Sheldon Neuse
| AB | 392 |
|---|---|
| AVG | .212 |
| OBP | .262 |
| SLG | .296 |
| HR | 7 |
- Full name Sheldon Lynn Neuse
- Born 12/10/1994 in Fort Worth, TX
- Profile Ht.: 6'0" / Wt.: 232 / Bats: R / Throws: R
- School Oklahoma
- Debut 05/19/2019
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Drafted in the 2nd round (58th overall) by the Washington Nationals in 2016 (signed for $900,000).
View Draft Report
A preseason first-team All-American coming into his sophomore season, Neuse's bat never got going that year as he followed a rough summer in the Cape Cod League by hitting for a lower average, worse strikeout rate and less power than he had as a freshman. But Neuse flushed that rough year with an excellent junior season. At the end of the regular season he was leading the Big 12 in slugging percentage (.672) and ranked among league leaders in on-base percentage (.464) and batting average (.376). Neuse's approach varies between big swings where he's looking to drive the ball and times when he stays in control and takes a shorter, more compact stroke and uses the whole field. If he can find a balance he projects as an average hitter with average power. A shortstop with Oklahoma, Neuse lacks the range for the position as a pro. He's slowed to where he is a slightly below-average runner. His best position as a pro is probably third base. He should be at least an average defender at the hot corner, with a plus arm. That plus arm gives him a significant fall-back option as a pitcher as he's 91-93, touching 95 mph with a promising slider who has pitched sporadically throughout his college career.
Top Rankings
Organization Prospect Rankings
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TRACK RECORD: The A's acquired Neuse from the Nationals at the 2017 trade deadline in the deal that also netted them Jesus Luzardo. Neuse made his big league debut in 2019 and was in the mix to be the A's second baseman in 2020, but he failed to win the job and spent the season at the alternate training site. He was traded to the Dodgers in February along with righthander Gus Varland in a move that sent lefthander Adam Kolarek and outfielder Cody Thomas to Oakland.
SCOUTING REPORT: Neuse is mostly the same player he has been the past two years. He has above-average raw power and impressive barrel control, but there are concerns about his strike-zone control after he posted a 31% strikeout rate in limited big league at-bats and a 32% strikeout rate at Triple-A Nashville in 2018. He chases fastballs up in the zone and has a hard time holding off on them. Neuse is a stocky athlete with surprisingly adequate athleticism defensively, where he's aided by a plus arm. His natural fit is third base, but he has moved around the diamond in an effort to boost his versatility.
THE FUTURE: Concerns about Neuse's consistency at the plate held him back in 2020. Tightening his approach and increasing his defensive versatility will be key as he vies to return to the majors in 2021. -
TRACK RECORD: The Athletics long liked Neuse's power and made sure to acquire him from the Nationals with Jesus Luzardo and Blake Treinen in exchange for Ryan Madson and Sean Doolittle at the 2017 trade deadline. Neuse scuffled in his first taste of Triple-A in 2018, but he cut his strikeout rate by 8 percent while repeating the Pacific Coast League in 2019 and earned his first big league callup in August.
SCOUTING REPORT: Neuse generates his power from the combination of a stocky frame and advanced barrel control. He drives the ball to the gaps and increased his loft in 2019 to hit career-high 27 home runs. Neuse is an aggressive hitter who often expands the strike zone early in seasons, especially chasing elevated fastballs, but tends to rein in his approach and cut down on his strikeouts as the year progresses. Neuse is bulky but sneakily athletic for his size with a quick first step, good instincts, and natural actions at both second and third base. He can also fill in at shortstop and left field, and his plus arm fits anywhere on the diamond.
THE FUTURE: Neuse primarily played second base during his callup. With Matt Chapman entrenched at third base, versatility will be Neuse's path to an everyday role in 2020. -
Track Record: Neuse led the Big 12 Conference in slugging in 2016, when the Nationals made him a second-round pick. He advanced slowly in pro ball at first--until the Athletics acquired him in the 2017 deal that sent relievers Sean Doolittle and Ryan Madson to Washington. Neuse rapidly advanced to high Class A and then Double-A after the trade. A strong showing in the 2017 Arizona Fall League and then at big league camp set the stage for Neuse to open 2018 at Triple-A Nashville.
Scouting Report: Neuse lost all his momentum in the first half of the Pacific Coast League season, when he hit .224 with a 37 percent strikeout rate. He chased too many pitches and generally looked overmatched by the rapid ascension. Neuse reclaimed his season by hitting .321 in the second half with a 24 percent strikeout rate, indicating grit and mental toughness to overcome adversity. He drives the ball to the gaps but doesn't loft the ball well enough to produce big home run totals. He is a well below-average runner with heavy feet, but he is more than capable at third base, where his range is average and his arm plus. He touched 95 mph off the mound as a college closer.
