Ryan Kreidler

Organization Prospect Rankings

• 
  Ranked Detroit Tigers #9 prospect in 2023
  BA Grade/Risk: 45/Medium
  
  Track Record: The son of sportswriter and author Mark Kreidler, Ryan is a defensive standout who was drafted by the Tigers in the fourth round in 2019 and signed at slot value for $517,400. Kreidler spent 60 games with short-season Connecticut in 2019 before spending 2020 at the Tigers' alternate training site. He emerged as a vastly improved hitter in 2021. After hitting 15 home runs with Double-A Erie, Kreidler was promoted to Triple-A Toledo and continued to shine to end the regular season. Kreidler overcame a broken hand that put a damper on his 2022 campaign, with the Tigers rewarding him with his first callup in September 2022. Kreidler's offensive production hit a snag in 26 games in Detroit.
  
  Scouting Report: Standing at 6-foot-4, 208 pounds, Kreidler features a sturdy, daunting presence with eye-catching athleticism for his lanky build. Boasting excellent instincts and a quick first step, Kreidler has a natural ability to anticipate balls off the bat at shortstop and complements that feel with his plus arm strength and clean hands. Despite having a glove-first profile, Kreidler has worked very hard to bring more of a balance to his offensive skill set, with the fruits of his labor taking center stage in 2021. There is still a noticeable amount of swing-and-miss, as evidenced by his 25% or higher strikeout rate between Triple-A Toledo and Detroit. Moving extremely well for his size with average speed, Kreidler poses a threat on the basepaths.
  
  The Future: Kreidler flashed natural feel on both sides of the ball in his MLB debut. To make his case as a starter, he will need to boost his offensive output.
  
  Scouting Grades: Hitting: 40. Power: 40. Speed: 50. Fielding: 55. Arm: 60 BA Grade: 45
• 
  Ranked Detroit Tigers #7 prospect in 2022
  Track Record: The son of sports writer and author Mark Kreidler, Ryan long drew raves for his defense but didn’t hit until his junior year at UCLA. The Tigers drafted him in the fourth round in 2019 and signed him for $517,400. Kreidler spent 2020 at the Tigers alternate training site and emerged as a vastly improved hitter in 2021. He hit .270 with 22 home runs, 58 RBIs and 15 stolen bases between Double-A Erie and Triple-A Toledo and became the fastest-rising prospect in the Tigers system.
  
  Scouting Report: Kreidler is a strong, physical presence at 6-foot-4, 208 pounds and is impressively athletic for his size. He has a quick first step, moves extremely well with light feet and is a cerebral defender with excellent instincts and a knack for reading swings. His soft hands and plus arm strength make him a plus defender anywhere on the infield, and he often sets the defense with his natural leadership qualities. Kreidler generates plus raw power with ease and has improved his ability to get to it, but he swings and misses too often against better pitching and projects to be a below-average hitter. His average speed and solid instincts make him a base-stealing threat.
  
  The Future: Kreidler’s infield defense and power make him a strong utility candidate, and he could be a starter if he keeps improving offensively. He is in position to make his debut in 2022.

Draft Prospects

• Ranked #137 prospect in 2019 draft
  Kreidler's reputation as one of the best defenders on the West Coast dates back to high school, but he long struggled to hit, including in the Cape Cod League last summer. He improved his approach this spring and surprisingly emerged as one of UCLA's top hitters, sending his draft stock soaring. Kreidler hit .314/.387/.529 in the regular season, although his numbers did dip in conference games. Kreidler is 6-foot-4 but has a chance to stay at shortstop. He has soft hands, reads hops well, has a plus, accurate arm and possesses advanced instincts that allow him to get to every ball. He projects as an above-average shortstop and a potential plus defender at third base. Scouts believe he could play an above-average or better second base and first base, too. Kriedler's strength and long levers give him average power potential, but he's a below-average hitter who doesn't cover the outer half and is susceptible to breaking balls. Even with a questionable bat, Kreidler's infield defense, strength and "gamer" makeup have teams interested in the top five rounds.
• Ranked #315 prospect in 2016 draft
  A UCLA signee, Kreidler looks the part of a prospect, with a lanky 6-foot-2, 170-pound frame. He doesn't run presently, which likely will keep him from being drafted high, but he has tools and baseball athleticism. He has body control, a true plus arm and a sound swing that needs strength, particularly if he has to wind up at third base. He was well-known among area scouts as an underclassmen, and had a strong showing at the Area Code Games as a rising senior last summer.

