Davis Wendzel

Organization Prospect Rankings

• 
  Ranked Texas Rangers #16 prospect in 2021
  TRACK RECORD: Wendzel won the Big-12 Conference co-player of the year award with Josh Jung in 2019. The Rangers drafted both when they selected Jung eighth overall and Wendzel 41st overall after the season. Wendzel got into only seven games after signing, but he spent time at the alternate training site in 2020 and finished in instructional league.
  
  SCOUTING REPORT: Wendzel's instincts at the plate and defensive versatility stand out the most about him. He controls the strike zone and makes quality swing decisions, which results in hard contact. The Rangers are confident he will rap plenty of doubles and believe there are more homers in his bat than they did a year ago. His defense isn't an issue, other than finding him a spot. He can play second base, third base and shortstop at an average clip as well as across the outfield. He played some center at the alternate site. He has the plus arm to fit in multiple spots.
  
  THE FUTURE: Wendzel's status as a polished college hitter should serve him well. He has a chance to move quickly alongside fellow top picks Jung and Justin Foscue.
• 
  Ranked Texas Rangers #15 prospect in 2020
  TRACK RECORD: The Rangers used the No. 41 selection in the 2019 draft to take Wendzel, who at 22 was old for his class but consistently performed at a high level for Baylor.
  
  SCOUTING REPORT: Wendzel's swing has some length to it, and he drops his hands to begin his load but is usually on time to make contact, with his ability to recognize pitches and control the strike zone helping to make it work. His power is below-average, with gap shots and occasional over-the-fence pop, but he will probably need to develop at least average power to project as an everyday player. A fringe-average runner, He has the potential to become an above-average fielder at third base. He's a reliable defender with secure hands, good instincts and an above-average arm. He played some shortstop at Baylor, and while he doesn't project to play there long term, the Rangers plan to give him time at third, shortstop and second base.
  
  THE FUTURE: Wendzel's defensive ability should help him get playing time, with an assignment still to be determined for 2020. Developing more power will be key for Wendzel as he faces better competition.

Draft Prospects

• Ranked #55 prospect in 2019 draft
  A teammate of 2017 No. 1 pick Royce Lewis at California's JSerra High, Wendzel quickly found his home at Baylor. The hirsute Wendzel boasts one of the fullest beards and longest mullets in college baseball, making him easily recognizable. Big 12 coaches have noticed his consistent ability to barrel baseballs, and he's also proven to be one of the most reliable defenders in the conference. Scouts liked Wendzel last year as a draft-eligible sophomore, but he was clear about his intentions to return to Baylor for his junior year. That's why he slid to the 37th round to the Red Sox. He'll likely not make it out of the second round this year, as he's a well-rounded third baseman with a lengthy track record of hitting. Wendzel has more hitting ability than power, although evaluators believe he has the potential to get to average power eventually. He projects as an above-average hitter despite a less than picture perfect swing. There's some length to his front arm as he begins his swing by dropping his hands in the beginning of his load, then powers it through the zone. But his excellent pitch recognition and strike-zone awareness make it work. Defensively, he's an above-average third baseman with an above-average, accurate arm who is very reliable--he'd made only one error all year as of mid-May. He's sneakily athletic and has even slid over to shortstop from time to time for the Bears. Wendzel doesn't have the power potential of some of the other top third baseman in the class, but scouts' comfort level with his well-rounded game will ensure he goes high in the draft.

• July, 2021 Scouting Report
  TRACK RECORD: Wendzel won the Big-12 Conference co-player of the year award with Josh Jung in 2019. The Rangers drafted both when they selected Jung eighth overall and Wendzel 41st overall after the season. Wendzel got into only seven games after signing, but he spent time at the alternate training site in 2020 and finished in instructional league.
  
  SCOUTING REPORT: Wendzel's instincts at the plate and defensive versatility stand out the most about him. He controls the strike zone and makes quality swing decisions, which results in hard contact. The Rangers are confident he will rap plenty of doubles and believe there are more homers in his bat than they did a year ago. His defense isn't an issue, other than finding him a spot. He can play second base, third base and shortstop at an average clip as well as across the outfield. He played some center at the alternate site. He has the plus arm to fit in multiple spots.
  
  THE FUTURE: Wendzel's status as a polished college hitter should serve him well. He has a chance to move quickly alongside fellow top picks Jung and Justin Foscue.
• March, 2021 Scouting Report
  TRACK RECORD: Wendzel won the Big-12 Conference co-player of the year award with Josh Jung in 2019. The Rangers drafted both when they selected Jung eighth overall and Wendzel 41st overall after the season. Wendzel got into only seven games after signing, but he spent time at the alternate training site in 2020 and finished in instructional league.
  