The Future: The A's have third base locked down with Matt Chapman, necessitating either a position switch or a new organization for Neuse, who has seen time at shortstop and second base in pro ball. -
The Nationals made Neuse the 58th overall pick in 2016 after a junior season at Oklahoma in which he hit .369 and slugged .646. One year later, the Athletics acquired Neuse from the Nationals in the July deal that sent Sean Doolittle and Ryan Madson to Washington. Neuse was a shortstop in college and is a third baseman as a pro, but his main asset is his bat. He is a mature hitter with a high baseball IQ, a feel for the barrel and significant power in his thick, bulky frame. He shot through three levels in his 2017 pro debut and finsihed in Double-A, hitting a combined hitting a combined .321 with 26 doubles, 16 homers and 79 RBIs. He capped 2017 by going 6-for-14 in Midland's best-of-five Double-A championship series win over Tulsa. Neuse's bat and plus arm will play at third base, but he will have to watch his fitness with a thick midsection and lower half. Matt Chapman appears ensconced as the A's third baseman of the future, but if Neuse keeps hitting, he'll find a place on Oakland's roster, maybe as soon as 2019. He'll open 2018 back at Double-A Midland. -
Neuse was a two-way player at Oklahoma and scouting directors twice voted him a Preseason All-American. While his big arm worked out of the bullpen, he impressed at the plate in 2016 and led the Big 12 Conference in slugging percentage (.646). The Nationals drafted him in the second round (No. 58 overall) as a third baseman, signed him for a $900,000 bonus and sent him to short-season Auburn for his professional debut. Neuse has a short, compact swing and uses the whole field to hit. He has average power potential, but at times sells out his approach to drive the ball. Neuse was a shortstop in college, but is a fringy runner and has range better suited for third base. His plus strength and hands give him a chance to become an average defender at his new position. Third base is a deep position in the Nationals' system, enabling them to start Neuse out slowly. He will likely begin his first full professional season with low Class A Hagerstown in 2017.
Draft Prospects
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A preseason first-team All-American coming into his sophomore season, Neuse's bat never got going that year as he followed a rough summer in the Cape Cod League by hitting for a lower average, worse strikeout rate and less power than he had as a freshman. But Neuse flushed that rough year with an excellent junior season. At the end of the regular season he was leading the Big 12 in slugging percentage (.672) and ranked among league leaders in on-base percentage (.464) and batting average (.376). Neuse's approach varies between big swings where he's looking to drive the ball and times when he stays in control and takes a shorter, more compact stroke and uses the whole field. If he can find a balance he projects as an average hitter with average power. A shortstop with Oklahoma, Neuse lacks the range for the position as a pro. He's slowed to where he is a slightly below-average runner. His best position as a pro is probably third base. He should be at least an average defender at the hot corner, with a plus arm. That plus arm gives him a significant fall-back option as a pitcher as he's 91-93, touching 95 mph with a promising slider who has pitched sporadically throughout his college career. -
Neuse was a backup infielder and reliever on the 2010 U.S. national 16-and-under team that won a gold medal at the Pan American Youth Championship and featured future first-round picks Albert Almora, Corey Seager and Lucas Sims. Just 15 at the time, Neuse had a fluid righthanded swing and a 90 mph fastball and looked like he was on a path to the first round as well. While that won't happen--his tools haven't developed much further in the last three years--he's still one of the better two-way talents among Texas high schoolers this spring. Scouts prefer the 6-foot, 185-pounder on the mound, where he throws strikes with an 88-91 mph fastball that hits 93, a decent slider and feel for a changeup. Neuse would rather play every day. He has hitting ability and gap power, though his below-average speed will lead him to move from shortstop in high school to third base. The Oklahoma recruit moves well in the field and has a strong arm.
Minor League Top Prospects
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Neuse got to showcase his versatility when the third baseman slid to shortstop after Carter Kieboom injured his hamstring. While stretched at shortstop, Neuse has a strong arm and a quick first step. He is a polished third baseman with good footwork and above-average range. He can also play second base and has excellent instincts. Neuse's best work is done at the plate, where he shows plus raw power and solid feel for hitting as well. After the Athletics acquired him in the Sean Doolittle deal, they pushed him more aggressively and he hit in high Class A and Double-A. Neuse is a fringe-average runner, but he knows how to take advantage of what's given to him, which explains how he swiped 12 bags for Hagerstown.
Best Tools List
- Rated Best Hitter for Average in the Oakland Athletics in 2020
- Rated Best Hitter for Average in the Oakland Athletics in 2018
Scouting Reports
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TRACK RECORD: The A's acquired Neuse from the Nationals at the 2017 trade deadline in the deal that also netted them Jesus Luzardo. Neuse made his big league debut in 2019 and was in the mix to be the A's second baseman in 2020, but he failed to win the job and spent the season at the alternate training site.
