Jake Fraley

Organization Prospect Rankings

• 
  Ranked Seattle Mariners #25 prospect in 2021
  TRACK RECORD: Acquired from the Rays in the trade that sent Mike Zunino to Tampa Bay after the 2018 season, Fraley had a strong first year with the Mariners that culminated in his major league debut. He was expected to compete for a spot on the Opening Day roster in 2020, but instead stagnated at the plate and spent most of the season at the alternate training site. He got into seven major league games late in the season.
  
  SCOUTING REPORT: Fraley has a solid approach at the plate with strong hands and gap power. He hasn't hit the ball particularly hard in the majors, registering an average exit of 83.1 mph, but he showed some over-the-fence pop in the minors. Fraley's best path toward sticking in the majors would be if he could stay in center field, which is complicated by his waning footspeed. A plus runner at his peak, Fraley has become just a tick above-average as he's aged. His fringe-average arm makes him a poor fit in right field.
  
  THE FUTURE: Fraley is either going to have to hit better or find a way to stay in center field to have a steady role in the majors. He's still on the 40-man roster and will have a chance to win a bench role in 2021
• 
  Ranked Seattle Mariners #11 prospect in 2020
  TRACK RECORD: The key for Fraley in his first season with the Mariners' organization was to get healthy and stay healthy after injury-plagued seasons in 2017 and 2018. The Louisiana State product accomplished that mission by getting into 99 minor league games before making his big league debut for Seattle on August 21. He was shut down early with a sore thumb, but overall it was a valuable growth season for the former Rays' farmhand.
  
  SCOUTING REPORT: Being able to play every day helped Fraley turn himself into an impact hitter with solid tools. He has a solid approach at the plate with strong hands that help him drive balls to all fields, but needs to improve against lefthanders. While the swing is not particularly fluid, Fraley has the hand-eye coordination to compensate. It's more gap power, but he still hit a career-high 19 home runs in his 99 games split between two levels. A plus runner, Fraley's speed plays up even further because of his aggressiveness. Defensively, he can handle all three outfield positions with the chance to be a plus defender with an above-average arm.
  
  THE FUTURE: Fraley projects to be a starting major league outfielder who plays above his tools because of his intensity on the field and very good instincts. He should see a significant amount of time in Seattle in 2020.
• 
  Ranked Seattle Mariners #15 prospect in 2019
  Track Record: The Mariners acquired Fraley in the trade that sent Mike Zunino to the Rays for Mallex Smith. Fraley missed most of 2017 with a knee injury and then the early part of 2018 with a foot injury after spending the offseason in the Australian Baseball League. Healthy for the second half of 2018, he hit .347/.415/.547 at high Class A Charlotte.
  
  Scouting Report: Fraley has a good approach at the plate with above-average bat speed and a simple, balanced swing, but his 2018 numbers overstate his impact potential. He has a track record for putting the bat on the ball and drawing walks. While he hits righthanders better, Fraley has shown that he holds his own against southpaws. His below-average power results in more doubles to the gap than balls over the fence. His best tool is his plus speed, allowing him to stay in center field, but he needs to develop better instincts on the bases. Above-average range and a fringe-average arm are enough for all three outfield positions, and his most likely big league role will be as a versatile backup outfielder.
  
  The Future: Fraley will have to prove that he can stay on the field after battling injuries. The Mariners will move him quickly to try to make up for lost time. His most likely role is as a fourth outfielder.
• 
  Ranked Tampa Bay Rays #23 prospect in 2017
  Tasked with replacing Nationals prospect Andrew Stevenson as Louisiana State's center fielder in 2016, Fraley immediately stepped up and excelled for the Tigers as a junior in 2016. The Rays picked Fraley No. 77 overall and gave him a $797,500 signing bonus based on his performance and impact defense and speed. He is a lefthanded hitter with a wide open stance and a high hand set that gives his swing length, but also enables him to generate hard contact. Fraley has average bat speed and doesn't project as an offensive force, though he was a key contributor at LSU, batting .326 as a junior. Fraley's best asset is his plus speed, which he shows the ability to use on the base paths and in center field. In his professional debut, Fraley lead the Rookie-level New York-Penn League in stolen bases, swiping 33 in 42 attempts. Fraley takes efficient routes in the outfield and has a near-average arm. His defensive upside and lefthanded bat alone could allow him to carve out a solid career as an extra outfielder, though he'll have a chance to prove himself as more if he proves himself offensively. He will begin 2017 at low Class A Bowling Green.

Draft Prospects

• Ranked #66 prospect in 2016 draft
  A year ago, Louisiana State fielded an outfield with three outfielders who have played center field since signing with pro teams. With Andrew Stevenson (second round, Nationals), Jared Foster (fifth round, Nationals) and Mark Laird (ninth round, Phillies) all gone to pro ball, Fraley stepped in. While he couldn't match Stevenson's defense or explosiveness, he proved to be an excellent table setter for the Tigers. Fraley knows how to work counts, draw walks and line the ball to all fields to hit for average and get on-base. Fraley has a pull-heavy approach against righthanders and has shown gap power against righties. Against lefties, Fraley has zero power (he had no extra-base hits against lefties as of mid-May) but he still does a solid job of getting on-base. Scouts question how much impact Fraley will have, but as a lefthanded hitter who can hit for average and play a solid-average defense in center field, he ticks a lot of boxes to be drafted reasonably well as a potential everyday center fielder with a fallback option as a fourth outfielder.

