Werner Blakely

Organization Prospect Rankings

• 
  Ranked Los Angeles Angels #25 prospect in 2024
  BA Grade: 40/High
  
  Track Record: Blakely missed his senior season at Detroit-area Edison Academy because of the pandemic. But the Angels were enticed enough by his tools to sign him for $900,000 in the fourth round of the 2020 draft to buy him out of an Auburn commitment. Fluky injuries have limited Blakely to just 211 professional games through three seasons, where he has hit .227/.358/.356 but shown promising signs during stretches of good health.
  
  Scouting Report: Blakely is a tall and athletic infielder with intriguing power and speed tools. He has a loose and whippy swing from the left side with plus bat speed that allows him to tap into his plus raw power as he grows into his lean 6-foot-3 frame. He hasn’t seen quality pitches regularly, though, because of lost reps due to injury, resulting in poor chase and strikeout rates. Still, he’s shown the ability to make adjustments in the box. He has improved his defensive consistency at third base with better footwork and range to his glove side. There’s confidence he can stick at third, where his plus arm plays, but he’s athletic enough to maneuver center field and the Angels may opt to develop him there. He’s a plus runner.
  
  The Future: Blakely has impact tools and is trending in the right direction but will need to be healthy to make up for lost reps and find consistency to reach his substantial upside.
  
  Scouting Grades Hit: 40 | Power: 50 | Run: 60 | Field: 50 | Arm: 55
• 
  Ranked Los Angeles Angels #8 prospect in 2023
  BA Grade/Risk: 50/Very High
  
  Track Record: Blakely was an athletic but raw prep shortstop who missed his senior year due to the coronavirus pandemic when the Angels selected him in the fourth round of the 2020 draft. Blakely hit just .182 in the Arizona Complex League in his pro debut, but he returned vastly improved in 2022 and was one of the California League's best hitters at Low-A Inland Empire before injuries sidetracked his season. Blakely missed five weeks with a hamstring injury and missed another seven weeks after he was hit by a pitch that bruised his hand. He made up for the lost reps as one of the youngest players in the Arizona Fall League after the season.
  
  Scouting Report: Blakely has loads of projection in his long, lean and athletic 6-foot-3 frame. He has a loose swing from the left side with plus bat speed that allows him to consistently be on time despite a heavy bat wrap. Blakely mostly drives hard liners the other way, but he has above-average raw power he is starting to tap into and has the potential to add more as he continues to grow into his body. Blakely is a disciplined hitter with a good eye who improved his pitch recognition, which has led to fewer swings and misses in the zone and allows him to project as an average hitter with average power. Signed as a shortstop, Blakely has moved to third base and has a lot of work to do. He's athletic enough to stay in the infield and has average arm strength, but his upper and lower body are often disconnected and he boots a lot of routine ground balls. He may need to move to the outfield, where his above-average speed and long strides will allow him to cover enough ground at all three positions.
  
  The Future: Blakely needs to stay healthy and get regular reps to continue his growth on both sides of the ball. He'll move to High-A in 2023.
  
  Scouting Grades: Hitting: 50. Power: 50. Speed: 55. Fielding: 45. Arm: 50
• 
  Ranked Los Angeles Angels #23 prospect in 2022
  Track Record: Blakely grew up in Detroit and emerged as Michigan’s top high school player in the 2020 draft class. He did not get a chance to play his senior season due to the coronavirus pandemic, but the Angels still drafted him in the fifth round and gave him an above-slot $900,000 bonus to pass up an Auburn commitment. Blakely made his pro debut in the Arizona Complex League in 2021 and showed some ability to draw walks, but he hit just .182 with a 37% strikeout rate.
  
  Scouting Report: Blakely has a lot to dream on with his long, lean, projectable frame and immense athleticism. He has a good eye and patient approach at the plate, but he swings and misses a lot in the strike zone with an uppercut swing. The Angels tinkered with his swing throughout his first season, and it began to look better at the end of the year. Blakely should add power as he packs more muscle onto his frame and is athletic enough to remain an above-average runner even as he gets bigger. A shortstop now, Blakely has the actions and arm strength to play all three infield positions, but most think he’d be best in center field.
  
