Shed Long

Organization Prospect Rankings

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  Ranked Seattle Mariners #9 prospect in 2019
  Track Record: Long’s pro career got off to a slow start, but he took off at the plate once he moved from catcher to second base, where his athleticism plays better. He has steadily worked to improve his defense at second while consistently providing solid-average power and a discerning batting eye. After a solid showing at Double-A and the Arizona Fall League in 2018, the Mariners acquired Long from the Reds for second-rounder Josh Stowers.
  
  Scouting Report: Long is a bat-first player, using special bat speed and barrel manipulation to hit the ball to all fields. While he has had some issues with making consistent contact, his lefthanded bat shows signs of being above-average with future average power. His hands are very strong, which allows him to generate his bat speed. Long’s actions in the field need work, but his athleticism and average arm have helped him improve to the point where he’s a fringe-average defender. He is an average runner who is efficient stealing bases with advanced instincts, making him a double-digit home run, double-digit stolen base threat.
  
  The Future: Long should see regular at-bats at Triple-A Tacoma in 2019. If he continues to improve his defense, he has a chance to emerge as the Mariners' second baseman of the future.
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  Ranked Cincinnati Reds #8 prospect in 2018
  Drafted as a catcher in the 12th round in 2013, Long moved to second base in 2015 to take advantage of his bat. He started slowly at high Class A Daytona in 2017 before catching fire and earning a starting nod in the Florida State League all-star game. He hit 13 homers in 62 games before being moving up to Double-A Pensacola, where a wrist injury sidelined him for three weeks in the final month of the season. Long's 5-foot-8 stature belies his power. He has a quick, strong wrists that produce thunder in his bat. He has a solid approach, even if he's not looking to walk. and has shown the ability to hit for average thanks in part to his short stroke. Defensively, Long has improved at second base to become a fringe-average, though his bat will always be his calling card. While not a burner, Long has the savvy to steal bases. Long's background behind the plate is a plus that can add flexibility as an emergency catcher, and that skill could be a tiebreaker as the Reds fill out their bench. Long will get another chance at Double-A in 2018 after struggling there in 2017. Though the Reds have plenty of options at second base, Long could work his way into the big league picture soon as he had more offensive potential than any of the Reds other second base candidates.
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  Ranked Cincinnati Reds #16 prospect in 2017
  The Reds drafted Long as a high school catcher in 2013, which makes sense considering his thick, short frame and above-average arm strength. He dropped catching after two years in Rookie ball, however, and moved to second base in 2015. Long has enough range and knocks the ball down well enough to be a fringy defender at the keystone with a slow first step and a bat-first profile. Though he's 5-foot-8, Long takes powerful lefthanded swings and offers yet another reminder that being short isn't an issue for a hitter as long as he has pop in his bat. He has plenty of power for the middle infield and shows average power with a bat path that gives him good extension and carry. He gets into good hitter's counts thanks to a discerning eye. Long hit 15 home runs between two Class A levels in 2016 to rank third most in the organization, and despite average speed he knows how to swipe a base as well. He heads back to high Class A Daytona in 2017 but should reach Double-A soon.

• July, 2018 Scouting Report
  A catcher when the Reds drafted him, the 5-foot-8 Long has since transitioned into an offense-first second baseman. Despite his small stature, Long does a good job of getting leverage on his swing, resulting in 40 home runs and counting since the beginning of the 2016 season. His numbers have ticked down some in Double-A, but his main focus is maintaining average defense at second base, which will be key to him profiling as a big leaguer.
• December, 2017 Scouting Report
  Track Record: Drafted as a catcher in the 12th round in 2013, Long moved to second base in 2015 to take advantage of his bat. He started slowly at high Class A Daytona in 2017 before catching fire and earning a starting nod in the Florida State League all-star game. He hit 13 homers in 62 games before being moving up to Double-A Pensacola, where a wrist injury sidelined him for three weeks in the final month of the season. Scouting Report: Long's 5-foot-8 stature belies his power. He has quick, strong wrists that produce thunder in his bat. He has a solid approach, even if he's not looking to walk. Defensively, Long has improved at second base to become fringe-average, though his bat will always be his calling card. While not a burner, Long has the savvy to steal bases. Long's background behind the plate is a plus that can add flexibility as an emergency catcher, and that skill could be a tiebreaker as the Reds fill out their bench. The Future: Long will get another chance at Double-A in 2018 after struggling there in 2017. Though the Reds have plenty of options at second base, Long could work his way into the big league picture soon.