Athletics Select Logan Davidson With The No. 29 Pick
Jun 3, 2019, 8:00 PM | Updated: 8:00 pm
(Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)
(Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)
The Oakland A’s selected the switch-hitting shortstop Logan Davidson out of Clemson with the No. 29 pick in the 2019 MLB Draft.
Davidson was the 22nd ranked player on MLB.com’s MLB Pipeline top 200. He graded with a hitting ability of 45, power of 50, a 55 speed, 55 arm, and a 55 fielding with an overall of 50 on the 20-80 scale.
On the 20-80 scale, 20-30 is well below average, 40 is below average, 50 is average, 60 is above average, and 70-80 is well above average.
Here’s the scouting report from Davidson’s page on the Pipeline website:
As a North Carolina high schooler, Logan emerged as an early-round prospect for a handful of teams late in the 2016 Draft process. He ultimately turned down the Phillies as 30th-rounder to attend Clemson, where his father Mark had played en route to a big league career. Much like former Clemson star Seth Beer, an Astros first-rounder in 2018, Davidson has confounded evaluators with the dichotomy between his success with metal bats (.939 OPS, 42 homers in two-plus years with the Tigers) and struggles with wood (.570 OPS, three homers in two summers in the Cape Cod League).
If scouts were convinced that Davidson will hit with wood, he’d likely be the first college shortstop drafted in June. A switch-hitter, he has some timing issues and a swing that tends to get long, leading to strikeouts. His strength and leverage already generate plus raw power, and he should have more as he fills out his lanky 6-foot-3 frame.
There are no holes in the rest of Davidson’s game. He produces solid to plus run times and uses his speed to steal a few bases and cover ground at shortstop. He’s tall for the position but should be able to remain there with his athleticism and strong arm.
