Derek Shaver
| Evaluator: | Adam McInturff |
| Report Date: | August 18th, 2018 |
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Not many prep hitters from the Rocky Mountains wind up being ready to turn pro right after high school, but Shaver could be the exception to that rule. An extremely physical and athletic 6’4’’ and 205 pounds, his frame immediately stands out and has what I call the “big league look.” He plays shortstop for his high school team but projects as a third baseman at the next level. Shaver split time between first base and the hot corner at Area Codes, but I saw enough mobility and arm-strength to run him out as a third baseman to start in professional baseball. The developed muscularity in his frame gives him plus batspeed with a wood bat, and he shows pro-ready power potential with loud contact when he barrels the ball. For a hitter who hasn’t faced much advanced pitching to date, Shaver put together a handful of solid at-bats against high-level arms in Long Beach. There’s some current swing-and-miss, especially away from his body, and there will be a natural adjustment to come as he acclimates to better off-speed stuff overall. That said, the swing-path is short and strong, and his physicality, athleticism, and offensive upside give Shaver a chance to enter the spring as a follow for the first two days of the draft. As a cold-weather high school bat unlikely to see much quality competition in Colorado, how he performs this fall in Jupiter will influence his stock significantly. |
