Mario Zabala

Draft Prospects

• Ranked #119 prospect in 2020 draft
  Zabala is overflowing with tools and physicality, giving him plenty of upside if he can refine his game. At the moment, scouts don’t see much in the way of in-game instincts with Zabala and question his offensive and defensive ability because of that. Zabala has three plus tools in his running ability, arm strength and raw power, but all of those tools show up more in showcase and workout environments than games. While he has impressive bat speed and a smooth swing from the right side that shows off power to center field and the pull side in batting practice, Zabala can look entirely different against live pitching. He is often overly aggressive and swings through fastballs up in the zone and offspeed offerings down. Defensively he has the tools to play all three outfield positions, but his best fit is likely in a corner, where he’ll still need to improve his route-running ability and decision making on his throws. Zabala’s arm can be a weapon with continued refinement. His throws have terrific power and carry, but his accuracy is erratic at times and he’s prone to overthrowing his targets. Zabala is a solid runner on the bases, with an aggressive mindset that puts pressure on pitchers and catchers, and the ability to take an extra base on balls hit in the gaps. If a team decided to take a chance on Zabala and sign him out of a Florida International commitment, he would likely move slowly in a minor league system.