  The Future: Blakely is a prototypical high-risk, high-reward prospect with plenty of projection. His swing development will determine what kind of career he has.
  
• 
  Ranked Los Angeles Angels #28 prospect in 2021
  TRACK RECORD: Blakely lost his senior high school season to the coronavirus pandemic, but he was a beast as a junior at Detroit's Edison Academy, batting .469 (45 for 96) with five homers, 11 doubles, seven triples, 38 RBIs, 44 runs and 26 stolen bases in 26 attempts. The Angels drafted him in the fifth round and bought him out of an Auburn commitment for $900,000. He got his first pro action in the instructional league in the fall.
  
  SCOUTING REPORT: Blakely has the long, lean and wiry athletic frame of his idol, Derek Jeter. He had some of the best pure shortstop actions in the 2020 draft class, but there is a rawness to his game that raises some concern. He moves fluidly around the field and has a potentially plus arm, but a highlight-reel play will sometimes be followed by a bobble of a routine grounder. Blakely has a tendency to get long in his swing, but his above-average hand-eye coordination makes up for some deficiencies in the batter's box. There is upside for power as Blakely packs more muscle onto his athletic frame, and he has the speed to develop into a base-stealing threat.
  
  THE FUTURE: A prototypical high-risk, high-reward prospect, Blakely will likely go from extended spring training to the Rookie-level Arizona League in 2021.

Draft Prospects

• Ranked #297 prospect in 2020 draft
  Blakely is a prototypical high-risk, high-reward prospect with plenty of athleticism and tools, but a rawness to his game that raises some concerns. A 6-foot-3, 180-pound shortstop committed to Auburn, Blakely has some of the best pure shortstop actions in the class, but he has battled shown shoddy glovework at times and hasn’t yet developed a strong internal clock. He moves fluidly around the field and has a potentially plus arm, so when scouts see him make a highlight-reel play they grow more confident he can stick at the position with additional reps and coaching. Offensively, Blakely has an uphill swing that leaves him little room for error in the strike zone, and he’s shown a tendency to get long in his swing with inconsistent plate coverage. Teams are excited about his potential and the power he could pack on to his athletic frame, but he’ll need plenty of at-bats to refine his offensive game. Blakely is a good runner who glides around the field and could turn into a dangerous basestealing threat.

• February, 2023 Scouting Report
  BA Grade/Risk: 50/Very High
  
  Track Record: Blakely was an athletic but raw prep shortstop who missed his senior year due to the coronavirus pandemic when the Angels selected him in the fourth round of the 2020 draft. Blakely hit just .182 in the Arizona Complex League in his pro debut, but he returned vastly improved in 2022 and was one of the California League's best hitters at Low-A Inland Empire before injuries sidetracked his season. Blakely missed five weeks with a hamstring injury and missed another seven weeks after he was hit by a pitch that bruised his hand. He made up for the lost reps as one of the youngest players in the Arizona Fall League after the season.
  
  Scouting Report: Blakely has loads of projection in his long, lean and athletic 6-foot-3 frame. He has a loose swing from the left side with plus bat speed that allows him to consistently be on time despite a heavy bat wrap. Blakely mostly drives hard liners the other way, but he has above-average raw power he is starting to tap into and has the potential to add more as he continues to grow into his body. Blakely is a disciplined hitter with a good eye who improved his pitch recognition, which has led to fewer swings and misses in the zone and allows him to project as an average hitter with average power. Signed as a shortstop, Blakely has moved to third base and has a lot of work to do. He's athletic enough to stay in the infield and has average arm strength, but his upper and lower body are often disconnected and he boots a lot of routine ground balls. He may need to move to the outfield, where his above-average speed and long strides will allow him to cover enough ground at all three positions.
  
