Ryon Healy Stats & Scouting Report

AB	1514
AVG	.261
OBP	.298
SLG	.45
HR	69

Full name Ryon Cristopher Healy
Born 01/10/1992 in West Hills, CA
Profile Ht.: 6'4" / Wt.: 230 / Bats: R / Throws: R
School Oregon
Debut 07/15/2016
Drafted in the 3rd round (100th overall) by the Oakland Athletics in 2013 (signed for $500,000).

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A high price tag led Healy to be undrafted out of high school, but he generated significant buzz before he got to Oregon's campus by ranking as the No. 1 prospect in the California Collegiate League the summer before his freshman year. While the Scott Rolen and Evan Longoria comparisons proved to be overblown, Healy has been one of the best bats in the Pacific-12 Conference this spring and could go as high as the second round. He projects to be an above-average hitter with above-average power. He has a short swing with good loft and bat speed, and he uses the whole field. While he has been mainly a first baseman at Oregon, Healy may get a shot to play third base as a pro. That will be a stretch, though, because he doesn't have the range or quickness for the hot corner--he's a below-average runner--and his arm strength is fringe-average.

Top Rankings

Organization Prospect Rankings

Double-A Midland had no shortage of healthy competition in its lineup, with a group including the likes of Healy, Renato Nunez, Matt Olson and Chad Pinder. Production-wise, Healy didn't take a back seat to any of them, ending up fifth in the Texas League batting race. He takes short swings and hits as many line drives as any hitter in the system. He can lash balls from line to line but is at his best when he focuses on going up the middle. He has the size and physicality to hit for solid power, but it mostly comes in the form of doubles. The A's have worked with him to try to get him to pull more balls and add some loft, but he's still at his best going up the middle. Primarily a first baseman in college, Healy's worked hard to become a serviceable third baseman since turning pro. He's deceptively athletic and has a strong enough arm, having also drawn interest as a pitching prospect in high school. He'll continue seeing action at both corner infield spots as he moves up to Triple-A Nashville.
The Athletics give Healy tremendous credit for sticking with it in 2014 at high Class A Stockton, for he didn't let himself get buried by his .185 average in April and recovered to hit .326/.356/.469 in the second half. Although Healy has 20-home run potential given his size and strength, he's at his best when he stays short and focuses on driving balls up the middle. His rhythm at the plate and path to the ball improved over the course of the year, while he gets in trouble when he starts pulling off and trying too much to lift the ball. Healy mainly played first base for Oregon, but the A's are trying him out at third and found the early returns encouraging. They're hopeful he'll have the positional flexibility they so covet. His footwork at the hot corner needs cleaning up, but he can handle the routine plays and shows enough arm strength and range to handle the job, though he's a below-average runner overall. He'll continue making starts at first, third and DH as he moves up to Double-A Midland in 2015.
Healy's seven-figure asking price caused him to go undrafted out of high school in 2010, though he got considerable buzz by tearing up the California Collegiate League the summer before his freshman season at Oregon. He also drew interest as a pitching prospect in high school, though he focused on hitting with the Ducks. After hitting just eight homers over his first two seasons, Healy belted 11 as a junior while batting .333/.408/.566, and the Athletics signed him for $500,000 out of the third round of the 2013 draft. He struggled in his pro debut at short-season Vermont in 2013, but he has a quick bat and the loft in his swing to be a power threat, potentially settling in with 20-plus homers. He's got a big, physical frame that still has some room to add more muscle. There are promising signs in his feel for hitting and willingness to use the whole field, though he got out of sync over the summer. Oregon used Healy primarily at first base, but the A's are going to try him at third. He's a below-average runner, and his range is a question at third, as is his arm. Wherever he winds up defensively, Healy's bat will be what carries him through the system. With Renato Nunez and Matt Olson slated to man the infield corners at high Class A Stockton, Healy likely will begin 2014 at low Class A Beloit.

Draft Prospects

A high price tag led Healy to be undrafted out of high school, but he generated significant buzz before he got to Oregon's campus by ranking as the No. 1 prospect in the California Collegiate League the summer before his freshman year. While the Scott Rolen and Evan Longoria comparisons proved to be overblown, Healy has been one of the best bats in the Pacific-12 Conference this spring and could go as high as the second round. He projects to be an above-average hitter with above-average power. He has a short swing with good loft and bat speed, and he uses the whole field. While he has been mainly a first baseman at Oregon, Healy may get a shot to play third base as a pro. That will be a stretch, though, because he doesn't have the range or quickness for the hot corner--he's a below-average runner--and his arm strength is fringe-average.

Minor League Top Prospects

Assigned back to the TL after a solid but unspectacular 2015 season, Healy played his way to Triple-A Nashville, which set the stage for a July 15 big league callup and outstanding rookie season in Oakland. Healy had to work hard on his defense to make third base an option. He played first base at Oregon and still played there at Midland in deference to Matt Chapman. He is a below-average defender at third base who struggles with range. At the plate, Healy has made a deliberate effort to generate more power, tweaking his swing to develop more lift. All but one of his home runs this season went to left or center field, but thanks to excellent timing, he also has shown an ability to hit for average.