Braden Bishop

Organization Prospect Rankings

• 
  Ranked Seattle Mariners #19 prospect in 2020
  TRACK RECORD: Bishop couldn't avoid the injury bug for the second year in a row, this time missing a significant amount of time due to surgery to repair a lacerated spleen in a season in which the Washington product made his major league debut.
  
  SCOUTING REPORT: Bishop fits the profile of a fourth outfielder, but he's going to have to show more with the bat than he did during his big league trial in 2019. He hit with more power during his abbreviated season in Triple-A, but whether that translates to MLB performance is still in question. The strength he's added over the past two years hasn't resulted in significantly more impact at the plate, and a hitch in his swing requires him to get his bat started early. Bishop can do it all on the field, where he's a plus-plus defender with an above-average arm and has plus makeup and aptitude. Despite having plus speed, he's never been a big threat to steal bases.
  
  THE FUTURE: Bishop should break camp as an extra outfielder in Seattle, but that's likely his ceiling. Injury issues have kept him from putting more oomph into his swing, so staying healthy all year will give a more accurate picture of Bishop's offensive ceiling.
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  Ranked Seattle Mariners #13 prospect in 2019
  Track Record: Bishop was athletic enough in high school that he could have played college football as a wide receiver, but he instead chose to stick to baseball at Washington. He continues to receive acclaim for his 4MOM foundation that raises money for Alzheimer's disease in support of his mother. Bishop was progressing well during the first half of 2018 at Double-A Arkansas. Unfortunately, his season ended early when he suffered a broken hand after being hit by a pitch.
  
  Scouting Report: Bishop added strength and lowered his hands. That allowed him to get more power into his swing, which has helped him drive the baseball more frequently, giving him a chance to hit double-digit home runs while still being an average hitter. Early in the 2018 season, he was struggling to improve his launch angle, but it all came together for him by midseason when he hit .379/.443/.544 in June. Any offense that Bishop provides will come in addition to what he brings to the field and basepaths, because he is a plus runner and plus-plus defender in center field.
  
  The Future: The Mariners added Bishop to the 40-man roster in November in his first year of eligibility. He will head to Triple-A Tacoma and could reach Seattle in 2019.
• 
  Ranked Seattle Mariners #5 prospect in 2018
  Bishop was very well scouted in high school because he played on the same team as 2011 first-round pick and future big leaguer Tyler Goeddel and 2015 first-round pick Alex Blandino. Bishop was a potential Division I wide receiver as well, but he opeted to attend Washington where he hit .292 over three seasons, albeit it with modest power. Bishop is known for his 4MOM foundation that raises money for Alzheimer's disease in honor of his mother, but his performance on the field is earning increased notice, too. A premier athlete whose ability to hit was previously in question, Bishop hit .306 with a career-best 34 doubles and an .806 OPS across high Class A Modesto and Double-A Arkansas in 2017. He reworked his swing in offseason workouts with D-backs slugger Jake Lamb, a fellow University of Washington product. Bishop lowered his hands and became less jumpy in the batter's box, allowing him to stay in his legs more and introduce more drive into his swing to create more loft. He gets the barrel to the ball consistently, but questions remains whether he will develop enough upper-body strength to drive balls at the higher levels. He is a plus runner who upped his aggressiveness and stole 22 bases in 27 tries in 2017, and that speed helps him to be a plus-plus defender in center field with tremendous reads and reflexes. His average arm allows to handle any outfield spot. Bishop's continued offensive progress will determine whether he meets his starting outfielder ceiling. If not, he can settle in for a career as a fourth outfielder.
• 
  Ranked Seattle Mariners #15 prospect in 2017
  Bishop was a premium athlete recruited in football as a Division I wide receiver out of high school but ultimately took the baseball route at Washington. The premier athleticism, speed and reflexes that made him a successful receiver show up consistently in center field, where he gets to every ball in every direction and is consistently regarded as the top defensive outfielder in the Mariners system. His double-plus speed and plus arm round him into a defender so complete evaluators believe his defense alone can make him a game-changing everyday center fielder in the majors. Bishop's development as a hitter has not progressed as quickly. The Mariners adjusted his load to get him in a better position to strike the ball after drafting him and saw progress in his ability to make contact. He will show himself to be an average hitter at times with little power, but with his plus speed and elite defensive ability projects to possibly be a major leaguer in the mold of Kevin Pillar on the high end. Bishop will start 2017 at high Class A Modesto.
• 
  Ranked Seattle Mariners #7 prospect in 2016
  Bishop was a two-sport athlete at St. Francis High in Mountain View, Calif., excelling on the diamond and as a wide receiver and receiving Division I recruiting interest. He stuck with baseball, passed on signing with the Braves as a 36th-round pick in 2012 and chose to attend Washington. He's a natural defender in center field with well above-average speed and a plus arm, but his lack of consistency with the bat caused him to slip to the third round last June, where the Mariners happily grabbed him. Bishop gets equally high marks for his work ethic and character, notably a charity he started to benefit Alzheimer's research after his mother was diagnosed with the disease at age 52. A shorter, more direct swing helped him rank second in the short-season Northwest League in batting in a strong pro debut. He could use more patience but he led the league in HBPs (12) and sacrifice bunts (11). Bishop rivals Everett teammate Drew Jackson for the fastest runner in the organization, but he lacks Jackson's polish and aggressiveness as a basestealer--traits the Mariners are confident will come with experience. He covers a lot of ground in center field and is an advanced defender well-suited for Seattle's spacious Safeco Field. He should team with Jackson again to open 2016 with a Class A affiliate.