  The Future: Blakely needs to stay healthy and get regular reps to continue his growth on both sides of the ball. He'll move to High-A in 2023.
  
  Scouting Grades: Hitting: 50. Power: 50. Speed: 55. Fielding: 45. Arm: 50
• December, 2022 Scouting Report
  BA Grade/Risk: 50/Very High
  
  Track Record: Blakely was an athletic but raw prep shortstop who missed his senior year due to the coronavirus pandemic when the Angels selected him in the fourth round of the 2020 draft. Blakely hit just .182 in the Arizona Complex League in his pro debut, but he returned vastly improved in 2022 and was one of the California League's best hitters at Low-A Inland Empire before injuries sidetracked his season. Blakely missed five weeks with a hamstring injury and missed another seven weeks after he was hit by a pitch that bruised his hand. He made up for the lost reps as one of the youngest players in the Arizona Fall League after the season.
  
  Scouting Report: Blakely has loads of projection in his long, lean and athletic 6-foot-3 frame. He has a loose swing from the left side with plus bat speed that allows him to consistently be on time despite a heavy bat wrap. Blakely mostly drives hard liners the other way, but he has above-average raw power he is starting to tap into and has the potential to add more as he continues to grow into his body. Blakely is a disciplined hitter with a good eye who improved his pitch recognition, which has led to fewer swings and misses in the zone and allows him to project as an average hitter with average power. Signed as a shortstop, Blakely has moved to third base and has a lot of work to do. He's athletic enough to stay in the infield and has average arm strength, but his upper and lower body are often disconnected and he boots a lot of routine ground balls. He may need to move to the outfield, where his above-average speed and long strides will allow him to cover enough ground at all three positions.
  
  The Future: Blakely needs to stay healthy and get regular reps to continue his growth on both sides of the ball. He'll move to High-A in 2023.
  
  Scouting Grades: Hitting: 50. Power: 50. Speed: 55. Fielding: 45. Arm: 50
• April, 2022 Scouting Report
  BA Grade: 45/High
  
  Track Record: Blakely grew up in Detroit and emerged as Michigan&#39s top high school player in the 2020 draft class. He did not get a chance to play his senior season due to the coronavirus pandemic, but the Angels still drafted him in the fifth round and gave him an above-slot $900,000 bonus to pass up an Auburn commitment. Blakely made his pro debut in the Arizona Complex League in 2021 and showed some ability to draw walks, but he hit just .182 with a 37% strikeout rate.
  
  Scouting Report: Blakely has a lot to dream on with his long, lean, projectable frame and immense athleticism. He has a good eye and patient approach at the plate, but he swings and misses a lot in the strike zone with an uppercut swing. The Angels tinkered with his swing throughout his first season, and it began to look better at the end of the year. Blakely should add power as he packs more muscle onto his frame and is athletic enough to remain an above-average runner even as he gets bigger. A shortstop now, Blakely has the actions and arm strength to play all three infield positions, but most think he&#39d be best in center field.
  
  The Future: Blakely is a prototypical high-risk, high-reward prospect with plenty of projection. His swing development will determine what kind of career he has.
  
  Scouting Grades: Hit: 50. Power: 50. Speed: 60. Fielding: 40. Arm: 55.
• December, 2021 Scouting Report
  Track Record: Blakely grew up in Detroit and emerged as Michigan’s top high school player in the 2020 draft class. He did not get a chance to play his senior season due to the coronavirus pandemic, but the Angels still drafted him in the fifth round and gave him an above-slot $900,000 bonus to pass up an Auburn commitment. Blakely made his pro debut in the Arizona Complex League in 2021 and showed some ability to draw walks, but he hit just .182 with a 37% strikeout rate.
  
  Scouting Report: Blakely has a lot to dream on with his long, lean, projectable frame and immense athleticism. He has a good eye and patient approach at the plate, but he swings and misses a lot in the strike zone with an uppercut swing. The Angels tinkered with his swing throughout his first season, and it began to look better at the end of the year. Blakely should add power as he packs more muscle onto his frame and is athletic enough to remain an above-average runner even as he gets bigger. A shortstop now, Blakely has the actions and arm strength to play all three infield positions, but most think he’d be best in center field.
  
