DJ Gladney

Organization Prospect Rankings

• 
  Ranked Chicago White Sox #24 prospect in 2021
  TRACK RECORD: Gladney impressed the White Sox during a private workout at their big league park before the draft, when he showed enough power to convince them he was worth a flier. He was also a part of their Amateur City Elite program, where he showed strong makeup that heartened the White Sox. He socked eight home runs in the Rookie-level Arizona League, which was second on his team behind Jose Rodriguez.
  
  SCOUTING REPORT: Gladney started his instructional league with a bang, hitting three home runs in three games and posting exit velocities up to 114 mph. The White Sox want him to focus on using his legs more in his swing and sharpening his pitch-recognition skills, which were a clear area of improvement after 82 strikeouts in 201 AZL at-bats in 2019. Scouts questioned his footwork and throwing arm at third base, and wondered if first base might be his long-term home.
  
  THE FUTURE: Gladney could move to low Class A to start 2021, but he might also benefit from more seasoning at the lowest levels. He has intriguing power, but there's a lot of work to be done.
• 
  Ranked Chicago White Sox #24 prospect in 2020
  TRACK RECORD: Entering his 2019 season at Illiana Christian HS, Gladney had a reputation as more of a hitter than a masher. The White Sox had a previous relationship with Gladney, however, through their Amateur City Elite program, and believed Gladney's makeup would lead to further development. The power they expected showed up in their pre-draft workouts at U.S. Cellular Field, and the team decided to spend $225,000 in the 16th round to pull him away from a commitment to Eastern Kentucky. His eight home runs tied him for fifth in the Rookie-level Arizona League.
  
  SCOUTING REPORT: Gladney's power started growing once he got a better understanding of his body. Earlier in his high school career his swing had been more rotational and focused around his upper body. Once he started utilizing his lower half, balls started flying and the door was opened to potential above-average power. He's going to have to shore up his plate discipline as well, as shown by 82 strikeouts in his first 220 plate appearances (37.2 percent). Gladney's defense at third base is a bit raw, and he's already begun dabbling at first base. He's got good enough hands to catch the ball at the hot corner, but there's work to be done on his transfers and the accuracy of his throws across the diamond.
  
  THE FUTURE: Raw power is going to be Gladney's calling card as he moves up the ladder, but he'll need to eliminate some of the swing-and-miss from his game for it to play at the highest level. He'll likely start 2020 back in the AZL before moving to the Pioneer League during the summer.

Draft Prospects

• Ranked #481 prospect in 2019 draft
  Gladney is a big and strong third baseman with a promising bat and plus raw power. There's contact issues right now to go with the power. There are more concerns about his defense as a number of evaluators believe he will end up in left field eventually. He's signed to go to Eastern Kentucky.

• March, 2021 Scouting Report
  TRACK RECORD: Gladney impressed the White Sox during a private workout at their big league park before the draft, when he showed enough power to convince them he was worth a flier. He was also a part of their Amateur City Elite program, where he showed strong makeup that heartened the White Sox. He socked eight home runs in the Rookie-level Arizona League, which was second on his team behind Jose Rodriguez.
  
  SCOUTING REPORT: Gladney started his instructional league with a bang, hitting three home runs in three games and posting exit velocities up to 114 mph. The White Sox want him to focus on using his legs more in his swing and sharpening his pitch-recognition skills, which were a clear area of improvement after 82 strikeouts in 201 AZL at-bats in 2019. Scouts questioned his footwork and throwing arm at third base, and wondered if first base might be his long-term home.
  
  THE FUTURE: Gladney could move to low Class A to start 2021, but he might also benefit from more seasoning at the lowest levels. He has intriguing power, but there's a lot of work to be done.
• December, 2020 Scouting Report
  TRACK RECORD: Gladney impressed the White Sox during a private workout at their big league park before the draft, when he showed enough power to convince them he was worth a flier. He was also a part of their Amateur City Elite program, where he showed strong makeup that heartened the White Sox. He socked eight home runs in the Rookie-level Arizona League, which was second on his team behind Jose Rodriguez.
  
