Joel Booker Stats & Scouting Report

Full name Joel Patrick Cleo Booker
Born 11/01/1993 in Columbus, NC
Profile Ht.: 6'1" / Wt.: 190 / Bats: R / Throws: R
School Iowa
Drafted in the 22nd round (656th overall) by the Chicago White Sox in 2016.

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With significant tools and a solid record of success at Indian Hills (Iowa) CC, Booker was expected to blossom into a draft pick last year. But his approach wasn't ready for the Big 10 and he struggled to make contact. As a senior, Booker showed a much better approach that paid off in more contact, a higher batting average (.370 this season after .235 in '15) and more power. Booker is an excellent athlete, a plus runner (23 for 25 SB) with a plus arm. Now that's he's shown he can make adjustments at the plate, he fits somewhere as a senior sign with tools.

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Track Record: After spending his first two collegiate seasons at Indian Hills (Iowa) JC, Booker transferred to Iowa for his junior and senior seasons. He showed contact and speed with the Hawkeyes, which led the White Sox to take a flyer on him as a senior sign. He’s displayed a similar set of skills as a pro and in 2018 started to tap into a bit more power.

Scouting Report: Booker spent the offseason overhauling his swing, including eliminating a bat wrap and re-learning how to use his upper and lower body. The results were stark. He stood out among a prospect-filled outfield at high Class A Winston-Salem, earned the Carolina League’s All-Star Game MVP and then moved to the upper levels for the first time. Booker unlocked some power at Winston-Salem, but the White Sox would prefer he spray the ball around the park and use his plus speed on the basepaths. He plays solid defense in the outfield, and can use his speed to make up for any mistakes he makes on routes.

The Future: Booker will likely return to Double-A Birmingham to start 2019, though the arrivals of Blake Rutherford, Luis Robert and possibly Micker Adolfo might mean a move to Triple-A Charlotte.

With significant tools and a solid record of success at Indian Hills (Iowa) CC, Booker was expected to blossom into a draft pick last year. But his approach wasn't ready for the Big 10 and he struggled to make contact. As a senior, Booker showed a much better approach that paid off in more contact, a higher batting average (.370 this season after .235 in '15) and more power. Booker is an excellent athlete, a plus runner (23 for 25 SB) with a plus arm. Now that's he's shown he can make adjustments at the plate, he fits somewhere as a senior sign with tools.