Brady McConnell

Organization Prospect Rankings

• 
  Ranked Kansas City Royals #17 prospect in 2020
  TRACK RECORD: McConnell got off to a good start in his first pro season, but then went out for two weeks with a hip flexor injury less than a month into his time in the Pioneer League. He wasn't the same hitter when he came back. His season ended for good when an errant groundball caught him in the head, giving him a concussion that kept him out through the fall instructional league.
  
  SCOUTING REPORT: McConnell has a well-rounded skill set, possessing an intriguing blend of plus raw power and plus speed. The ball makes a different sound when he barrels it up, thanks to strong, quick hands. There's plenty of swing-and-miss to his approach. While he's a shortstop now, it's more likely that McConnell moves around the field in the future, with the athleticism, arm strength and footwork to play multiple positions in a super utility role.
  
  THE FUTURE: McConnell should head to low Class A Lexington after spring training. Expect him to get time around the field to see if that super utility projection still fits.

Draft Prospects

• Ranked #59 prospect in 2019 draft
  In 2017, McConnell was rated the No. 39 draft prospect out of Merritt Island (Fla.) High due to an elite set of tools, headlined by plus-plus running ability and defensive potential at shortstop. However, his inconsistencies throughout the summer and spring of his senior year allowed teams to pass on him until the Reds drafted him in the 33rd round. He reached campus at Florida, where he struggled (.136/.136/.273) and played in just nine games despite being the highest-ranked position player to make it to campus. In his draft-eligible sophomore season, McConnell has played much closer to what his pedigree and toolset would suggest, leading Florida batters in batting average (.354) and home runs (10) through his first 46 games. He's added around 10-15 pounds of muscle since arriving to Gainesville and now has plus raw power to go along with his plus running ability and plus arm strength. However, scouts are still puzzled with McConnell, as they question his true hitting ability--he struck out 41 times and walked just 15 times through his first 170 at-bats--and cite the many mechanical tweaks that McConnell makes at the plate. Additionally, some scouts think he'll be forced to move off of shortstop, as the game speeds up on him at times, and he still lacks the sort of consistency and focus that a shortstop needs to show at the next level. While he does have plus speed, his internal clock seems to be a bit off at the position, and he struggles to get his feet set properly at times. Still, his production in the SEC will leave lasting impression for evaluators, and there is no doubting the impact tools that he brings to the field every day.
• Ranked #39 prospect in 2017 draft
  Following the Tournament of Stars in June, many evaluators thought McConnell would blossom into a top 10 pick. He had shown all the tools to stick at shortstop, he was an elite runner, and he had hit well against some of the top prep arms in the country. As the summer unfolded, however, McConnell tired out and didn't perform to the same level. In the spring time, McConnell's hot-and-cold nature continued; he'd show flashes of top-of-the-draft tools while scouts concerns about his present strength and how he'd hold up over a full season persisted. At the National High School Invitational, McConnell showed above-average body control, range and hands at shortstop in addition to above-average to plus arm strength. At his best, McConnell shows some of the best bat speed in the class, and he's developed more power as he's begun to fill in his wiry 6-foot-1 frame. He is a 70 runner and can reach first base in 4.1 seconds. McConnell is a day one talent, but he's committed to Florida and is not expected to be an easy sign. A team could take a shot on him later in the first round or try to sign him to an overslot bonus later in the draft. McConnell will be 19 on draft day, making him old for the class, but he would be a draft-eligible sophomore if he were to enroll at Florida.

Minor League Top Prospects

• 
  Ranked Pioneer League #11 prospect in 2019
  The Royals' 2019 second pick, McConnell started strong after reporting to the Pioneer League, posting a .794 OPS over the first half of the season. He then missed more than two weeks with a hip flexor injury and wasn't the same player when he returned, with his second half numbers dropping substantially. McConnell was later sidelined for the rest of the season after suffering a concussion in late August. It wasn't exactly the type of pro debut he wanted, but the signs are there for McConnell to have a resurgence next year. Even dating back to his one year as a regular at Florida, McConnell possesses an intriguing blend of plus raw power and plus speed. He's got strong, quick hands with power that makes a different sound when he barrels up the ball, but he'll need to improve his approach to cut down on his swing-and-miss tendencies. McConnell's athleticism, arm strength and footwork should allow him to play multiple positions in a super-utility role, similar to the Royals' Whit Merrifield, but that projection will depend on the development of his hit tool.

