Scouting the 2020 Draft: Jordan Walker

Jordan Walker 3B, HS.  B-R, T-R.  6'5", 210 lbs.

One thing that makes draft scouting fun is finding unexpected things when you click on a name that shows up on a list.  It's kind of like opening presents at Christmas.  When you do it for awhile, a lot of these kids start to have a certain sameness about them.  Then there are kids like Jordan Walker who make you almost gasp when you see the video.  He's unusually tall for a left-sided infield prospect but athletic enough to stay at 3B long term.  On the other hand he has enough speed to play CF with an arm good enough to pitch.  He literally could play any position on the field except catcher.

By the numbers, Walker runs a 6.56 60-yd dash with 93 MPH FB velocity off the mound, 92 MPH IF velocity and 100 MPH Exit Velocity.  PG describes him as "long and strong" with "plenty of room to get stronger."  He's got a fairly simple set up and swing, but as with all tall hitters, the natural length could be a problem.  I've read comps to Jayson Werth.  He reminds me of Jo Adell from a couple of drafts ago.  Love this kid.

I wonder if Farhan Zaidi's faith in player development might make him more likely to draft high upside kids like this?  I mean, why invest in all those player development people if you aren't going to leverage that into drafting kids with sky high ceilings then trusting the development guys to get them there?  If that's the strategy, I could see the Giants going against the grain and drafting a Zac Veen or Jordan Walker at #13 if they are there due to teams ahead of them taking safer college players.  Walker could be a tough sign, though, as he is reportedly an excellent student with a verbal commitment to Duke.

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DrB's Updated 2020 Draft Board:

1.  Austin Martin SS, College(Vanderbilt).
2.  Spencer Torkelson 1B, College(Arizona St).
3.  Emerson Hancock RHP, College(Georgia).
4.  Cole Wilcox RHP, College(Georgia).
5.  Jordan Walker 3B, HS.
6.  Zac Veen OF, HS.
7.  Robert Hassell OF, HS.
8.  Pete Crow-Armstrong OF, HS.
9.  J.T. Ginn RHP, College(Mississippi St).
10.  Jared Kelley RHP, HS.
11.  Mick Abel RHP, HS.
12.  Austin Hendrick OF, HS.
13.  Cade Cavalli RHP, College(Oklahoma).