Evaluating Baltimore Orioles Prospect Josh Hart

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Drafted by the Orioles in the 1st round, 37th overall, in the 2013 MLB Draft out of a Georgia high school, the 20-year-old Hart has long been recognized as one of the top hitting prospects in the organization. Baltimore selected him because of his outstanding athleticism and pure speed, with the hope he would develop into a strong defensive centerfielder who batted atop the lineup.

In the field Hart plays an outstanding center field and projects as a potential plus defender in the future. Hart has excellent speed along with solid instincts for the position, allowing him to have impressive range while cover plenty of ground in the outfield. He possesses a fringe-average arm with a quick release and shows good accuracy. Like most young outfielders he could use additional repetitions to improve his routes and anticipation, but Hart profiles as a role “6” defender.

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Offensively Hart lags significantly behind his talents on defense and the basepaths, posting a .247/.288/.298 batting line in nearly 950 career minor league at-bats. This left-handed hitter is listed at 6-1 180lbs with the potential to add some mass as he matures. That said Hart does not project to hit for much, if any, power in the future, putting a great deal of pressure on his bat-to-ball skills and hit tool.
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Hart has loose, quick wrists and shows some quality bat speed during his swing; however, he has excess length in his swing and his lower body has plenty of excess movement. These flaws make it difficult for him to consistently make contact, let alone hard, powerful contact. He is still raw and quite young for the level of competition, giving some hope he can refine his swing in the future. These challenges make it difficult to project Hart as better than a future “40” hitter with “20” power unless he makes significant changes at the plate.

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Josh Hart is a difficult prospect to properly profile, as his pure speed and defense in center field give him two plus tools. Unfortunately Hart is struggling mightily with the bat in A-ball, a major concern considering he is still three levels from the majors. His youth and athleticism has me thinking he can make the necessary adjustments to his swing, but now his future toward the major leagues depends on his offensive development.

If he can make the necessary adjustments, one can still envision a light-hitting centerfielder who impacts the game on the bases and defensively. If not, there is a strong chance his career stagnates at the Double-A level. Hart remains a solid prospect in Baltimore’s farm system, but 2016 will be a vital year in his career development.