Mac Horvath Stats & Scouting Report

AB	113
AVG	.221
OBP	.291
SLG	.381
HR	4

Full name Macauley Cole Horvath
Born 07/22/2001 in Austin, MN
Profile Ht.: 6'1" / Wt.: 195 / Bats: R / Throws: R
School North Carolina
Drafted in the 2nd round (53rd overall) by the Baltimore Orioles in 2023 (signed for $1,400,000).

View Draft Report

School: North Carolina Source: 4YR

Commit/Drafted: Never Drafted
Age At Draft: 22
BA Grade:50/Extreme
Tools:Hit: 40. Power: 55. Run: 65. Field: 50. Arm: 60.

Horvath was draft-eligible in 2022, when he ranked as the No. 465 player in the class as a sophomore at North Carolina, but despite his impressive power/speed combination there were questions about his pure hit tool. That remains the case for Horvath a year later, though a strong 2023 campaign where he hit .305/.418/.711 with 24 home runs, 21 doubles and 25 stolen bases has moved him further up draft boards. Horvath is a standout athlete with a 6-foot-1, 200-pound frame who hits the ball hard, and mostly accesses his power in games to left field and center. He managed a 93 mph average exit velocity in 2023, with a 109 mph 90th percentile mark, with a solid overall contact rate of 80%. There are mechanical questions about his swing and pure hitting ability, and he struggled against 92-plus mph velocity—seemingly having problems getting to a good launch position and on plane with the ball at that speed. Horvath is a plus or better runner who turns in great times from home-to-first and has been an efficient basestealer throughout his career, with an 86% (44-for-51) success rate at UNC. He also has a plus throwing arm. Horvath split time at third base and right field, and played a few games in center, but probably profiles best in an outfield corner in pro ball.

Top Rankings

Organization Prospect Rankings

BA Grade: 50/Extreme

Track Record: The Orioles were interested in Horvath as a draft-eligible sophomore in 2022 but ended up signing him as the 53rd overall pick in 2023 for a slightly below-slot $1.4 million. He hit 47 home runs and stole 44 bases over three seasons at North Carolina, showing the kind of power-speed combo the Orioles have been attracted to atop recent drafts. His pro debut went well, with Horvath slugging five home runs with a 1.057 OPS and 14 steals in a stint centered on Low-A Delmarva and including two other levels.

Scouting Report: Horvath shows a power-speed tool set, with his hit tool the only thing potentially holding him back. He has a grooved swing path that can, at times, lead to swing-and-miss at the top of the zone as well as high ball flights that limit the impact of his high exit velocities. Still, Horvath controls the strike zone well--he had a 17% chase rate in his pro debut--and could have above-average power due to his strength and athleticism. Horvath is at least a plus runner with a plus arm, and while he’s expected to primarily play third base, he could spend time at second base and in the outfield in his full-season debut.

The Future: Horvath has the profile to thrive in an Orioles hitting program that will attack his contact deficiencies and could help him reach a solid-average starter ceiling, potentially as a player who helps all over the field. He’ll start his full-season debut at High-A Aberdeen.

Scouting Grades Hit: 40 | Power: 55 | Run: 60 | Field: 50 | Arm: 60

Draft Prospects

School: North Carolina Source: 4YR

Commit/Drafted: Never Drafted
Age At Draft: 22
BA Grade:50/Extreme
Tools:Hit: 40. Power: 55. Run: 65. Field: 50. Arm: 60.

Horvath was draft-eligible in 2022, when he ranked as the No. 465 player in the class as a sophomore at North Carolina, but despite his impressive power/speed combination there were questions about his pure hit tool. That remains the case for Horvath a year later, though a strong 2023 campaign where he hit .305/.418/.711 with 24 home runs, 21 doubles and 25 stolen bases has moved him further up draft boards. Horvath is a standout athlete with a 6-foot-1, 200-pound frame who hits the ball hard, and mostly accesses his power in games to left field and center. He managed a 93 mph average exit velocity in 2023, with a 109 mph 90th percentile mark, with a solid overall contact rate of 80%. There are mechanical questions about his swing and pure hitting ability, and he struggled against 92-plus mph velocity—seemingly having problems getting to a good launch position and on plane with the ball at that speed. Horvath is a plus or better runner who turns in great times from home-to-first and has been an efficient basestealer throughout his career, with an 86% (44-for-51) success rate at UNC. He also has a plus throwing arm. Horvath split time at third base and right field, and played a few games in center, but probably profiles best in an outfield corner in pro ball.
School: North Carolina Committed/Drafted: Never Drafted
Age At Draft: 21
A 6-foot-1, 185-pound third baseman, Horvath has impressive raw power and speed and this spring hit 18 homers and 15 doubles as a draft-eligible sophomore. He has impressive exit velocity data to back up that power and hit well against 93+ mph fastballs, but scouts wonder about the swing-and-miss in his game and noted that he struggled to make contact against off-speed stuff and breaking balls. Horvath slashed .268//390/.557 and walked at a solid 15.3% clip, while stealing 19 bags in 22 tries (86.4%). There are solid tools to like with Horvath, though scouts are still skeptical about the overall quality of his hit tool, and he will have more leverage than third-year college players when it comes to bonus demands.
Expected to be the top prep bat in Minnesota, Horvath transferred to Bradenton, Fla.’s IMG Academy for his senior season, which was then quickly cut short. He missed time early last summer with appendicitis, then had an uneven summer when he returned. Horvath has above-average bat speed, plus speed and a plus arm (he’s touched 91-92 mph off the mound). He might slide to third base because he’s a little stiff at shortstop. A North Carolina signee, Horvath needs to refine his approach and make more consistent contact, but he has pro tools.

Career Transactions

3B Mac Horvath assigned to Mesa Solar Sox.
Bowling Green Hot Rods activated OF Mac Horvath.
OF Mac Horvath assigned to Bowling Green Hot Rods.
Tampa Bay Rays traded RHP Zach Eflin to Baltimore Orioles for RHP Jackson Baumeister, OF Matthew Etzel and OF Mac Horvath.
OF Mac Horvath assigned to FCL Orioles.
Baltimore Orioles signed OF Mac Horvath.
3B Mac Horvath assigned to North Carolina Tar Heels.