Austin Schotts Stats & Scouting Report

Full name Austin James David Schotts
Born 09/16/1993 in Tulsa, OK
Profile Ht.: 5'11" / Wt.: 180 / Bats: R / Throws: R
School Centennial
Drafted in the 3rd round (121st overall) by the Detroit Tigers in 2012 (signed for $389,100).

View Draft Report

Like Cory Raley, Schotts is a speedy Texas high school shortstop who has starred on the gridiron (in his case, as a safety) and shot up draft boards after not drawing much attention before this spring. He's more advanced at the plate, while Raley has a better chance of sticking at shortstop. Five-foot-11 and 180 pounds, Schotts has a sound righthanded swing and more pop than the typical middle infielder. His power gets him into trouble at times when he lets his stroke get too big. A well above-average runner, Schotts covers enough ground at shortstop, but his fringy arm doesn't fit on the left side of the diamond. He could move to second base and has the speed for center field. He's committed to Oklahoma State.

Top Rankings

Schotts wasn't a big name on the high school showcase circuit, but he shot up draft boards last spring thanks to his natural athleticism. He also starred as a safety and kick returner in football. A third-round pick in June who signed for $389,100, he hit .388 in his first month in pro ball before dislocating a finger and then cooling off. Schotts has excellent bat speed with a short, balanced swing. Thanks to his quick wrists and strong forearms, he has surprising pop for a smaller player. He has the potential to be a solid hitter with fringy home run power and plenty of doubles and stolen bases. He used his plus-plus speed to steal 16 bases in 42 pro games. A shortstop in high school, Schotts moved to center field after signing. The change better utilizes his speed and mitigates his below-average arm strength. He's a high-energy player who made a seamless transition to pro ball and a new position because of his work ethic and ability to retain information. Schotts has the tools and makeup to handle a full-season assignment to low Class A West Michigan as a 19-year-old. He needs to continue to get stronger and make adjustments to pro pitching but profiles as a first-division center fielder.

Like Cory Raley, Schotts is a speedy Texas high school shortstop who has starred on the gridiron (in his case, as a safety) and shot up draft boards after not drawing much attention before this spring. He's more advanced at the plate, while Raley has a better chance of sticking at shortstop. Five-foot-11 and 180 pounds, Schotts has a sound righthanded swing and more pop than the typical middle infielder. His power gets him into trouble at times when he lets his stroke get too big. A well above-average runner, Schotts covers enough ground at shortstop, but his fringy arm doesn't fit on the left side of the diamond. He could move to second base and has the speed for center field. He's committed to Oklahoma State.

Schotts was known more as a standout safety and wide receiver on his Texas high school football team before his baseball stock climbed last spring. He hit .388/.433/.538 before dislocating a finger on July 19, then batted just .227/.272/.360 after a three-week layoff. Schotts' best tool is his plus-plus speed. He played shortstop in high school, but his fringy arm didn't fit well at the position, so the Tigers moved him to center field in his pro debut. He made quick adjustments to the outfield and showed excellent range. While Schotts performed well at the plate before he got hurt, his swing gets long at times and leads to too many strikeouts. He shows occasional power but will need to get strong. Managers liked him because he's aggressive and always plays hard.

Background: Schotts wasn't a big name on the high school showcase circuit, but he shot up draft boards last spring thanks to his natural athleticism. He also starred as a safety and kick returner in football. A third-round pick in June who signed for $389,100, he hit .388 in his first month in pro ball before dislocating a finger and then cooling off. Scouting Report: Schotts has excellent bat speed with a short, balanced swing. Thanks to his quick wrists and strong forearms, he has surprising pop for a smaller player. He has the potential to be a solid hitter with fringy home run power and plenty of doubles and stolen bases. He used his plus-plus speed to steal 16 bases in 42 pro games. A shortstop in high school, Schotts moved to center field after signing. The change better utilizes his speed and mitigates his below-average arm strength. He's a high-energy player who made a seamless transition to pro ball and a new position because of his work ethic and ability to retain information. The Future: Schotts has the tools and makeup to handle a full-season assignment to low Class A West Michigan as a 19-year-old. He needs to continue to get stronger and make adjustments to pro pitching but profiles as a first-division center fielder.