JT Riddle
| AB | 745 |
|---|---|
| AVG | .223 |
| OBP | .261 |
| SLG | .354 |
| HR | 19 |
- Full name Joshua Travis Riddle
- Born 10/12/1991 in Frankfort, KY
- Profile Ht.: 6'1" / Wt.: 190 / Bats: L / Throws: R
- School Kentucky
- Debut 04/11/2017
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Drafted in the 13th round (382nd overall) by the Miami Marlins in 2013 (signed for $100,000).
View Draft Report
Riddle is a rare bird as a college second baseman who could move to shortstop in pro ball. He defers to Matt Reida at Kentucky, but Riddle's solid range, reliable hands and plus arm will work at short. At the plate, the 6-foot-3, 185-pounder excels at making contact. He has a compact lefthanded stroke and a line-drive approach, though he could do a better job of tapping into his gap power potential. Some scouts question how Riddle will fare against tougher competition given that he had a .622 OPS in the Cape Cod League last summer and a .589 OPS in Southeastern Conference play this spring. He has solid speed but isn't a major basestealing threat. The Red Sox selected him in the 35th round in 2010 out of a Kentucky high school.
Top Rankings
Organization Prospect Rankings
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Kentucky's Mr. Baseball in 2010 turned down the Red Sox, who drafted him in the 35th round, to attend UK. He played all over the infield for Kentucky, though primarily at second base, and has primarily played shortstop as a pro. He shows a plus arm and good-enough hands to stay at the position, which helps him profile well as a future utility man with a lefthanded bat. He committed just six errors in 84 games at short in 2016 and had a .982 fielding percentage. Despite his aggressive offensive approach, Riddle limits his strikeouts (13.7 percent for his career) because of a compact swing and level bat path. Riddle has gap power and some ability to pop the ball out of the park but produces below-average power. He's an average runner but doesn't try to steal much. His ability to play multiple positions and propensity for contact portend a useful utility career. Riddle receives high marks for leadership and makeup. -
A standout high school player in Frankfort, Ky., Riddle turned down the Red Sox as a 35th-round pick in 2010, instead opting to attend Kentucky. He played second base for the Wildcats and has moved to shortstop as a pro, where he shows a plus arm and good-enough hands to play the position, at least in a utility role. At the plate, Riddle has an assertive approach, but his compact, lefthanded swing and level path help curtail strikeouts. He always has shown good gap power, but he started to show the ability to clear the fence occasionally at Double-A Jacksonville in 2015 after not hitting a home run in 45 games at high Class A Jupiter to start the year. He grades as at least an average runner but does not often attempt to steal. He shows good range up the middle and in the hole and has enough arm to play third base, which along with his lefty bat portends well for a career as a utility infielder. Riddle receives high marks for leadership and makeup. He probably will return to Jacksonville in 2016. -
The Marlins don't anticipate having a need for a shortstop any time soon with slick-fielding Adeiny Hechavarria still in his major league infancy, but they have a nice stockpile in the minors. Riddle played mostly third and second base in the first half alongside Justin Bohn but took over as low Class A Greensboro's shortstop in the second half after Bohn's promotion, and the team didn't skip a beat. Riddle's numbers don't jump off the page, but the Marlins love his tools. Some in the organization liken him to Pirates shortstop Jordy Mercer. Riddle has all the essentials--an above-average arm, great hands and footwork'to play short at a high level. The lefthanded hitter has solid gap power, some leverage in his swing and solid-average speed. He shows good range up the middle and in the hole, and rarely does he get caught fielding a ball flat-footed. The Marlins also love Riddle's leadership ability and clubhouse presence, which along with his lefty bat profiles him well as a future utility infielder. He's headed to high Class A Jupiter with a chance to reach Double-A Jacksonville in 2015.
Draft Prospects
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Riddle is a rare bird as a college second baseman who could move to shortstop in pro ball. He defers to Matt Reida at Kentucky, but Riddle's solid range, reliable hands and plus arm will work at short. At the plate, the 6-foot-3, 185-pounder excels at making contact. He has a compact lefthanded stroke and a line-drive approach, though he could do a better job of tapping into his gap power potential. Some scouts question how Riddle will fare against tougher competition given that he had a .622 OPS in the Cape Cod League last summer and a .589 OPS in Southeastern Conference play this spring. He has solid speed but isn't a major basestealing threat. The Red Sox selected him in the 35th round in 2010 out of a Kentucky high school.
