Brandon Downes Stats & Scouting Report

Full name Brandon Kyle Downes
Born 09/29/1992 in South Plainfield, NJ
Profile Ht.: 6'3" / Wt.: 195 / Bats: R / Throws: R
School Virginia
Drafted in the 7th round (213th overall) by the Kansas City Royals in 2014 (signed for $150,000).

View Draft Report

On the second weekend of the college season, Downes shot up draft boards after hitting two home runs against East Carolina ace Jeff Hoffman when Hoffman was throwing well, turning around a 96 mph fastball for one of his homers. A preseason third-team All-American, Downes looked like he had a chance to push into the first round in a thin year for college bats. That proved to be the high point of the season, however, as the athletic 6-foot-3, 200-pounder wound up injuring his right wrist. Downes didn't need surgery but lost confidence and the feel for his swing, slumping to a .220/.332/.362 season entering the Atlantic Coast Conference tournament. He also struggled to make consistent contact last summer in the Cape Cod League. Downes looks the part and has the tools to be a big league regular if he hits. He's an above-average runner under way and should stay in center field, and his above-average arm would play if he had to go to right. He has plus raw power, as he showed against Hoffman, but his down spring likely will keep him from going out higher than the third round.

Top Rankings

As a sophomore in 2013, Downes led a 50-win Virginia team in multiple offensive categories. A twohome- run game against future first-round pick Jeff Hoffman early in his junior season seemed to hint at a big year, but Downes soon after suffered a right wrist injury he tried to play through. That left him dragging a slow bat through the zone, but after signing as a seventh-rounder in 2014, his bat speed returned, and he once again showed the tools to be a center fielder with plenty of power. Downes is among the best athletes in the Royals system. He is a solid-average runner who runs faster than that once underway. He's shown a tick above-average power potential to go with an average hit tool. Downes may not fit in spacious Kauffman Stadium as a center fielder--his range is simply average--but he can also play right field with an above-average arm. He could prove to be the steal of the Royals' 2014 draft class.

On the second weekend of the college season, Downes shot up draft boards after hitting two home runs against East Carolina ace Jeff Hoffman when Hoffman was throwing well, turning around a 96 mph fastball for one of his homers. A preseason third-team All-American, Downes looked like he had a chance to push into the first round in a thin year for college bats. That proved to be the high point of the season, however, as the athletic 6-foot-3, 200-pounder wound up injuring his right wrist. Downes didn't need surgery but lost confidence and the feel for his swing, slumping to a .220/.332/.362 season entering the Atlantic Coast Conference tournament. He also struggled to make consistent contact last summer in the Cape Cod League. Downes looks the part and has the tools to be a big league regular if he hits. He's an above-average runner under way and should stay in center field, and his above-average arm would play if he had to go to right. He has plus raw power, as he showed against Hoffman, but his down spring likely will keep him from going out higher than the third round.