Bryant Packard

Organization Prospect Rankings

• 
  Ranked Detroit Tigers #28 prospect in 2022
  Track Record: Packard was the American Athletic Conference player of the year as a sophomore at East Carolina, and the Tigers made him their fifth-round pick the next year in 2019. His offensive prowess showed up in his pro debut, when he posted a 162 wRC+ with Low-A West Michigan and advanced to High-A. He returned to High-A in 2021, but hit just .222/.310/.369.
  
  Scouting Report: Packard has been viewed as a bat-first prospect since his college days. He possesses an advanced, fluid lefthanded stroke and has enough strength in his frame to produce easy raw power. Packard has a polished eye and trimmed his strikeout rate by 2.5% in 2021 compared to 2019. Packard’s limited athleticism and lack of speed make him best suited to left field. If that’s the case, he’ll need to do damage at the plate with consistency. While Packard has earned praise regarding his work ethic, his limited athleticism and lack of speed make his profile best suited for left field. His offense will continue to be his selling tool as long as it stands up against advanced pitching.
  
  The Future: The Tigers still believe in Packard’s bat and are likely to test him in 2022 against upper-level pitching.
• 
  Ranked Detroit Tigers #17 prospect in 2021
  TRACK RECORD: Packard won American Athletic Conference player of the year as a sophomore at East Carolina. He was hampered by back discomfort and a wrist injury as a junior, but the Tigers still drafted him in the fifth round and signed him for $386,600. Packard immediately hit upon signing and climbed three levels up to high Class A Lakeland in his pro debut. His only 2020 action came in instructional league due to the coronavirus pandemic.
  
  SCOUTING REPORT: Packard shows good hitter's instincts and possesses a natural ability to drive the ball. He controls the strike zone and has fluid barrel control, allowing him to pick out hittable pitches and square them up consistently. Packard isn't much of a runner, but his plus raw power allows him to rack up extra-base hits. Defensively, Packard is simply adequate in a corner with well below-average speed and a well below-average arm. Scouts wonder if he'll have to move to first base.
  
  THE FUTURE: Packard is going to have to mash in order to make up for his defensive shortcomings, but he may have the bat to do it. He should see the upper minors at some point in 2021.

Draft Prospects

• Ranked #118 prospect in 2019 draft
  An impressive pure hitter with plus raw power, Packard had an exceptional sophomore season in 2018, when he hit .406/.462/.671 with 14 home runs. He led all American Athletic Conference hitters in each of the three triple-slash categories, set an ECU record with a 32-game hitting streak and was selected as a first-team All-American. His track record of hitting is extensive, and he also performed well over the summer in the Cape Cod League, where he hit .305/.421/.576 with four home runs and a 15.8 percent walk rate in 18 games. This spring hasn't been as strong for Packard, although he still posted an impressive .361/.447/.568 line with 25 walks and 32 strikeouts through his first 48 games. He's shown less power as a junior, but that could stem from an early season wrist injury that forced him to miss a few games. All of Packard's value comes from the bat, as his supplemental tools leave much to be desired. He's strictly a corner outfielder or a first baseman, and scouts are underwhelmed with his outfield defense as a well below-average runner with a 40-grade arm. Still, he has a terrific, loose swing with a great understanding of how to hit, and his wood bat track record against top-level competition should ease concerns over his profile.
• Ranked #250 prospect in 2016 draft
  A first baseman at DH Conley High in Greenville, N.C., Packard is committed to his hometown East Carolina Pirates. Like fellow ECU recruit Spencer Brickhouse, Packard profiles as a lefthanded-hitting first baseman with some pop. While Packard doesn't have quite as much power as Brickhouse--whose raw power grades out tops in the state of North Carolina--Packard provides more athleticism and versatility. He's played third base, although he probably doesn't have the arm strength for it long term. He could also slide over to left field. Like Brickhouse, Packard seems likely to go to school unless a team decides to spend big.

• December, 2021 Scouting Report
  Track Record: Packard was the American Athletic Conference player of the year as a sophomore at East Carolina, and the Tigers made him their fifth-round pick the next year in 2019. His offensive prowess showed up in his pro debut, when he posted a 162 wRC+ with Low-A West Michigan and advanced to High-A. He returned to High-A in 2021, but hit just .222/.310/.369.
  