  SCOUTING REPORT: Gladney started his instructional league with a bang, hitting three home runs in three games and posting exit velocities up to 114 mph. The White Sox want him to focus on using his legs more in his swing and sharpening his pitch-recognition skills, which were a clear area of improvement after 82 strikeouts in 201 AZL at-bats in 2019. Scouts questioned his footwork and throwing arm at third base, and wondered if first base might be his long-term home.
  
  THE FUTURE: Gladney could move to low Class A to start 2021, but he might also benefit from more seasoning at the lowest levels. He has intriguing power, but there's a lot of work to be done.
• July, 2020 Scouting Report
  TRACK RECORD: Entering his 2019 season at Illiana Christian HS, Gladney had a reputation as more of a hitter than a masher. The White Sox had a previous relationship with Gladney, however, through their Amateur City Elite program, and believed Gladney’s makeup would lead to further development. The power they expected showed up in their pre-draft workouts at U.S. Cellular Field, and the team decided to spend $225,000 in the 16th round to pull him away from a commitment to Eastern Kentucky. His eight home runs tied him for fifth in the Rookie-level Arizona League.
  
  SCOUTING REPORT: Gladney’s power started growing once he got a better understanding of his body. Earlier in his high school career his swing had been more rotational and focused around his upper body. Once he started utilizing his lower half, balls started flying and the door was opened to potential above-average power. He’s going to have to shore up his plate discipline as well, as shown by 82 strikeouts in his first 220 plate appearances (37.2 percent). Gladney’s defense at third base is a bit raw, and he’s already begun dabbling at first base. He’s got good enough hands to catch the ball at the hot corner, but there’s work to be done on his transfers and the accuracy of his throws across the diamond.
  
  THE FUTURE: Raw power is going to be Gladney’s calling card as he moves up the ladder, but he’ll need to eliminate some of the swing-and-miss from his game for it to play at the highest level. He’ll likely start 2020 back in the AZL before moving to the Pioneer League during the summer. BA GRADE 50 Risk: Extreme BA GRADE 50 Risk: Extreme
• February, 2020 Scouting Report
  TRACK RECORD: Entering his 2019 season at Illiana Christian HS, Gladney had a reputation as more of a hitter than a masher. The White Sox had a previous relationship with Gladney, however, through their Amateur City Elite program, and believed Gladney's makeup would lead to further development. The power they expected showed up in their pre-draft workouts at U.S. Cellular Field, and the team decided to spend $225,000 in the 16th round to pull him away from a commitment to Eastern Kentucky. His eight home runs tied him for fifth in the Rookie-level Arizona League.
  
  SCOUTING REPORT: Gladney's power started growing once he got a better understanding of his body. Earlier in his high school career his swing had been more rotational and focused around his upper body. Once he started utilizing his lower half, balls started flying and the door was opened to potential above-average power. He's going to have to shore up his plate discipline as well, as shown by 82 strikeouts in his first 220 plate appearances (37.2 percent). Gladney's defense at third base is a bit raw, and he's already begun dabbling at first base. He's got good enough hands to catch the ball at the hot corner, but there's work to be done on his transfers and the accuracy of his throws across the diamond.
  
  THE FUTURE: Raw power is going to be Gladney's calling card as he moves up the ladder, but he'll need to eliminate some of the swing-and-miss from his game for it to play at the highest level. He'll likely start 2020 back in the AZL before moving to the Pioneer League during the summer.
• December, 2018 Scouting Report
  Gladney is a big and strong third baseman with a promising bat and plus raw power. There's contact issues right now to go with the power. There are more concerns about his defense as a number of evaluators believe he will end up in left field eventually. He's signed to go to Eastern Kentucky.