Cole Brannen

Organization Prospect Rankings

• 
  Ranked Boston Red Sox #5 prospect in 2018
  Brannen stood out in the showcases following his junior year of high school, offering glimpses of a potential five-tool talent with his move to the outfield. Surgery to repair a broken hamate prior to the start of his senior year contributed to a slow start. Brannen fell to the second round of the 2017 draft, where but over the season he once again displayed the tools that had drawn the Sox to him entering the year, with the Red Sox signed him for an above-slot $1.3 million. He started well in the Rookie-level Gulf Coast League before hitting a wall in August as he wore down in the Florida humidity. Brannen possesses elite speed and athleticism that serve as the cornerstone of his projections, giving him a chance to be a true center fielder (once experience permits him to take cleaner routes to the ball) while also elevating his offensive impact. He's shown advanced plate discipline and solid bat-to-ball skills that suggest a top-of-the-order skill set of high averages and on-base percentages, strong stolen base totals, and the ability to take an extra base. He showed the ability to drive the ball to the opposite field as an amateur, but it remains to be seen whether his strength is playable or whether he's a line-drive hitter whose ability to use the opposite field would play well at Fenway Park. Brannen will be a candidate to open 2018 at low Class A Greenville. He has one of the highest ceilings of any Red Sox position player and represents the system's best up-the-middle prospect in the U.S. While it will take years to get a read on how his offense plays against professionals, his tools permit the Sox to daydream.

Draft Prospects

• Ranked #54 prospect in 2017 draft
  On the competitive summer showcase circuit, Brannen showed the ability to go with pitches away and drive the ball with authority to the opposite field. He has a compact swing from the left side of the plate and controls his barrel well. Brannen can sometimes expand the strike zone and will need more reps against quality pitching to improve his pure hitting ability. While Brannen has shown some ability to loft the ball in batting practice, scouts don't envision him being a huge power producer with a wood bat. Instead, Brannen's game will be built on his quick hands, barrel awareness and speed. Brannen is a plus runner underway and his speed plays well on the bases and in center field. He also has an above-average to plus arm. Brannen broke his hamate bone this spring and missed some time. He hasn't been tested against quality pitching this spring. The team that takes Brannen will likely believe in his ability to stay in center field long term and will probably feel more comfortable projecting him to add power as he gets stronger and fills in his frame. Brannen is appealing because of his long-term projection, and could hear his name called on the first day of the draft. He is committed to Georgia Southern but is expected to sign professionally.

• December, 2017 Scouting Report
  Track Record: Brannen stood out in the showcases following his junior year of high school, offering glimpses of a potential five-tool talent. Surgery to repair a broken hamate prior to the start of his senior year contributed to a slow start. He fell to the second round of the 2017 draft, where the Red Sox signed him for an above-slot $1.3 million. He started well in the Rookie-level Gulf Coast League before hitting a physical wall in August. Scouting Report: Brannen possesses elite speed and athleticism that serve as the cornerstone of his projections, giving him a chance to be a true center fielder while also elevating his offensive impact. He's shown advanced plate discipline and solid bat-to-ball skills that suggest a top-of-the-order skill set. He showed the ability to drive the ball to the opposite field as an amateur, but it remains to be seen whether his strength is playable or whether he's a line-drive hitter whose ability to use the opposite field would play well at Fenway Park. The Future: Brannen will be a candidate to open 2018 at low Class A Greenville. He has one of the highest ceilings of any Red Sox position player and represents the system's best up-the-middle prospect in the U.S.
• December, 2016 Scouting Report
  On the competitive summer showcase circuit, Brannen showed the ability to go with pitches away and drive the ball with authority to the opposite field. He has a compact swing from the left side of the plate and controls his barrel well. Brannen can sometimes expand the strike zone and will need more reps against quality pitching to improve his pure hitting ability. While Brannen has shown some ability to loft the ball in batting practice, scouts don't envision him being a huge power producer with a wood bat. Instead, Brannen's game will be built on his quick hands, barrel awareness and speed. Brannen is a plus runner underway and his speed plays well on the bases and in center field. He also has an above-average to plus arm. Brannen broke his hamate bone this spring and missed some time. He hasn't been tested against quality pitching this spring. The team that takes Brannen will likely believe in his ability to stay in center field long term and will probably feel more comfortable projecting him to add power as he gets stronger and fills in his frame. Brannen is appealing because of his long-term projection, and could hear his name called on the first day of the draft. He is committed to Georgia Southern but is expected to sign professionally.