prospects: No. 12 — 1B Logan Wyatt

Age: 22
Highest Level: Class-A (Augusta)
Acquired: Draft (2019)
Future-Value Grade: 40+

In the lead up to the 2019 MLB Draft, I was on the low side of Logan Wyatt as a prospect. However, like Casey Schmitt in 2020, once the Giants selected the first baseman and I looked into the pick, my perception shifted.

After looking deeper at the track record of collegiate first baseman as prospects I started to notice a trend. The best MLB first basemen selected out of college had profiles a lot more like Wyatt than you might expect.

Take a look at the college statistics of Max Muncy and Rhys Hoskins. While power is now their carrying tool, that wasn’t the case at all in college. Even Paul Goldschmidt showed good power, but nothing to make one think he would emerge as one of the best power hitters in the sport.

One trend connects all these players. While power output varied, everyone walked more than they struck out. It seems that the key was a foundation of strong plate discipline. Almost all drafted players with first baseman profiles have powerful frames. Given the recent developments in swing science, players have been able to make adjustments to maximize their strength.

Wyatt had arguably the best plate discipline in college baseball. Over his sophomore and junior seasons, he walked 131 times in 608 plate appearances and struck out just 84 times. His hit tool remains ahead of his power tool, and that showed at Louisville, the Cape Cod League, and his pro debut.

At the Cape last summer, Wyatt led the league in walks (29) while still managing to avoid strikeouts (24) over 168 plate appearances. He posted a respectable .305/.458/.438 line.

There’s potential for more pop. Even his manager at Louisville admitted he had asked Wyatt to be “greedier” at the plate. He has 50-55 grade raw power and if a swing adjustment could tap into more of that power with his approach, the makings of a Justin Morneau are there.

Giants scouting director Michael Holmes has claimed Wyatt has the necessary athleticism to be playable as a corner outfielder, but that seems a bit too hopeful for most prognosticators’ taste. While he’s a smooth athlete with soft hands and a solid arm that makes him an above-average first baseman, his 30-grade speed limits how much ground he can cover.

His pro debut was a bit underwhelming, especially considering his slightly advanced age for his class (he turned 22 last November). At the same time, Wyatt may be the kind of player who never tears up any minor-league level, but consistently produces around a .270/.380/.400 clip.

As is, Wyatt could probably reach the majors relatively quickly as an on-base machine with doubles power. More likely, they will want him to make adjustments to generate more life and that usually comes with growing pains.