Draft Prospects

• Ranked #150 prospect in 2015 draft
  Bishop has had a trying spring, as he's worked to start a new charity to help raise money and awareness for early-onset Alzheimer's to help his mother, who was diagnosed with the disease at age 54. Bishop was coming off a strong summer in the Cape Cod League, where he was one of the league's more exciting outfielders but struggled at times as a junior for a Washington team that never came around offensively. Bishop did lead the team in steals, is an above-average runner and a plus defender in center field, with strong instincts, a true plus arm and the range to cover the gaps well. Offensively, Bishop makes some contact and has some bat speed, but his swing lacks a load and he gets out of rhythm easily, especially looking harmless against quality breaking balls. The 6-foot-1, 188-pounder plays hard, sometimes to a fault, as he picks up nagging injuries from his all-out, diving style in the outfield. His wiry athleticism and glove should get him picked in the first five rounds.
• Ranked #284 prospect in 2012 draft
  St. Francis was loaded last year with Rays' supplemental first-round third baseman Tyler Goeddel, as well as later draft picks Richard Prigatano (now at Long Beach State) and Alex Blandino (now at Stanford). Bishop is a good athlete at 6-foot-1 and 180 pounds and had mild Division I interest as a wide receiver. Some scouts feel Bishop has above-average speed and can play center field with his plus arm. Those who like him say he'll be an average hitter. He projects as a doubles hitter with below-average home run power, though some scouts view him as more of a tweener, fourth-outfielder type. Regardless of how they grade his tools, all scouts agree that Bishop gets the most of his ability. Bishop is committed to Washington and reportedly has a high price tag, meaning it's likely he winds up on campus.

• July, 2020 Scouting Report
  TRACK RECORD: Bishop couldn’t avoid the injury bug for the second year in a row, this time missing a significant amount of time due to surgery to repair a lacerated spleen in a season in which the Washington product made his major league debut.
  
  SCOUTING REPORT: Bishop fits the profile of a fourth outfielder, but he’s going to have to show more with the bat than he did during his big league trial in 2019. He hit with more power during his abbreviated season in Triple-A, but whether that translates to MLB performance is still in question. The strength he’s added over the past two years hasn’t resulted in significantly more impact at the plate, and a hitch in his swing requires him to get his bat started early. Bishop can do it all on the field, where he’s a plus-plus defender with an above-average arm and has plus makeup and aptitude. Despite having plus speed, he’s never been a big threat to steal bases.
  
  THE FUTURE: Bishop should break camp as an extra outfielder in Seattle, but that’s likely his ceiling. Injury issues have kept him from putting more oomph into his swing, so staying healthy all year will give a more accurate picture of Bishop’s offensive ceiling. BA GRADE 45 Risk: High BA GRADE 40 Risk: Medium
• February, 2020 Scouting Report
  TRACK RECORD: Bishop couldn't avoid the injury bug for the second year in a row, this time missing a significant amount of time due to surgery to repair a lacerated spleen in a season in which the Washington product made his major league debut.
  
  SCOUTING REPORT: Bishop fits the profile of a fourth outfielder, but he's going to have to show more with the bat than he did during his big league trial in 2019. He hit with more power during his abbreviated season in Triple-A, but whether that translates to MLB performance is still in question. The strength he's added over the past two years hasn't resulted in significantly more impact at the plate, and a hitch in his swing requires him to get his bat started early. Bishop can do it all on the field, where he's a plus-plus defender with an above-average arm and has plus makeup and aptitude. Despite having plus speed, he's never been a big threat to steal bases.
  
  THE FUTURE: Bishop should break camp as an extra outfielder in Seattle, but that's likely his ceiling. Injury issues have kept him from putting more oomph into his swing, so staying healthy all year will give a more accurate picture of Bishop's offensive ceiling.
• July, 2018 Scouting Report
  Bishop is following his strong 2017 season with a solid year at Double-A Arkansas after overcoming a slow month of April. He continues to get stronger, allowing him to better impact the baseball, and he has already surpassed his previous season high in home runs with seven long balls through the end of June. Regardless of how he hits at higher levels, Bishop’s plus-plus defense will earn him major league time before too long.
• December, 2017 Scouting Report
  Track Record: Bishop was very well scouted in high school because he played on the same team as 2011 supplemental first-round pick and future big leaguer Tyler Goeddel and 2015 first-round pick Alex Blandino. Bishop was a potential Division I football wide receiver as well, but he opted to attend Washington, where he hit .292 over three seasons, albeit it with modest power. Scouting Report: A premier athlete whose ability to hit was previously in question, Bishop hit .306 with a career-best 34 doubles and an .806 OPS across high Class A Modesto and Double-A Arkansas in 2017. He gets the barrel to the ball consistently, but questions remain whether he will develop enough upper-body strength to drive balls at the higher levels. He is a plus runner who upped his aggressiveness and stole 22 bases in 27 tries in 2017, and that speed helps him to be a plus-plus defender in center field with tremendous reads and reflexes. His average arm allows to handle any outfield spot. The Future: Bishop's continued offensive progress will determine whether he meets his starting outfielder ceiling. If not, he can settle in for a career as a fourth outfielder.