Skye Bolt

Position: CF
Level: AFL
Affiliate: Mesa Solar Sox
League: Arizona Fall League
Born: 01/15/1994 (Age: 30)
Height: 6'3"
Weight: 190
B/T: Both / Right
Acquired: 4th Rd., 2015 MLB First-Year Player Draft (OAK)

Prospect Spotlight

The Athletics popped the switch-hitting outfielder out of University of North Carolina in the 4th round of the 2015 amateur draft, inking him overslot for $650K. Since turning pro, Bolt has put up average offensive numbers, including 19 homers across two levels in 2018. After finishing the season with Double-A Midland, I saw Bolt play five games for Mesa upon being assigned to the Fall League.

Bolt’s strength at the plate is his knowledge of the zone, rarely expanding and showing a willingness to work counts. This deep-count approach will yield both walks and strikeouts, and against higher quality arms, he’ll strike out more given how frequently he gets to two strikes. He has average raw power from his stronger left-hand side, 45 from the right, and in games, his barrel-feel is also better as a lefty. He gets to some power by working ahead, occasionally jumping an early-count fastball, but he doesn’t project as a huge home run threat at the Major League level. Even from the left, his barrel-feel is fringy, yielding a future 45-grade hit tool with 40 game power. Bolt adds value on the defensive side, playing to average in CF and above-average in the corners. He has plus speed and gets solid jumps, able to close well on the ball. His average arm plays best in LF or CF, but it’s playable in RF for short stints.

Bolt enters 2019 as a Rule V eligible player, 25-years-old with about a half-season’s worth of Double-A at-bats under his belt. He doesn’t have the bat to profile as a regular, but the well-rounded toolset (take a walk, steal a bag, solid defense and baserunning contributions, switch hitter) gives the ceiling of a FV 45 bench outfielder.