  Scouting Report: Packard has been viewed as a bat-first prospect since his college days. He possesses an advanced, fluid lefthanded stroke and has enough strength in his frame to produce easy raw power. Packard has a polished eye and trimmed his strikeout rate by 2.5% in 2021 compared to 2019. Packard’s limited athleticism and lack of speed make him best suited to left field. If that’s the case, he’ll need to do damage at the plate with consistency. While Packard has earned praise regarding his work ethic, his limited athleticism and lack of speed make his profile best suited for left field. His offense will continue to be his selling tool as long as it stands up against advanced pitching.
  
  The Future: The Tigers still believe in Packard’s bat and are likely to test him in 2022 against upper-level pitching.
• July, 2021 Scouting Report
  TRACK RECORD: Packard won American Athletic Conference player of the year as a sophomore at East Carolina. He was hampered by back discomfort and a wrist injury as a junior, but the Tigers still drafted him in the fifth round and signed him for $386,600. Packard immediately hit upon signing and climbed three levels up to high Class A Lakeland in his pro debut. His only 2020 action came in instructional league due to the coronavirus pandemic.
  
  SCOUTING REPORT: Packard shows good hitter's instincts and possesses a natural ability to drive the ball. He controls the strike zone and has fluid barrel control, allowing him to pick out hittable pitches and square them up consistently. Packard isn't much of a runner, but his plus raw power allows him to rack up extra-base hits. Defensively, Packard is simply adequate in a corner with well below-average speed and a well below-average arm. Scouts wonder if he'll have to move to first base.
  
  THE FUTURE: Packard is going to have to mash in order to make up for his defensive shortcomings, but he may have the bat to do it. He should see the upper minors at some point in 2021.
• March, 2021 Scouting Report
  TRACK RECORD: Packard won American Athletic Conference player of the year as a sophomore at East Carolina. He was hampered by back discomfort and a wrist injury as a junior, but the Tigers still drafted him in the fifth round and signed him for $386,600. Packard immediately hit upon signing and climbed three levels up to high Class A Lakeland in his pro debut. His only 2020 action came in instructional league due to the coronavirus pandemic.
  
  SCOUTING REPORT: Packard shows good hitter's instincts and possesses a natural ability to drive the ball. He controls the strike zone and has fluid barrel control, allowing him to pick out hittable pitches and square them up consistently. Packard isn't much of a runner, but his plus raw power allows him to rack up extra-base hits. Defensively, Packard is simply adequate in a corner with well below-average speed and a well below-average arm. Scouts wonder if he'll have to move to first base.
  
  THE FUTURE: Packard is going to have to mash in order to make up for his defensive shortcomings, but he may have the bat to do it. He should see the upper minors at some point in 2021.
• December, 2020 Scouting Report
  TRACK RECORD: Packard won American Athletic Conference player of the year as a sophomore at East Carolina. He was hampered by back discomfort and a wrist injury as a junior, but the Tigers still drafted him in the fifth round and signed him for $386,600. Packard immediately hit upon signing and climbed three levels up to high Class A Lakeland in his pro debut. His only 2020 action came in instructional league due to the coronavirus pandemic.
  
  SCOUTING REPORT: Packard shows good hitter's instincts and possesses a natural ability to drive the ball. He controls the strike zone and has fluid barrel control, allowing him to pick out hittable pitches and square them up consistently. Packard isn't much of a runner, but his plus raw power allows him to rack up extra-base hits. Defensively, Packard is simply adequate in a corner with well below-average speed and a well below-average arm. Scouts wonder if he'll have to move to first base.
  
  THE FUTURE: Packard is going to have to mash in order to make up for his defensive shortcomings, but he may have the bat to do it. He should see the upper minors at some point in 2021.
• December, 2018 Scouting Report
  An impressive pure hitter with plus raw power, Packard had an exceptional sophomore season in 2018, when he hit .406/.462/.671 with 14 home runs. He led all American Athletic Conference hitters in each of the three triple-slash categories, set an ECU record with a 32-game hitting streak and was selected as a first-team All-American. His track record of hitting is extensive, and he also performed well over the summer in the Cape Cod League, where he hit .305/.421/.576 with four home runs and a 15.8 percent walk rate in 18 games. This spring hasn't been as strong for Packard, although he still posted an impressive .361/.447/.568 line with 25 walks and 32 strikeouts through his first 48 games. He's shown less power as a junior, but that could stem from an early season wrist injury that forced him to miss a few games. All of Packard's value comes from the bat, as his supplemental tools leave much to be desired. He's strictly a corner outfielder or a first baseman, and scouts are underwhelmed with his outfield defense as a well below-average runner with a 40-grade arm. Still, he has a terrific, loose swing with a great understanding of how to hit, and his wood bat track record against top-level competition should ease concerns over his profile.