Ryan Wright Stats & Scouting Report

Full name Ryan Taylor Wright
Born 12/03/1989 in Fort Wayne, IN
Profile Ht.: 6'1" / Wt.: 200 / Bats: R / Throws: R
School Louisville
Drafted in the 5th round (175th overall) by the Cincinnati Reds in 2011 (signed for $225,000).

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Wright's best tool is bat, which he showed last summer when he led the U.S. college national team with a .361 average, including a .458 mark at the World University Championship. He has a smooth righthanded stroke, making consistent line-drive contract. The 6-foot-1, 194-pounder has fringy raw power and speed, yet he has reached double figures in both homers and steals in each of the last two seasons. He has good hands at the plate and in the field, and his instincts enable him to play above his tools. He has started at five positions--second base, shortstop, third base, left and right field--at Louisville, and projects as either an offensive second baseman or a utilityman. His arm and range are average at best, but he makes all the routine plays. Wright started slowly this spring but rallied to carry the Cardinals down the stretch, and he may have played his way into the second round in the process.

Top Rankings

The Reds have a recent history of drafting productive college middle infielders, with Justin Turner, Paul Janish, Zack Cozart and Chris Valaika all reaching the majors. The latest in that line is Wright, a fifth-round pick last June who signed for a slightly above-slot $225,000. A three-year starter at Louisville who led the U.S. college national team with a .361 average in 2010, he has many similarities to Valaika. As with Valaika, Wright's ultimate role as an everyday second baseman or a utilityman depends on how well his bat develops. His smooth swing allows scouts to project him as a plus hitter, but he has fringy raw power and speed. He gets the most out of his physical ability, however, reaching double figures in both homers and steals as a sophomore and junior. Wright has average range and arm strength at second base, with his sure hands being his best defensive tool. He made only two errors in his 41-game pro debut. His tools may scream utilityman, but his feel for the game allowed him to exceed expectations during his amateur career. He'll probably open his first full pro season in low Class A but could push his way to a midseason promotion.

Wright hit .349 at Louisville as a three-year starter, and he led the U.S. college national team last year with a .361 average. Geared to hit for average with strong contact skills and a smooth righthanded swing, he finished one hit shy of .300 in his pro debut. Wright's power and speed grade out as fringe-average, yet he popped seven home runs in 40 games for the Mustangs and stole six bases in seven tries. Similarly, he topped double digits in homers and steals as both a sophomore and junior with the Cardinals. His coordination and instincts allow him to play above his tools on both offense and defense. He committed only one error in 37 games at second base, where his range and arm rate as average. "He makes the routine plays, but is a little funky looking on defense," Helena manager Joe Ayrault said. Wright profiles as an everyday second baseman, and he also has the versatility to serve as a utilityman after starting at five different positions at Louisville.