Zane Evans
| AB | 1282 |
|---|---|
| AVG | .246 |
| OBP | .289 |
| SLG | .371 |
| HR | 28 |
- Full name Zane Christopher Evans
- Born 11/29/1991 in Newnan, GA
- Profile Ht.: 6'2" / Wt.: 225 / Bats: R / Throws: R
- School Georgia Tech
-
Drafted in the 4th round (114th overall) by the Kansas City Royals in 2013 (signed for $400,000).
View Draft Report
Evans started as a freshman behind the plate for Georgia Tech and has held the job for three years while adding pitching duties. He picked up seven saves in 2012 but had a lighter load this season. Still, some scouts like him better as a pitcher, thanks to a fastball that sits in the mid-90s and touches 96-97, and a power slider in the mid-80s that earns plus grades. As the season progressed, though, Evans was earning more looks behind the plate and likely will be sent out as a catcher, perhaps as early as the third round. His 6-foot-2, 221-pound frame should be durable enough for the job, and he has obvious arm strength. He's not an average defender yet but has improved his receiving, though he still boxes some balls. His sloppy footwork negates his arm strength to an extent, as he had thrown out just 23 percent of basestealers this year. Evans' bat has improved significantly, as he has made more contact to take advantage of his strength and ranked second in the Atlantic Coast Conference with 14 home runs. If his improvement at the plate doesn't hold, there's always the mound.
Top Rankings
Organization Prospect Rankings
-
When Evans arrived at Georgia Tech in 2011, he became the first freshman to serve as the Yellow Jackets regular catcher since Jason Varitek in 1991. A two-way player as a catcher/reliever at Georgia Tech, much like Orioles catcher Matt Wieters, Evans combines at least average power potential at the plate with a chance to develop into at least an average receiver. His 2013 debut ended early when he broke his hand on a foul tip at Rookie-level Idaho Falls. A large-framed catcher, Evans has an excellent arm, which has been clocked at 94-96 mph off the mound, but he needs to improve his footwork. His hands also could get quieter as he receives pitches. Evans has a solid approach at the plate for a power hitter. He's looking for something to pull, but he recognizes pitches well enough to work counts to get himself in situations to zone pitches. The Royals have all-star Salvador Perez signed through 2019, but Evans and Cam Gallagher stand out as the two in-house backstops who have a chance to develop into everyday regulars. Evans could jump over Gallagher to high Class A Wilmington for his first full season.
Draft Prospects
-
Evans started as a freshman behind the plate for Georgia Tech and has held the job for three years while adding pitching duties. He picked up seven saves in 2012 but had a lighter load this season. Still, some scouts like him better as a pitcher, thanks to a fastball that sits in the mid-90s and touches 96-97, and a power slider in the mid-80s that earns plus grades. As the season progressed, though, Evans was earning more looks behind the plate and likely will be sent out as a catcher, perhaps as early as the third round. His 6-foot-2, 221-pound frame should be durable enough for the job, and he has obvious arm strength. He's not an average defender yet but has improved his receiving, though he still boxes some balls. His sloppy footwork negates his arm strength to an extent, as he had thrown out just 23 percent of basestealers this year. Evans' bat has improved significantly, as he has made more contact to take advantage of his strength and ranked second in the Atlantic Coast Conference with 14 home runs. If his improvement at the plate doesn't hold, there's always the mound.
Minor League Top Prospects
-
Evans worked both behind the plate and on the mound during his three years at Georgia Tech. He reached 97 mph with his fastball, but the Royals preferred him as a catcher, signing their fourth-rounder for $400,000. Evans impressed PL observers with both his bat and above-average arm behind the plate. He?s a mature hitter with average power, but he tends to get in pull mode and needs to learn to use the whole field. Evans? receiving skills still are a work in progress, with every part of his game behind the plate needing improvement. Despite a strong arm, he threw out 21 percent of basestealers with sloppy footwork being the biggest culprit. Idaho Falls? Ramirez said that while Evans wasn?t a vocal leader, he inspired his teammates through his consistently high effort on the field.
