Niko Hulsizer Stats & Scouting Report

Full name Niko Hulsizer
Born 02/01/1997 in Mohnton, PA
Profile Ht.: 6'0" / Wt.: 225 / Bats: R / Throws: R
School Morehead State
Drafted in the 18th round (554th overall) by the Los Angeles Dodgers in 2018 (signed for $125,000).

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Hamate injuries normally sap hitters' power for months after they return to action. Hulsizer, the 2017 Division I home run champ with 27 home runs, has enough power that he could drive the ball out even with less than his full hand strength. Scouts throw 70 grades on his exceptional raw power and the 6-foot-2, 225 pound junior has shown a consistent ability to get that power to play in games. He was hitting .302/.440/.595 with nine home runs in 32 games heading into the Ohio Valley Conference tournament. Hulsizer is an above-average runner who can play fringe-average defense in a corner outfield spot with an average arm. Hulsizer's below-average hit tool is what will likely push him into day three of the draft. He has reduced his strikeout rate to 20 percent this season (down from 25 percent as a sophomore), but scouts continue to be concerned about his ability to make semi-consistent contact.

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TRACK RECORD: At Morehead State, Hulsizer finished second in Division I with 27 home runs in 2017 and won the college home run derby in Omaha that season. In 2018 a hamate injury cost him time and led to a dip to 12 home runs, but he once again showed the plus-plus raw power that entices scouts. He had already hit 20 home runs in 2019 before he was traded to the Rays on July 31 for Adam Kolarek.

SCOUTING REPORT: Hulsizer has a powerful, muscular build. He hits the ball as hard as pretty much anyone in the Rays organization with a pull-heavy approach that uses his legs well. Hulsizer has yet to find a fastball he can't catch up to, but he's yet to show nearly the same confidence when facing breaking balls. He's starting to show the ability to work to more advantageous counts, but for now he still projects as the .230-.240 hitter that could limit his power potential. Defensively, he's fringe-average in the corners thanks to average speed and an average arm.

THE FUTURE: Hulsizer is a high-risk, high-reward player who could hit 30-plus big league home runs, or could end up stuck in Double-A because of too many strikeouts.

Hamate injuries normally sap hitters' power for months after they return to action. Hulsizer, the 2017 Division I home run champ with 27 home runs, has enough power that he could drive the ball out even with less than his full hand strength. Scouts throw 70 grades on his exceptional raw power and the 6-foot-2, 225 pound junior has shown a consistent ability to get that power to play in games. He was hitting .302/.440/.595 with nine home runs in 32 games heading into the Ohio Valley Conference tournament. Hulsizer is an above-average runner who can play fringe-average defense in a corner outfield spot with an average arm. Hulsizer's below-average hit tool is what will likely push him into day three of the draft. He has reduced his strikeout rate to 20 percent this season (down from 25 percent as a sophomore), but scouts continue to be concerned about his ability to make semi-consistent contact.

TRACK RECORD: At Morehead State, Hulsizer finished second in Division I with 27 home runs in 2017 and won the college home run derby in Omaha that season. In 2018 a hamate injury cost him time and led to a dip to 12 home runs, but he once again showed the plus-plus raw power that entices scouts. He had already hit 20 home runs in 2019 before he was traded to the Rays on July 31 for Adam Kolarek.

SCOUTING REPORT: Hulsizer has a powerful, muscular build. He hits the ball as hard as pretty much anyone in the Rays organization with a pull-heavy approach that uses his legs well. Hulsizer has yet to find a fastball he can't catch up to, but he's yet to show nearly the same confidence when facing breaking balls. He's starting to show the ability to work to more advantageous counts, but for now he still projects as the .230-.240 hitter that could limit his power potential. Defensively, he's fringe-average in the corners thanks to average speed and an average arm.

THE FUTURE: Hulsizer is a high-risk, high-reward player who could hit 30-plus big league home runs, or could end up stuck in Double-A because of too many strikeouts.