SCOUTING REPORT: Neuse is mostly the same player he has been the past two years. He has aboveaverage raw power and impressive barrel control, but there are concerns about his strike-zone control after he posted a 31% strikeout rate in limited big league at-bats and a 32% strikeout rate at Triple-A Nashville in 2018. He chases fastballs up in the zone and has a hard time holding off on them. Neuse is a stocky athlete with surprisingly adequate athleticism defensively, where he's aided by a plus arm. His natural fit is third base, but he has moved around the diamond in an effort to boost his versatility.
THE FUTURE: Concerns about Neuse's consistency at the plate held him back in 2020. Tightening his approach and increasing his defensive versatility will be key as he vies to return to the majors in 2021. -
TRACK RECORD: The A's acquired Neuse from the Nationals at the 2017 trade deadline in the deal that also netted them Jesus Luzardo. Neuse made his big league debut in 2019 and was in the mix to be the A's second baseman in 2020, but he failed to win the job and spent the season at the alternate training site. He was traded to the Dodgers in February along with righthander Gus Varland in a move that sent lefthander Adam Kolarek and outfielder Cody Thomas to Oakland.
SCOUTING REPORT: Neuse is mostly the same player he has been the past two years. He has above-average raw power and impressive barrel control, but there are concerns about his strike-zone control after he posted a 31% strikeout rate in limited big league at-bats and a 32% strikeout rate at Triple-A Nashville in 2018. He chases fastballs up in the zone and has a hard time holding off on them. Neuse is a stocky athlete with surprisingly adequate athleticism defensively, where he's aided by a plus arm. His natural fit is third base, but he has moved around the diamond in an effort to boost his versatility.
THE FUTURE: Concerns about Neuse's consistency at the plate held him back in 2020. Tightening his approach and increasing his defensive versatility will be key as he vies to return to the majors in 2021. -
TRACK RECORD: The Athletics long liked Neuse’s power and made sure to acquire him from the Nationals with Jesus Luzardo and Blake Treinen in exchange for Ryan Madson and Sean Doolittle at the 2017 trade deadline. Neuse scuffled in his first taste of Triple-A in 2018, but he cut his strikeout rate by 8 percent while repeating the Pacific Coast League in 2019 and earned his first big league callup in August.
SCOUTING REPORT: Neuse generates his power from the combination of a stocky frame and advanced barrel control. He drives the ball to the gaps and increased his loft in 2019 to hit career-high 27 home runs. Neuse is an aggressive hitter who often expands the strike zone early in seasons, especially chasing elevated fastballs, but tends to rein in his approach and cut down on his strikeouts as the year progresses. Neuse is bulky but sneakily athletic for his size with a quick first step, good instincts, and natural actions at both second and third base. He can also fill in at shortstop and left field, and his plus arm fits anywhere on the diamond.
THE FUTURE: Neuse primarily played second base during his callup. With Matt Chapman entrenched at third base, versatility will be Neuse’s path to an everyday role in 2020. -
TRACK RECORD: The Athletics long liked Neuse's power and made sure to acquire him from the Nationals with Jesus Luzardo and Blake Treinen in exchange for Ryan Madson and Sean Doolittle at the 2017 trade deadline. Neuse scuffled in his first taste of Triple-A in 2018, but he cut his strikeout rate by 8 percent while repeating the Pacific Coast League in 2019 and earned his first big league callup in August.
SCOUTING REPORT: Neuse generates his power from the combination of a stocky frame and advanced barrel control. He drives the ball to the gaps and increased his loft in 2019 to hit career-high 27 home runs. Neuse is an aggressive hitter who often expands the strike zone early in seasons, especially chasing elevated fastballs, but tends to rein in his approach and cut down on his strikeouts as the year progresses. Neuse is bulky but sneakily athletic for his size with a quick first step, good instincts, and natural actions at both second and third base. He can also fill in at shortstop and left field, and his plus arm fits anywhere on the diamond.
THE FUTURE: Neuse primarily played second base during his callup. With Matt Chapman entrenched at third base, versatility will be Neuse's path to an everyday role in 2020. -
Neuse reached Triple-A to begin his third pro season this year—but 2018 does not resemble his previous work. All he did was hit in 2017 as he climbed from low Class A to Double-A, and he didn’t stop hitting at big league camp this spring. But Neuse’s time at Nashville had been marred by an uncharacteristic strikeout rate (37 percent) and low impact. He’s a deceptive athlete who plays a strong third base and can fill in at second base or shortstop.