Minor League Top Prospects

• 
  Ranked Texas League #17 prospect in 2019
  Fraley played just 96 games combined in 2017-18 due to knee and foot injuries. Traded from the Rays to the Mariners this past offseason, Fraley enjoyed a healthy, breakout campaign in 2019. His .539 slugging percentage and .925 OPS led the Texas League until he was promoted to Triple-A on June 20. He made his major league debut on Aug. 21. A plus runner at full health, Fraley is an above-average defender capable of playing all three outfield spots with average arm strength. Where Fraley took the biggest step forward in 2019 was driving the ball consistently. After hitting just seven home runs in his first 151 minor league games, Fraley hit 19 homers in 99 minor league games this season. Fraley showed the ability to be an above-average hitter in 2019. If he can maintain his health and power, he has the ability to be an everyday outfielder in the majors.

• March, 2021 Scouting Report
  TRACK RECORD: Acquired from the Rays in the trade that sent Mike Zunino to Tampa Bay after the 2018 season, Fraley had a strong first year with the Mariners that culminated in his major league debut. He was expected to compete for a spot on the Opening Day roster in 2020, but instead stagnated at the plate and spent most of the season at the alternate training site. He got into seven major league games late in the season.
  
  SCOUTING REPORT: Fraley has a solid approach at the plate with strong hands and gap power. He hasn't hit the ball particularly hard in the majors, registering an average exit of 83.1 mph, but he showed some over-the-fence pop in the minors. Fraley's best path toward sticking in the majors would be if he could stay in center field, which is complicated by his waning footspeed. A plus runner at his peak, Fraley has become just a tick above-average as he's aged. His fringe-average arm makes him a poor fit in right field.
  
  THE FUTURE: Fraley is either going to have to hit better or find a way to stay in center field to have a steady role in the majors. He's still on the 40-man roster and will have a chance to win a bench role in 2021
• December, 2020 Scouting Report
  TRACK RECORD: Acquired from the Rays in the trade that sent Mike Zunino to Tampa Bay after the 2018 season, Fraley had a strong first year with the Mariners that culminated in his major league debut. He was expected to compete for a spot on the Opening Day roster in 2020, but instead stagnated at the plate and spent most of the season at the alternate training site. He got into seven major league games late in the season.
  
  SCOUTING REPORT: Fraley has a solid approach at the plate with strong hands and gap power. He hasn't hit the ball particularly hard in the majors, registering an average exit of 83.1 mph, but he showed some over-the-fence pop in the minors. Fraley's best path toward sticking in the majors would be if he could stay in center field, which is complicated by his waning footspeed. A plus runner at his peak, Fraley has become just a tick above-average as he's aged. His fringe-average arm makes him a poor fit in right field.
  
  THE FUTURE: Fraley is either going to have to hit better or find a way to stay in center field to have a steady role in the majors. He's still on the 40-man roster and will have a chance to win a bench role in 2021
• July, 2020 Scouting Report
  TRACK RECORD: The key for Fraley in his first season with the Mariners’ organization was to get healthy and stay healthy after injury-plagued seasons in 2017 and 2018. The Louisiana State product accomplished that mission by getting into 99 minor league games before making his big league debut for Seattle on August 21. He was shut down early with a sore thumb, but overall it was a valuable growth season for the former Rays’ farmhand.
  
  SCOUTING REPORT: Being able to play every day helped Fraley turn himself into an impact hitter with solid tools. He has a solid approach at the plate with strong hands that help him drive balls to all fields, but needs to improve against lefthanders. While the swing is not particularly fluid, Fraley has the hand-eye coordination to compensate. It’s more gap power, but he still hit a career-high 19 home runs in his 99 games split between two levels. A plus runner, Fraley’s speed plays up even further because of his aggressiveness. Defensively, he can handle all three outfield positions with the chance to be a plus defender with an above-average arm.
  
  THE FUTURE: Fraley projects to be a starting major league outfielder who plays above his tools because of his intensity on the field and very good instincts. He should see a significant amount of time in Seattle in 2020. BA GRADE 50 Risk: Medium BA GRADE 45 Risk: Medium
• February, 2020 Scouting Report
  TRACK RECORD: The key for Fraley in his first season with the Mariners' organization was to get healthy and stay healthy after injury-plagued seasons in 2017 and 2018. The Louisiana State product accomplished that mission by getting into 99 minor league games before making his big league debut for Seattle on August 21. He was shut down early with a sore thumb, but overall it was a valuable growth season for the former Rays' farmhand.
  
  SCOUTING REPORT: Being able to play every day helped Fraley turn himself into an impact hitter with solid tools. He has a solid approach at the plate with strong hands that help him drive balls to all fields, but needs to improve against lefthanders. While the swing is not particularly fluid, Fraley has the hand-eye coordination to compensate. It's more gap power, but he still hit a career-high 19 home runs in his 99 games split between two levels. A plus runner, Fraley's speed plays up even further because of his aggressiveness. Defensively, he can handle all three outfield positions with the chance to be a plus defender with an above-average arm.
  
  THE FUTURE: Fraley projects to be a starting major league outfielder who plays above his tools because of his intensity on the field and very good instincts. He should see a significant amount of time in Seattle in 2020.
• December, 2018 Scouting Report
  Fraley played just 96 games combined in 2017-18 due to knee and foot injuries. Traded from the Rays to the Mariners this past offseason, Fraley enjoyed a healthy, breakout campaign in 2019. His .539 slugging percentage and .925 OPS led the Texas League until he was promoted to Triple-A on June 20. He made his major league debut on Aug. 21. A plus runner at full health, Fraley is an above-average defender capable of playing all three outfield spots with average arm strength. Where Fraley took the biggest step forward in 2019 was driving the ball consistently. After hitting just seven home runs in his first 151 minor league games, Fraley hit 19 homers in 99 minor league games this season. Fraley showed the ability to be an above-average hitter in 2019. If he can maintain his health and power, he has the ability to be an everyday outfielder in the majors.