• February, 2023 Scouting Report
  BA Grade/Risk: 45/Medium
  
  Track Record: The son of sportswriter and author Mark Kreidler, Ryan is a defensive standout who was drafted by the Tigers in the fourth round in 2019 and signed at slot value for $517,400. Kreidler spent 60 games with short-season Connecticut in 2019 before spending 2020 at the Tigers' alternate training site. He emerged as a vastly improved hitter in 2021. After hitting 15 home runs with Double-A Erie, Kreidler was promoted to Triple-A Toledo and continued to shine to end the regular season. Kreidler overcame a broken hand that put a damper on his 2022 campaign, with the Tigers rewarding him with his first callup in September 2022. Kreidler's offensive production hit a snag in 26 games in Detroit.
  
  Scouting Report: Standing at 6-foot-4, 208 pounds, Kreidler features a sturdy, daunting presence with eye-catching athleticism for his lanky build. Boasting excellent instincts and a quick first step, Kreidler has a natural ability to anticipate balls off the bat at shortstop and complements that feel with his plus arm strength and clean hands. Despite having a glove-first profile, Kreidler has worked very hard to bring more of a balance to his offensive skill set, with the fruits of his labor taking center stage in 2021. There is still a noticeable amount of swing-and-miss, as evidenced by his 25% or higher strikeout rate between Triple-A Toledo and Detroit. Moving extremely well for his size with average speed, Kreidler poses a threat on the basepaths.
  
  The Future: Kreidler flashed natural feel on both sides of the ball in his MLB debut. To make his case as a starter, he will need to boost his offensive output.
  
  Scouting Grades: Hitting: 40. Power: 40. Speed: 50. Fielding: 55. Arm: 60 BA Grade: 45
• December, 2022 Scouting Report
  BA Grade/Risk: 45/Medium
  
  Track Record: The son of sportswriter and author Mark Kreidler, Ryan is a defensive standout who was drafted by the Tigers in the fourth round in 2019 and signed at slot value for $517,400. Kreidler spent 60 games with short-season Connecticut in 2019 before spending 2020 at the Tigers' alternate training site. He emerged as a vastly improved hitter in 2021. After hitting 15 home runs with Double-A Erie, Kreidler was promoted to Triple-A Toledo and continued to shine to end the regular season. Kreidler overcame a broken hand that put a damper on his 2022 campaign, with the Tigers rewarding him with his first callup in September 2022. Kreidler's offensive production hit a snag in 26 games in Detroit.
  
  Scouting Report: Standing at 6-foot-4, 208 pounds, Kreidler features a sturdy, daunting presence with eye-catching athleticism for his lanky build. Boasting excellent instincts and a quick first step, Kreidler has a natural ability to anticipate balls off the bat at shortstop and complements that feel with his plus arm strength and clean hands. Despite having a glove-first profile, Kreidler has worked very hard to bring more of a balance to his offensive skill set, with the fruits of his labor taking center stage in 2021. There is still a noticeable amount of swing-and-miss, as evidenced by his 25% or higher strikeout rate between Triple-A Toledo and Detroit. Moving extremely well for his size with average speed, Kreidler poses a threat on the basepaths.
  
  The Future: Kreidler flashed natural feel on both sides of the ball in his MLB debut. To make his case as a starter, he will need to boost his offensive output.
  