• July, 2020 Scouting Report
  TRACK RECORD: McConnell got off to a good start in his first pro season, but then went out for two weeks with a hip flexor injury less than a month into his time in the Pioneer League. He wasn’t the same hitter when he came back. His season ended for good when an errant groundball caught him in the head, giving him a concussion that kept him out through the fall instructional league.
  
  SCOUTING REPORT: McConnell has a well-rounded skill set, possessing an intriguing blend of plus raw power and plus speed. The ball makes a different sound when he barrels it up, thanks to strong, quick hands. There’s plenty of swing-and-miss to his approach. While he’s a shortstop now, it’s more likely that McConnell moves around the field in the future, with the athleticism, arm strength and footwork to play multiple positions in a super utility role.
  
  THE FUTURE: McConnell should head to low Class A Lexington after spring training. Expect him to get time around the field to see if that super utility projection still fits. BA GRADE 45 Risk: High BA GRADE 50 Risk: Extreme BA GRADE 50 Risk: Extreme
• February, 2020 Scouting Report
  TRACK RECORD: McConnell got off to a good start in his first pro season, but then went out for two weeks with a hip flexor injury less than a month into his time in the Pioneer League. He wasn't the same hitter when he came back. His season ended for good when an errant groundball caught him in the head, giving him a concussion that kept him out through the fall instructional league.
  
  SCOUTING REPORT: McConnell has a well-rounded skill set, possessing an intriguing blend of plus raw power and plus speed. The ball makes a different sound when he barrels it up, thanks to strong, quick hands. There's plenty of swing-and-miss to his approach. While he's a shortstop now, it's more likely that McConnell moves around the field in the future, with the athleticism, arm strength and footwork to play multiple positions in a super utility role.
  
  THE FUTURE: McConnell should head to low Class A Lexington after spring training. Expect him to get time around the field to see if that super utility projection still fits.
• December, 2018 Scouting Report
  The Royals' 2019 second pick, McConnell started strong after reporting to the Pioneer League, posting a .794 OPS over the first half of the season. He then missed more than two weeks with a hip flexor injury and wasn't the same player when he returned, with his second half numbers dropping substantially. McConnell was later sidelined for the rest of the season after suffering a concussion in late August. It wasn't exactly the type of pro debut he wanted, but the signs are there for McConnell to have a resurgence next year. Even dating back to his one year as a regular at Florida, McConnell possesses an intriguing blend of plus raw power and plus speed. He's got strong, quick hands with power that makes a different sound when he barrels up the ball, but he'll need to improve his approach to cut down on his swing-and-miss tendencies. McConnell's athleticism, arm strength and footwork should allow him to play multiple positions in a super-utility role, similar to the Royals' Whit Merrifield, but that projection will depend on the development of his hit tool.
• December, 2018 Scouting Report
  In 2017, McConnell was rated the No. 39 draft prospect out of Merritt Island (Fla.) High due to an elite set of tools, headlined by plus-plus running ability and defensive potential at shortstop. However, his inconsistencies throughout the summer and spring of his senior year allowed teams to pass on him until the Reds drafted him in the 33rd round. He reached campus at Florida, where he struggled (.136/.136/.273) and played in just nine games despite being the highest-ranked position player to make it to campus. In his draft-eligible sophomore season, McConnell has played much closer to what his pedigree and toolset would suggest, leading Florida batters in batting average (.354) and home runs (10) through his first 46 games. He's added around 10-15 pounds of muscle since arriving to Gainesville and now has plus raw power to go along with his plus running ability and plus arm strength. However, scouts are still puzzled with McConnell, as they question his true hitting ability--he struck out 41 times and walked just 15 times through his first 170 at-bats--and cite the many mechanical tweaks that McConnell makes at the plate. Additionally, some scouts think he'll be forced to move off of shortstop, as the game speeds up on him at times, and he still lacks the sort of consistency and focus that a shortstop needs to show at the next level. While he does have plus speed, his internal clock seems to be a bit off at the position, and he struggles to get his feet set properly at times. Still, his production in the SEC will leave lasting impression for evaluators, and there is no doubting the impact tools that he brings to the field every day.