Tyler Naquin

Organization Prospect Rankings

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  Ranked Cleveland Guardians #6 prospect in 2016
  Naquin ended his prolific career at Texas A&M with back-to-back Big 12 Conference batting titles and was drafted 15th overall in 2012. He got off to a quick start in the minors, but has been slowed by injuries in recent seasons. A broken hand cost him the second half of 2014 and delayed his start in 2015. He also spent time on the disabled list in 2015 with a concussion. When he's been on the field, Naquin has produced. His feel for the barrel and quick wrists enable him to make a lot of contact and hit line drives to all fields. He widened his stance as a professional, allowing him to hit for a bit more power, but his game is still more about getting on base and using his above-average speed. Beginning with Naquin, the Indians drafted three straight center fielders in the first round, and he is a superior defender than Clint Frazier or Bradley Zimmer. Naquin's speed and instincts allow him to cover ground easily in the outfield and he has plus arm strength. He likely would have reached the big leagues already if he hadn't been hampered by injuries, and he should be in line to reach Progressive Field some time in 2016. He has been used almost exclusively in center field in pro ball, but his speed and defensive ability figure to make him at least a fourth outfielder in the major leagues.
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  Ranked Cleveland Guardians #6 prospect in 2015
  Naquin finished his college career with back-to-back Big 12 Conference batting titles at Texas A&M and netted himself a $1.75 million bonus as the 15th overall pick in 2012. He has kept hitting as a pro and was coming on strong at Double-A Akron in 2014, hitting .333 in June, until a stray pitch broke his right hand on June 27, ending his season. Naquin always has been a handsy hitter, but he made an adjustment to broaden his stance in the middle of 2013. Things really started clicking when he hit .339 in the Arizona Fall League, and he continued to improve in 2014. He created more leverage in his swing and consistently stayed up the middle. He takes a quiet approach in the box and hits to all fields with a line-drive swing. Naquin shows pop at times, too, though he'll likely max out near 12 homers. He played right field in college but has moved to center as a pro. He runs well and his routes and jumps are solid. He has a plus arm that would play well in right field, and opponents already think twice about running on him, though he lacks ideal power for a corner. Some scouts are less enamored of Naquin's ability to stick in center and see him as a fourth outfielder. Naquin can be a top-of-the-order hitter and everyday center fielder if everything comes together, and he probably will begin 2015 at Triple-A Columbus, where he'll share center field with James Ramsey.
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  Ranked Cleveland Guardians #4 prospect in 2014
  Naquin claimed back-to-back Big 12 Conference batting titles as a sophomore and junior before landing a $1.75 million bonus as the 15th overall pick in 2012. Going to high Class A Carolina for his first full season, Naquin came out of the gates strong and hit .311/.375/.468 in the first half before wearing down. Hailed as the best pure hitter in the 2012 draft class, Naquin has quick hands and exceptional bat control, allowing him to spray line drives all over the field. He spread out his stance in 2013 to give himself a stronger base and allow him to use his legs better. However, scouts would like to see him turn on inside pitches with more authority rather than looking to flick them the other way. He has below-average power but he can accumulate extra bases with his above-average speed and aggressiveness. That lack of home run pop makes it essential Naquin stay in center field. He was a right fielder in college, but he has the range and instincts to make a go of it center. His arm is also well-above-average. Naquin's doubters see him as a future fourth outfielder, which would likely be his fate if he doesn't make it in center field. If everything comes together, he'll be a top-of-the-order table-setter and everyday center fielder. He'll start 2014 at Double-A Akron.
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  Ranked Cleveland Guardians #3 prospect in 2013
  Naquin led NCAA Division I with 104 hits for Texas A&M in 2011, and he won consecutive Big 12 Conference batting titles the last two seasons with .381 and .380 averages. He parlayed his status as one of the best pure hitters in college baseball into a $1.75 million bonus as the 15th overall pick in the 2012 draft. A back injury kept him out for most of August. Naquin's quick, handsy swing helps him stay inside the ball, use the opposite field and generate line drives. He has nice balance and a mature approach. He has good hand-eye coordination and has no issues handling breaking pitches. Naquin could benefit from incorporating his lower half more in his swing and turning on pitches with greater authority. He has below-average power and his narrow shoulders raise questions about his ability to add more pop. A right fielder for the Aggies, Naquin played center field in pro ball. He's a solid runner with a well above-average arm, though he needs to improve his routes. Whether Naquin will have the defensive chops to handle center field or the power to profile on a corner is still a question, as some scouts consider him a tweener. His bat is advanced enough for him to make the jump to high Class A.

