AB | 91 |
---|---|
AVG | .187 |
OBP | .29 |
SLG | .297 |
HR | 1 |
- Full name Sean Walter Bernard Bouchard
- Born 05/16/1996 in San Diego, CA
- Profile Ht.: 6'3" / Wt.: 215 / Bats: R / Throws: R
- School UCLA
- Debut 06/19/2022
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Drafted in the 9th round (266th overall) by the Colorado Rockies in 2017 (signed for $143,400).
View Draft Report
Bouchard ranked No. 105 on the BA Top 500 in 2014 as the offensive force on a Cathedral Catholic (San Diego) High team led by No. 1 overall pick Brady Aiken. Bouchard's strong commitment to UCLA prevented teams from drafting him. After two uninspiring seasons, the 6-foot-3, 215-pound Bouchard improved his plate discipline and pitch recognition as a junior and turned his plus raw power into game power. He more than tripled his career home run total and slugged .523. Bouchard's power is mostly pull side but he possesses enough feel to drive the ball the opposite way. He hits fastballs well and has improved on breaking balls. Bouchard previously projected as a third baseman but slowing footwork and poor throwing accuracy make him a first baseman moving forward. Bouchard's bat and ability to tap into his power will be what carries him regardless.
Top Rankings
Organization Prospect Rankings
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BA Grade: 40/Medium
Track Record: Bouchard was a star at San Diego’s Cathedral Catholic High alongside former No. 1 overall pick Brady Aiken. Bouchard made it to campus at UCLA, where he enjoyed a solid career and earned all-Pac-12 team honors as a junior. Drafted by the Rockies in the ninth round in 2017, Bouchard produced solid results over parts of five minor league seasons and made his major league debut on June 19, 2022. Bouchard has dealt with injuries over the past two seasons, including a strained left oblique early in his major league stint with the Rockies in 2022 and then a ruptured left biceps muscle in spring training 2023. He returned to the minor leagues on August 23 and then reached the big leagues again on Sept. 1.
Scouting Report: Bouchard is a low-risk, low upside, bat-first prospect. He’ll turn 28 years old in May, and already has played a few stints in the major leagues. Bouchard shows average bat-to-ball skills with a mildly aggressive approach. He has some difficulty against sliders but is a good fastball hitter who can catch up to velocity at the top of the zone. During Bouchard’s month in the big leagues he chased at a higher rate than he had previously. His underlying power data is above-average and he flashed over-the-fence power as well. Bouchard is a below-average runner, a below-average corner outfielder and has a below-average arm.
The Future: Bouchard is a low-risk major league platoon bat.
Scouting Grades Hit: 45 | Power: 55 | Run: 40 | Field: 40 | Arm: 40
Draft Prospects
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Bouchard ranked No. 105 on the BA Top 500 in 2014 as the offensive force on a Cathedral Catholic (San Diego) High team led by No. 1 overall pick Brady Aiken. Bouchard's strong commitment to UCLA prevented teams from drafting him. After two uninspiring seasons, the 6-foot-3, 215-pound Bouchard improved his plate discipline and pitch recognition as a junior and turned his plus raw power into game power. He more than tripled his career home run total and slugged .523. Bouchard's power is mostly pull side but he possesses enough feel to drive the ball the opposite way. He hits fastballs well and has improved on breaking balls. Bouchard previously projected as a third baseman but slowing footwork and poor throwing accuracy make him a first baseman moving forward. Bouchard's bat and ability to tap into his power will be what carries him regardless. -
As a veteran of the showcase circuit and a high school teammate of the top prospect in the draft class, Brady Aiken, Bouchard has gotten plenty of exposure. Scouts are intrigued by the slightly above-average raw power potential in his projectable 6-foot-3, 190-pound frame, but they are not sold on his hitting instincts. He has a pull-oriented approach and struggles against offspeed stuff, causing one scout to label him as a hacker more than a hitter. Another scout speculated that he has a tendency to overthink and tinker too much with his swing, showing a much simpler approach in batting practice. Bouchard is athletic and loose, and his bat speed is exciting. A high school shortstop, he has good body control, hands and instincts, giving him a chance to be a plus defender at third base as he matures. He also has plenty of arm strength for the left side of the infield and does a good job throwing from different angles. A UCLA signee, Bouchard is considered a tough sign, which could cause him to drop in the draft.
Minor League Top Prospects
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Bouchard was a big name out of high school, ranking No. 105 in the 2014 BA 500, but he went to UCLA instead and had an up-and-down career as a Bruin before establishing himself as more of a middle-of-the-order threat his junior year. The Rockies took Bouchard in the ninth round in June, and the thick 6-foot-3, 215-pounder put together a promising debut at Boise, hitting .290/.390/.477 with six bombs. Bouchard's plus raw power is his carrying tool, and he has gradually learned to tap into it more often during games as his plate discipline has improved and he's shown more comfort hitting breaking balls. As with many power hitters, the swing-and-miss could be a potential roadblock in his development. Bouchard will need to hit for power, as he most likely projects as a first baseman. However, Bouchard does have a strong throwing arm and played four games at third base during the season, against Vancouver. Canadians manager Rich Miller said he thought Bouchard "made the transition really well" while also producing offensively.