Dillon Head Stats & Scouting Report

AB	12
AVG	.333
OBP	.333
SLG	.5
HR	0

Full name Dillon Head
Born 10/11/2004 in Glenwood, IL
Profile Ht.: 5'11" / Wt.: 180 / Bats: L / Throws: L
School Homewood-Flossmoor HS, Flossmoor, Ill.
Drafted in the 1st round (25th overall) by the San Diego Padres in 2023 (signed for $2,800,000).

View Draft Report

School: Homewood-Flossmoor HS, Flossmoor, Ill. Source: HS

Commit/Drafted: Clemson
Age At Draft: 18.8
BA Grade:55/Extreme
Tools:Hit: 55. Power: 40. Run: 70. Field: 60. Arm: 55.

About 28 miles south of Chicago, Homewood-Flossmoor High has produced its fair share of professional athletes. Head looks to join that list in July. Blessed with a lot of natural athletic ability, the 6-foot, 180-pound outfielder brings a variety of tools to the table that can be menacing to any opponent. Head has made some adjustments in his setup from a year ago that has served him well this spring. Supporting a high leg kick as his timing device last summer, Head has cut it down substantially, and now takes a minimal stride forward. By doing this, his timing and balance have improved, and he is now in a better position at front foot strike to let his hands work. Scouts marvel at Head’s ability to spray the ball around the field and admire his “hit it where it’s pitched” approach. He projects to be a line drive/gap bat at the next level, though he does possess strength to the pull side, and can leave the yard when he gets extended. He does operate with a bit of a bat wrap in his swing, but enough bat speed is there to overcome it right now. A 70-grade runner, Head gets out of the box quickly and should be a stolen base threat and high-BABIP player. He covers plenty of ground in center field and has above-average or plus arm strength with good accuracy as well. Head is committed to Clemson but is generating top-two round draft attention.

Top Rankings

Organization Prospect Rankings

BA Grade/Risk: 55/Extreme.

Track Record: Head was said to be a personal favorite of Padres GM A.J. Preller in the 2023 draft class, so it was no surprise that San Diego selected him with their first-round pick that year. Head played just 48 games with the Padres, then a month into the 2024 season went to Miami in the trade for second baseman Luis Arraez. Soon after the trade, Head injured his left hip and had season-ending surgery.

Scouting Report: As an amateur, Head showed both an advanced hit tool and plate discipline. He will flash that hitting ability at times, staying on offspeed pitches despite getting fooled. However, a lot of his contact in the pro ranks has been soft. He has shown the makings of above-average plate discipline, seeing the ball late and spitting on balls just off the plate. The big concern with Head that may determine his ultimate ceiling is his power. He has well below-average power at present, and though he is young and could add strength, his slight frame may cap his power potential. Head’s biggest strength on the field is his athleticism and specifically his plus-plus speed. It hasn’t turned into stolen bases, but his speed plays well in center field, where he looks like he’s floating. His jumps could use some work, but he makes up for them with blinding closing speed. He has a below-average arm which runners will test.

The Future: Assuming his hip surgery doesn’t affect his long-term speed or athleticism, Head is a toolsy prospect with plenty of upside. He has many ingredients to be an ideal leadoff man if the offensive impact takes a step forward. If it doesn’t, his walks, speed and defense could still provide value in a bench role. Because of the time he missed in 2024, it’s likely that he’ll repeat Low-A to begin 2025 but could see High-A soon.

Scouting Grades Hit: 50 | Power: 40 | Run: 70 | Fielding: 60 | Arm: 40
BA Grade: 55/Extreme

Track Record: The Padres certainly have an amateur type under general manager A.J. Preller--young, toolsy and plays up the middle. See: Jackson Merrill and James Wood in the 2021 draft, Robert Hassell III in 2020 and CJ Abrams in 2019. Head, the Padres’ first-rounder in 2023, fits the bill. He was the best position prospect in Homewood-Flossmoor High history as he hit .485/.568/.814 as a senior while striking out just five times in 118 plate appearances and going 31-for-31 in stolen bases. The Padres signed Head for a slightly-under slot $2.8 million as the 25th overall pick, and he finished his first pro summer at Low-A Lake Elsinore after dominating the Arizona Complex League in 14 games.

Scouting Report: Blessed with a ton of natural athletic ability, Head has plus-plus speed. The Padres clocked him at 6.3 seconds in the 60-yard dash ahead of the draft. That will serve Head well on the bases as he gets more comfortable reading pitchers, as well as in the outfield, where he has good instincts and solid arm strength. Presently, Head is a gap-to-gap hitter with a hit-it-where-it’s-pitched approach that allows him to put the ball in play and showcase his wheels. The lefthanded hitter cut down a high leg kick heading into the draft, improving his timing and balance. His hit tool is well ahead of the power, but the Padres believe Head could develop 15-20 homer power as he fills out a wiry strong frame. He showed strong swing decisions with 15 walks, 19 strikeouts and an elite in-zone chase rate of 7.6%.

The Future: Head is a good bet to develop into an everyday center fielder and could impact games with menacing speed and surprising pop for a leadoff hitter. He finished his first summer in pro ball in Lake Elsinore and will likely return to the California League to start 2024.

Scouting Grades Hit: 55 | Power: 40 | Run: 70 | Field: 60 | Arm: 55

Draft Prospects

School: Homewood-Flossmoor HS, Flossmoor, Ill. Source: HS

Commit/Drafted: Clemson
Age At Draft: 18.8
BA Grade:55/Extreme
Tools:Hit: 55. Power: 40. Run: 70. Field: 60. Arm: 55.

About 28 miles south of Chicago, Homewood-Flossmoor High has produced its fair share of professional athletes. Head looks to join that list in July. Blessed with a lot of natural athletic ability, the 6-foot, 180-pound outfielder brings a variety of tools to the table that can be menacing to any opponent. Head has made some adjustments in his setup from a year ago that has served him well this spring. Supporting a high leg kick as his timing device last summer, Head has cut it down substantially, and now takes a minimal stride forward. By doing this, his timing and balance have improved, and he is now in a better position at front foot strike to let his hands work. Scouts marvel at Head’s ability to spray the ball around the field and admire his “hit it where it’s pitched” approach. He projects to be a line drive/gap bat at the next level, though he does possess strength to the pull side, and can leave the yard when he gets extended. He does operate with a bit of a bat wrap in his swing, but enough bat speed is there to overcome it right now. A 70-grade runner, Head gets out of the box quickly and should be a stolen base threat and high-BABIP player. He covers plenty of ground in center field and has above-average or plus arm strength with good accuracy as well. Head is committed to Clemson but is generating top-two round draft attention.

Career Transactions

Jupiter Hammerheads placed OF Dillon Head on the 60-day injured list.
Jupiter Hammerheads sent OF Dillon Head on a rehab assignment to FCL Marlins.
Jupiter Hammerheads placed OF Dillon Head on the 7-day injured list.
Jupiter Hammerheads activated OF Dillon Head.
Miami Marlins traded 2B Luis Arraez to San Diego Padres for OF Dillon Head, OF Jakob Marsee, RHP Woo-Suk Go and 1B Nathan Martorella.
OF Dillon Head assigned to Jupiter Hammerheads.
OF Dillon Head assigned to ACL Padres.
San Diego Padres signed OF Dillon Head.