Zion Bannister

Organization Prospect Rankings

• 
  Ranked Texas Rangers #29 prospect in 2020
  TRACK RECORD: Born in the Bahamas, Bannister moved to Maryland from 2015-17 and played high school baseball there. In 2017, he moved to the Dominican Republic to train, then moved back to the Bahamas before signing with the Rangers for $836,000 as a 17-year-old on July 2, 2019.
  
  SCOUTING REPORT: Bannister is an impressive, physical athlete with power/speed potential at a premium position. He played shortstop as an amateur but has spent most of his time in center field since signing and fits best there. He's a plus runner who moves around well in the outfield with fluid actions and the potential for good range, though he's still learning to take better reads and routes. Before signing, Bannister hit from both sides of the plate, but he's now batting righthanded only. It's a power-over-hit profile, with the bat speed, strength projection and leverage in his swing to develop plus raw power in the future. He has an efficient swing and stays through the ball well, but his power will probably come with strikeouts, as he needs to improve his timing to make more frequent contact.
  
  THE FUTURE: Bannister's upside is exciting, but he's still a project. He's not advanced enough for a fullseason assignment yet, so he's likely staying back in extended spring training to start 2020.

• July, 2020 Scouting Report
  TRACK RECORD: Born in the Bahamas, Bannister moved to Maryland from 2015-17 and played high school baseball there. In 2017, he moved to the Dominican Republic to train, then moved back to the Bahamas before signing with the Rangers for $836,000 as a 17-year-old on July 2, 2019.
  
  SCOUTING REPORT: Bannister is an impressive, physical athlete with power/speed potential at a premium position. He played shortstop as an amateur but has spent most of his time in center field since signing and fits best there. He’s a plus runner who moves around well in the outfield with fluid actions and the potential for good range, though he’s still learning to take better reads and routes. Before signing, Bannister hit from both sides of the plate, but he’s now batting righthanded only. It’s a power-over-hit profile, with the bat speed, strength projection and leverage in his swing to develop plus raw power in the future. He has an efficient swing and stays through the ball well, but his power will probably come with strikeouts, as he needs to improve his timing to make more frequent contact.
  
  THE FUTURE: Bannister’s upside is exciting, but he’s still a project. He’s not advanced enough for a fullseason assignment yet, so he’s likely staying back in extended spring training to start 2020.
• February, 2020 Scouting Report
  TRACK RECORD: Born in the Bahamas, Bannister moved to Maryland from 2015-17 and played high school baseball there. In 2017, he moved to the Dominican Republic to train, then moved back to the Bahamas before signing with the Rangers for $836,000 as a 17-year-old on July 2, 2019.
  
  SCOUTING REPORT: Bannister is an impressive, physical athlete with power/speed potential at a premium position. He played shortstop as an amateur but has spent most of his time in center field since signing and fits best there. He's a plus runner who moves around well in the outfield with fluid actions and the potential for good range, though he's still learning to take better reads and routes. Before signing, Bannister hit from both sides of the plate, but he's now batting righthanded only. It's a power-over-hit profile, with the bat speed, strength projection and leverage in his swing to develop plus raw power in the future. He has an efficient swing and stays through the ball well, but his power will probably come with strikeouts, as he needs to improve his timing to make more frequent contact.
  
  THE FUTURE: Bannister's upside is exciting, but he's still a project. He's not advanced enough for a fullseason assignment yet, so he's likely staying back in extended spring training to start 2020.