  The Future: Blakely is a prototypical high-risk, high-reward prospect with plenty of projection. His swing development will determine what kind of career he has.
  
• July, 2021 Scouting Report
  TRACK RECORD: Blakely lost his senior high school season to the coronavirus pandemic, but he was a beast as a junior at Detroit's Edison Academy, batting .469 (45 for 96) with five homers, 11 doubles, seven triples, 38 RBIs, 44 runs and 26 stolen bases in 26 attempts. The Angels drafted him in the fifth round and bought him out of an Auburn commitment for $900,000. He got his first pro action in the instructional league in the fall.
  
  SCOUTING REPORT: Blakely has the long, lean and wiry athletic frame of his idol, Derek Jeter. He had some of the best pure shortstop actions in the 2020 draft class, but there is a rawness to his game that raises some concern. He moves fluidly around the field and has a potentially plus arm, but a highlight-reel play will sometimes be followed by a bobble of a routine grounder. Blakely has a tendency to get long in his swing, but his above-average hand-eye coordination makes up for some deficiencies in the batter's box. There is upside for power as Blakely packs more muscle onto his athletic frame, and he has the speed to develop into a base-stealing threat.
  
  THE FUTURE: A prototypical high-risk, high-reward prospect, Blakely will likely go from extended spring training to the Rookie-level Arizona League in 2021.
• March, 2021 Scouting Report
  TRACK RECORD: Blakely lost his senior high school season to the coronavirus pandemic, but he was a beast as a junior at Detroit's Edison Academy, batting .469 (45 for 96) with five homers, 11 doubles, seven triples, 38 RBIs, 44 runs and 26 stolen bases in 26 attempts. The Angels drafted him in the fifth round and bought him out of an Auburn commitment for $900,000. He got his first pro action in the instructional league in the fall.
  
  SCOUTING REPORT: Blakely has the long, lean and wiry athletic frame of his idol, Derek Jeter. He had some of the best pure shortstop actions in the 2020 draft class, but there is a rawness to his game that raises some concern. He moves fluidly around the field and has a potentially plus arm, but a highlight-reel play will sometimes be followed by a bobble of a routine grounder. Blakely has a tendency to get long in his swing, but his above-average hand-eye coordination makes up for some deficiencies in the batter's box. There is upside for power as Blakely packs more muscle onto his athletic frame, and he has the speed to develop into a base-stealing threat.
  
  THE FUTURE: A prototypical high-risk, high-reward prospect, Blakely will likely go from extended spring training to the Rookie-level Arizona League in 2021.
• December, 2020 Scouting Report
  TRACK RECORD: Blakely lost his senior high school season to the coronavirus pandemic, but he was a beast as a junior at Detroit's Edison Academy, batting .469 (45 for 96) with five homers, 11 doubles, seven triples, 38 RBIs, 44 runs and 26 stolen bases in 26 attempts. The Angels drafted him in the fifth round and bought him out of an Auburn commitment for $900,000. He got his first pro action in the instructional league in the fall.
  
  SCOUTING REPORT: Blakely has the long, lean and wiry athletic frame of his idol, Derek Jeter. He had some of the best pure shortstop actions in the 2020 draft class, but there is a rawness to his game that raises some concern. He moves fluidly around the field and has a potentially plus arm, but a highlight-reel play will sometimes be followed by a bobble of a routine grounder. Blakely has a tendency to get long in his swing, but his above-average hand-eye coordination makes up for some deficiencies in the batter's box. There is upside for power as Blakely packs more muscle onto his athletic frame, and he has the speed to develop into a base-stealing threat.
  
  THE FUTURE: A prototypical high-risk, high-reward prospect, Blakely will likely go from extended spring training to the Rookie-level Arizona League in 2021.