Draft Prospects

• Ranked #25 prospect in 2012 draft
  Naquin is the best pure hitter in the entire 2012 draft. He won the Big 12 Conference batting title (.381) and topped NCAA Division I in hits (104) as a sophomore, and he's leading the Big 12 in hitting (.397) again this spring. He has a quick lefthanded bat and a controlled approach at the plate, focusing on staying inside the ball and employing the opposite field. He also has the best throwing arm among college outfielders, earning 65-70 grades on the 20-80 scouting scale and a don't-run-on-him reputation in the Big 12. Additionally, he's a solid runner who flashes plus speed at times. Despite all those attributes, Naquin will last until the second half of the first round because most teams view him as a tweener who lacks the power for right field and the defensive chops for center. He has a 6-foot-2, 175-pound frame with narrow shoulders, and his ability to add strength and develop average power remains in question. He can drive the ball in batting practice but doesn't show the same kind of pop in games, hitting just seven homers in 173 college contests. His ability to play center field is undetermined because the Aggies use speedster Krey Bratsen there, and some scouts don't love Naquin's routes on fly balls.

Minor League Top Prospects

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  Ranked New York-Penn League #16 prospect in 2012
  Naquin built a reputation as one of college baseball's best pure hitters during his standout three-year career at Texas A&M, earning him a $1.75 million bonus as the No. 15 overall pick in the 2012 draft. He missed most of August with a back injury but returned in time to participate in the low Class A Midwest League playoffs. Naquin has outstanding hand-eye coordination and a handsy, line-drive swing, but he'll need to incorporate his lower half better and turn on more pitches in order to maximize his gap power. Because of his quick hands and good vision, he can let the ball travel very deep into the hitting zone. He handles breaking balls very well and is a good bunter, though he could use his solid speed more aggressively on the bases. After playing right field at A&M in deference to speed merchant Krey Bratsen, Naquin moved to center in his pro debut. He had some trouble coming in on balls early in the summer, though his jumps improved during the season. While he owns a well above-average arm, his throwing didn't stand out much in the NY-P.

• December, 2012 Scouting Report
  Background: Naquin led NCAA Division I with 104 hits for Texas A&M in 2011, and he won consecutive Big 12 Conference batting titles the last two seasons with .381 and .380 averages. He parlayed his status as one of the best pure hitters in college baseball into a $1.75 million bonus as the 15th overall pick in the 2012 draft. A back injury kept him out for most of August. Scouting Report: Naquin's quick, handsy swing helps him stay inside the ball, use the opposite field and generate plenty of line drives. He has nice balance and a mature approach at the plate. He has good hand-eye coordination and has no issues handling breaking pitches. Naquin could benefit from incorporating his lower half more in his swing and turning on pitches with greater authority. He has below-average power and his narrow shoulders raise questions about his ability to add more strength pop. A right fielder for the Aggies, Naquin played center field in pro ball. He's a solid runner with a well above-average arm, though he needs to improve his routes. The Future: Whether Naquin will have the defensive chops to handle center field or the power to profile on a corner is still a question, as some scouts consider him a tweener. His bat is advanced enough for him to make the jump to high Class A for his first full pro season, however.