Mahki Backstrom Stats & Scouting Report

AB	34
AVG	.088
OBP	.114
SLG	.118
HR	0

Full name Mahki Marcus Backstrom
Born 10/10/2001 in Hawthorne, CA
Profile Ht.: 6'5" / Wt.: 220 / Bats: L / Throws: L
School Junipero Serra
Drafted in the 18th round (547th overall) by the Atlanta Braves in 2019.

View Draft Report

Backstrom played in the Perfect Game National Showcase and the Under Armour All-America Classic last summer and finished his tour of the showcase circuit by posting the top exit velocity (108.6 mph) at the World Wood Bat Association Championships in Jupiter, Fla. The 6-foot-5, 215-pound Backstrom has impressive bat speed and plus raw power, but he’s still learning to translate his tools into production. He hit just .275 with five home runs playing middling high school competition this spring, and he often looked better in batting practice than in games. One of the youngest players in the draft class, his instincts and game awareness have a ways to go. Backstrom is a below-average runner and below-average defender at first base and left field, so he’ll need to get to his power more consistently moving forward. He is committed to Fresno State.

Top Rankings

Organization Prospect Rankings

BA Grade/Risk: 45/Extreme

Track Record: One of the youngest players in the 2019 draft, Backstrom had impressive bat speed and raw power but lacked refinement in all phases of the game. The Braves took a shot on his power potential and signed him for $400,000 in the 18th round, and in three years he's struggled to make contact but shown impressive impact when he does so. He hit 10 home runs with Low-A Augusta in 2022 but hit just .205.

Scouting Report: Backstrom is a large and physical, lefthanded-hitting first baseman listed at 6-foot-5, 220 pounds. The power that comes from that build is Backstrom's calling card, and he can boast some of the best raw power in the minor leagues, evidenced by a near 110 mph 90th percentile exit velocity mark that was the best in Atlanta's system in 2022. His contact ability is at the opposite end of the spectrum with his 45.9% whiff rate among the worst for Braves minor leaguers. He has a career 37.5% strikeout rate in Rookie ball and Low-A. Backstrom still managed to be an above-average hitter with a 117 wRC+ with Augusta, thanks to a 17% walk rate and solid eye. He provides little value defensively and on the bases, with a first base-only profile and well below-average speed.

The Future: Backstrom is a three true outcomes hitter who has eye-popping power potential, but it's hard to see him finding a way to access that power against upper-level arms without significantly improving his bat-to-ball skill.

Scouting Grades: Hit: 25. Power: 60. Speed: 30. Fielding: 40. Arm: 50.

Scouting Reports

BA Grade/Risk: 45/Extreme

Track Record: One of the youngest players in the 2019 draft, Backstrom had impressive bat speed and raw power but lacked refinement in all phases of the game. The Braves took a shot on his power potential and signed him for $400,000 in the 18th round, and in three years he's struggled to make contact but shown impressive impact when he does so. He hit 10 home runs with Low-A Augusta in 2022 but hit just .205.

Scouting Report: Backstrom is a large and physical, lefthanded-hitting first baseman listed at 6-foot-5, 220 pounds. The power that comes from that build is Backstrom's calling card, and he can boast some of the best raw power in the minor leagues, evidenced by a near 110 mph 90th percentile exit velocity mark that was the best in Atlanta's system in 2022. His contact ability is at the opposite end of the spectrum with his 45.9% whiff rate among the worst for Braves minor leaguers. He has a career 37.5% strikeout rate in Rookie ball and Low-A. Backstrom still managed to be an above-average hitter with a 117 wRC+ with Augusta, thanks to a 17% walk rate and solid eye. He provides little value defensively and on the bases, with a first base-only profile and well below-average speed.

The Future: Backstrom is a three true outcomes hitter who has eye-popping power potential, but it's hard to see him finding a way to access that power against upper-level arms without significantly improving his bat-to-ball skill.

Scouting Grades: Hit: 25. Power: 60. Speed: 30. Fielding: 40. Arm: 50.
BA Grade/Risk: 45/Extreme

Track Record: One of the youngest players in the 2019 draft, Backstrom had impressive bat speed and raw power but lacked refinement in all phases of the game. The Braves took a shot on his power potential and signed him for $400,000 in the 18th round, and in three years he's struggled to make contact but shown impressive impact when he does so. He hit 10 home runs with Low-A Augusta in 2022 but hit just .205.

Scouting Report: Backstrom is a large and physical, lefthanded-hitting first baseman listed at 6-foot-5, 220 pounds. The power that comes from that build is Backstrom's calling card, and he can boast some of the best raw power in the minor leagues, evidenced by a near 110 mph 90th percentile exit velocity mark that was the best in Atlanta's system in 2022. His contact ability is at the opposite end of the spectrum with his 45.9% whiff rate among the worst for Braves minor leaguers. He has a career 37.5% strikeout rate in Rookie ball and Low-A. Backstrom still managed to be an above-average hitter with a 117 wRC+ with Augusta, thanks to a 17% walk rate and solid eye. He provides little value defensively and on the bases, with a first base-only profile and well below-average speed.

The Future: Backstrom is a three true outcomes hitter who has eye-popping power potential, but it's hard to see him finding a way to access that power against upper-level arms without significantly improving his bat-to-ball skill.

Scouting Grades: Hit: 25. Power: 60. Speed: 30. Fielding: 40. Arm: 50.