K.J. Woods
| AB | 901 |
|---|---|
| AVG | .242 |
| OBP | .335 |
| SLG | .396 |
| HR | 29 |
- Full name K.J. Elijah Woods
- Born 07/09/1995 in Ft Mill, SC
- Profile Ht.: 6'3" / Wt.: 230 / Bats: L / Throws: R
- School Fort Mill
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Drafted in the 4th round (112th overall) by the Miami Marlins in 2013 (signed for $459,200).
View Draft Report
Wood is a physical monster at 6-foot-4, 215 pounds and his strength shows up in his power. He has always shown well above-average raw power in batting practice, though it's still not clear how that will translate to game power. He is prone to swing and miss and his barrel doesn't stay in the zone very long, which will also prevent him from hitting for average. Some scouts question his makeup, as he can come across as lackadaisical, but others think he's simply a teenager who will grow out of it. He isn't a great defender in the outfield, though he is a solid athlete and could stick on a corner with some work. Otherwise, he's destined for first base. He is considered signable and could get popped anywhere from the fourth to eighth round. His whole game is raw, but the power potential can't be ignored.
Top Rankings
Organization Prospect Rankings
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A three-sport star at Fort Mills (S.C.) High, Woods gave up playing football and basketball to shift his focus to baseball, and the Marlins pounced. They paid him $459,200 as a 2013 fourth-round pick to pass up junior college, even though he was considered raw as a baseball player. Other teams were ready to pluck Woods for his top-of-the-scale raw power, which finally showed up in games in 2015, when he slammed 18 home runs at low Class A Greensboro and led the South Atlantic League with a .219 isolated slugging percentage. He even hit two homers in an exhibition game against the parent Marlins in an April matchup. The usual caveat applies: Greensboro's NewBridge Bank Park plays as an extreme home-run park, and Woods hit 12 of 18 bombs there. He showed growth in his overall offensive approach in 2015, however, using more of a middle-field approach, rather than looking only to pull. Despite his physical 6-foot-3 frame, Woods has a compact lefthanded swing but is prone to swinging and missing. He struck out 30 percent of the time in 2015. He plays below-average defense at first base, with poor reaction times and a slow exchange on throws. Woods moves to high Class A Jupiter in 2016, when the Florida State League will challenge his power.
Draft Prospects
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Wood is a physical monster at 6-foot-4, 215 pounds and his strength shows up in his power. He has always shown well above-average raw power in batting practice, though it's still not clear how that will translate to game power. He is prone to swing and miss and his barrel doesn't stay in the zone very long, which will also prevent him from hitting for average. Some scouts question his makeup, as he can come across as lackadaisical, but others think he's simply a teenager who will grow out of it. He isn't a great defender in the outfield, though he is a solid athlete and could stick on a corner with some work. Otherwise, he's destined for first base. He is considered signable and could get popped anywhere from the fourth to eighth round. His whole game is raw, but the power potential can't be ignored.