  SCOUTING REPORT: Wendzel's instincts at the plate and defensive versatility stand out the most about him. He controls the strike zone and makes quality swing decisions, which results in hard contact. The Rangers are confident he will rap plenty of doubles and believe there are more homers in his bat than they did a year ago. His defense isn't an issue, other than finding him a spot. He can play second base, third base and shortstop at an average clip as well as across the outfield. He played some center at the alternate site. He has the plus arm to fit in multiple spots.
  
  THE FUTURE: Wendzel's status as a polished college hitter should serve him well. He has a chance to move quickly alongside fellow top picks Jung and Justin Foscue.
• December, 2020 Scouting Report
  TRACK RECORD: Wendzel won the Big-12 Conference co-player of the year award with Josh Jung in 2019. The Rangers drafted both when they selected Jung eighth overall and Wendzel 41st overall after the season. Wendzel got into only seven games after signing, but he spent time at the alternate training site in 2020 and finished in instructional league.
  
  SCOUTING REPORT: Wendzel's instincts at the plate and defensive versatility stand out the most about him. He controls the strike zone and makes quality swing decisions, which results in hard contact. The Rangers are confident he will rap plenty of doubles and believe there are more homers in his bat than they did a year ago. His defense isn't an issue, other than finding him a spot. He can play second base, third base and shortstop at an average clip as well as across the outfield. He played some center at the alternate site. He has the plus arm to fit in multiple spots.
  
  THE FUTURE: Wendzel's status as a polished college hitter should serve him well. He has a chance to move quickly alongside fellow top picks Jung and Justin Foscue.
• July, 2020 Scouting Report
  TRACK RECORD: The Rangers used the No. 41 selection in the 2019 draft to take Wendzel, who at 22 was old for his class but consistently performed at a high level for Baylor. BA GRADE 50 Risk: Very High BA GRADE 50 Risk: Very High BA GRADE 50 Risk: Very High
  
  SCOUTING REPORT: Wendzel’s swing has some length to it, and he drops his hands to begin his load but is usually on time to make contact, with his ability to recognize pitches and control the strike zone helping to make it work. His power is below-average, with gap shots and occasional over-the-fence pop, but he will probably need to develop at least average power to project as an everyday player. A fringe-average runner, He has the potential to become an above-average fielder at third base. He’s a reliable defender with secure hands, good instincts and an above-average arm. He played some shortstop at Baylor, and while he doesn’t project to play there long term, the Rangers plan to give him time at third, shortstop and second base.
  
  THE FUTURE: Wendzel’s defensive ability should help him get playing time, with an assignment still to be determined for 2020. Developing more power will be key for Wendzel as he faces better competition.
• February, 2020 Scouting Report
  TRACK RECORD: The Rangers used the No. 41 selection in the 2019 draft to take Wendzel, who at 22 was old for his class but consistently performed at a high level for Baylor.
  
  SCOUTING REPORT: Wendzel's swing has some length to it, and he drops his hands to begin his load but is usually on time to make contact, with his ability to recognize pitches and control the strike zone helping to make it work. His power is below-average, with gap shots and occasional over-the-fence pop, but he will probably need to develop at least average power to project as an everyday player. A fringe-average runner, He has the potential to become an above-average fielder at third base. He's a reliable defender with secure hands, good instincts and an above-average arm. He played some shortstop at Baylor, and while he doesn't project to play there long term, the Rangers plan to give him time at third, shortstop and second base.
  
  THE FUTURE: Wendzel's defensive ability should help him get playing time, with an assignment still to be determined for 2020. Developing more power will be key for Wendzel as he faces better competition.
• December, 2018 Scouting Report
  A teammate of 2017 No. 1 pick Royce Lewis at California's JSerra High, Wendzel quickly found his home at Baylor. The hirsute Wendzel boasts one of the fullest beards and longest mullets in college baseball, making him easily recognizable. Big 12 coaches have noticed his consistent ability to barrel baseballs, and he's also proven to be one of the most reliable defenders in the conference. Scouts liked Wendzel last year as a draft-eligible sophomore, but he was clear about his intentions to return to Baylor for his junior year. That's why he slid to the 37th round to the Red Sox. He'll likely not make it out of the second round this year, as he's a well-rounded third baseman with a lengthy track record of hitting. Wendzel has more hitting ability than power, although evaluators believe he has the potential to get to average power eventually. He projects as an above-average hitter despite a less than picture perfect swing. There's some length to his front arm as he begins his swing by dropping his hands in the beginning of his load, then powers it through the zone. But his excellent pitch recognition and strike-zone awareness make it work. Defensively, he's an above-average third baseman with an above-average, accurate arm who is very reliable--he'd made only one error all year as of mid-May. He's sneakily athletic and has even slid over to shortstop from time to time for the Bears. Wendzel doesn't have the power potential of some of the other top third baseman in the class, but scouts' comfort level with his well-rounded game will ensure he goes high in the draft.