  Scouting Grades: Hitting: 40. Power: 40. Speed: 50. Fielding: 55. Arm: 60 BA Grade: 45
• April, 2022 Scouting Report
  BA Grade: 50/High
  
  Track Record: The son of sports writer and author Mark Kreidler, Ryan long drew raves for his defense but didn&#39t hit until his junior year at UCLA. The Tigers drafted him in the fourth round in 2019 and signed him for $517,400. Kreidler spent 2020 at the Tigers alternate training site and emerged as a vastly improved hitter in 2021. He hit .270 with 22 home runs, 58 RBIs and 15 stolen bases between Double-A Erie and Triple-A Toledo and became the fastest-rising prospect in the Tigers system.
  
  Scouting Report: Kreidler is a strong, physical presence at 6-foot-4, 208 pounds and is impressively athletic for his size. He has a quick first step, moves extremely well with light feet and is a cerebral defender with excellent instincts and a knack for reading swings. His soft hands and plus arm strength make him a plus defender anywhere on the infield, and he often sets the defense with his natural leadership qualities. Kreidler generates plus raw power with ease and has improved his ability to get to it, but he swings and misses too often against better pitching and projects to be a below-average hitter. His average speed and solid instincts make him a base-stealing threat.
  
  The Future: Kreidler&#39s infield defense and power make him a strong utility candidate, and he could be a starter if he keeps improving offensively. He is in position to make his debut in 2022.
  
  Scouting Grades: Hit: 40. Power: 50. Speed: 50. Fielding: 60. Arm: 60.
• December, 2021 Scouting Report
  Track Record: The son of sports writer and author Mark Kreidler, Ryan long drew raves for his defense but didn’t hit until his junior year at UCLA. The Tigers drafted him in the fourth round in 2019 and signed him for $517,400. Kreidler spent 2020 at the Tigers alternate training site and emerged as a vastly improved hitter in 2021. He hit .270 with 22 home runs, 58 RBIs and 15 stolen bases between Double-A Erie and Triple-A Toledo and became the fastest-rising prospect in the Tigers system.
  
  Scouting Report: Kreidler is a strong, physical presence at 6-foot-4, 208 pounds and is impressively athletic for his size. He has a quick first step, moves extremely well with light feet and is a cerebral defender with excellent instincts and a knack for reading swings. His soft hands and plus arm strength make him a plus defender anywhere on the infield, and he often sets the defense with his natural leadership qualities. Kreidler generates plus raw power with ease and has improved his ability to get to it, but he swings and misses too often against better pitching and projects to be a below-average hitter. His average speed and solid instincts make him a base-stealing threat.
  
  The Future: Kreidler’s infield defense and power make him a strong utility candidate, and he could be a starter if he keeps improving offensively. He is in position to make his debut in 2022.
• July, 2021 Scouting Report
  Kreidler's development has been a bit of a slow burn since the Tigers selected him in the fourth round of the 2019 draft, but his performance this year for Double-A Erie could jump-start his progress. Kreidler's tools won't jump out initially but scouts who have gotten extended looks at Kreidler come away impressed with the hit tool. His power production has jumped this year but so has his strikeout rate (32.6%).
• December, 2018 Scouting Report
  Kreidler's reputation as one of the best defenders on the West Coast dates back to high school, but he long struggled to hit, including in the Cape Cod League last summer. He improved his approach this spring and surprisingly emerged as one of UCLA's top hitters, sending his draft stock soaring. Kreidler hit .314/.387/.529 in the regular season, although his numbers did dip in conference games. Kreidler is 6-foot-4 but has a chance to stay at shortstop. He has soft hands, reads hops well, has a plus, accurate arm and possesses advanced instincts that allow him to get to every ball. He projects as an above-average shortstop and a potential plus defender at third base. Scouts believe he could play an above-average or better second base and first base, too. Kriedler's strength and long levers give him average power potential, but he's a below-average hitter who doesn't cover the outer half and is susceptible to breaking balls. Even with a questionable bat, Kreidler's infield defense, strength and "gamer" makeup have teams interested in the top five rounds.