Mitch Nay Stats & Scouting Report

AB	2499
AVG	.253
OBP	.324
SLG	.407
HR	73

Full name Mitchell Ellis Nay
Born 09/20/1993 in Chandler, AZ
Profile Ht.: 6'3" / Wt.: 200 / Bats: R / Throws: R
School Hamilton
Drafted in the C-A round (58th overall) by the Toronto Blue Jays in 2012 (signed for $1,000,000).

View Draft Report

Nay started the year slowly, and scouts said he was trying to put his team on his back and pressing at the plate. He struggled offensively and defensively before turning things around in the weeks leading up to the draft. He has been flying up draft boards and could even sneak into the back half of the first round. Nay has a good frame at 6-foot-3 and 195 pounds and shows above-average power potential, as well as a plus arm. Some scouts wonder how much Nay will hit for average, though he did make adjustments this season when he realized pitchers were throwing him a steady diet of curveballs and changeups. He'll have to work to stay at third base, but could handle a move to right field because of his arm strength. Nay moves well laterally but has below-average speed. He's part of a loaded Arizona State recruiting class, but Nay is unlikely to wind up on campus.

Top Rankings

Organization Prospect Rankings

Nay, whose grandfather Louis Klimchock played 711 big league games over 12 seasons, still hasn't gotten over the hump in three seasons since signing for $1 million. He was signed for his hitting ability, and tried to adjust at the plate in 2015 and pull the ball more, but he doesn't have the feel for hitting or plus bat speed to punish mistakes. Nay hits more groundballs than he should, with his 18 double plays ranking third in the high Class A Florida State League in 2015, and has given up hitting for power to make contact. He has natural bat-to-ball skills and plus raw power thanks to his strength, but he plays with tension and carries bad games with him longer than he should. Nay has improved defensively. He has plus arm strength and has improved his footwork and body since becoming a pro, though he remains a fringy defender. After missing out on the Arizona Fall League due to a late-season leg injury that developed into a staph infection, Nay may have to start 2016 back at Dunedin.
Nay, the grandson of former big leaguer Lou Klimchock, signed for $1 million in 2012 and reached full-season ball in 2014. While the bat-first Nay offers plus raw power and above-average contact skills, he must continue to make offensive adjustments to reach his ceiling. He is a strong, muscular and physical presence with plus raw power to go with natural feel for the barrel and a history of high contact rates. His raw power has not translated to game action yet. His stroke can get long and leave him exposed to balls on the outer third of the plate. Nay's defense improved last year, and low Class A Midwest League managers considered him the league's best defensive third baseman. He has the above-average arm and hands for third, but fringy first-step quickness and range could move him to first base or an outfield corner. A below-average runner, Nay will return to high Class A Dunedin, where he finished the 2014 season.
The grandson of Lou Klimchock, who played in the big leagues over parts of 12 seasons, Nay signed for $1 million in 2012 but broke his foot before playing that summer. He showed above-average hitting and power potential in 2013 and was MVP of the short-season Northwest League playoffs. With a large frame and strong build, Nay has the potential to be a middle-of-the-order hitter with power and on-base ability. In extended spring training, he raised his hitting load, got rid of his bat waggle and shortened his stride, shortening his swing path. Nay has bat speed and quick hands and makes hard contact to all fields. Scouts praise his contact ability, up-the-middle approach and ability to drive the ball to right field. He could be an above-average hitter to go with his 70-grade raw power. Nay, who has a plus arm, is a below-average runner with adequate range but good hands at third base. He led Rookie-level Appalachian League third basemen with 17 errors, and improving his lateral quickness and pre-pitch setup will be key for him to remain at the position. Nay's advanced approach should earn him a spot at low Class A Lansing for 2014. If he moves off third, he moves well enough to try right field.
After missing time on the high school showcase circuit in 2011 because of a back injury, Nay started slowly as a high school senior last spring. He relaxed and started heating up as the draft neared, however, and moved up draft boards dramatically. The Blue Jays took him 58th overall and signed him away from an Arizona State commitment for $1 million. He broke his foot during agility workouts during his first week with the organization, preventing him from making his debut. Nay has a projectable frame with broad shoulders, making it easy to predict that he'll have plus power to all fields. There are questions about whether he'll make consistent contact and hit for average, however. He did adjust nicely to the steady diet of offspeed stuff that pitchers fed him last spring. Nay has an above-average arm that will play at third base, but he'll have to put in the work to stay there. He has below-average speed and quickness, though he moves well enough laterally. If he has to change positions, his power and arm should profile in right field. He'll start 2013 in extended spring training before reporting to Bluefield or Vancouver.

Draft Prospects

Nay started the year slowly, and scouts said he was trying to put his team on his back and pressing at the plate. He struggled offensively and defensively before turning things around in the weeks leading up to the draft. He has been flying up draft boards and could even sneak into the back half of the first round. Nay has a good frame at 6-foot-3 and 195 pounds and shows above-average power potential, as well as a plus arm. Some scouts wonder how much Nay will hit for average, though he did make adjustments this season when he realized pitchers were throwing him a steady diet of curveballs and changeups. He'll have to work to stay at third base, but could handle a move to right field because of his arm strength. Nay moves well laterally but has below-average speed. He's part of a loaded Arizona State recruiting class, but Nay is unlikely to wind up on campus.

Minor League Top Prospects

Shortly after signing last summer, Nay broke his foot, delaying his debut. Once he got on the field, he showed the potential to be a profile third baseman and led the Appy League in RBIs. He drew praise for his work ethic. Nay has quick hands and plus bat speed, and he makes consistent hard contact to all fields. With a large, strong frame he has 70 raw power on the 20-80 scouting scale. Evaluators lauded his up-the-middle approach and ability to drive the ball to the right-center field gap this summer, traits he picked up after shortening his stride and swing path significantly in extended spring training. He showed a sound approach, striking out just 13.6 percent of the time, and he could be a middle-of-the-order hitter with plus power and on-base skills. A below-average runner, Nay has adequate range and a strong, accurate arm that should allow him to remain at third. He is working on his lateral quickness.