Jeter Downs

Organization Prospect Rankings

• 
  Ranked Boston Red Sox #6 prospect in 2022
  Track Record: Originally drafted by the Reds in 2017, Downs was traded to the Dodgers in the deal for Yasiel Puig and Matt Kemp after the 2018 season and had a standout campaign in his lone year in the Dodgers’ system, leading the Red Sox to acquire him in the trade that sent Mookie Betts to Los Angeles. Downs spent all of 2020 at the Red Sox’s alternate training site and made his highly-anticipated organizational debut in 2021, but he was overmatched for much of the season in Triple-A. His low point came during a shocking 52-game stretch from July through mid September in which his approach unraveled completely and he hit .117/.207/.211.
  
  Scouting Report: At his best, Downs has an efficient, righthanded swing that allows him to let pitches travel deep. He drives balls hard from left-center to right-center with above-average power when he connects, but he is prone to stretches of poor pitch selection and giving away at-bats. He started pressing in 2021 and made poor swing decisions that led to both an alarming number of swings and misses and an inordinate amount of weak contact. While Downs flashes the traits of an average hitter, the lack of consistency in his approach has yielded a career .248 batting average in the minors. Defensively, Downs is an average defender at second base with decent hands and an average arm and can play shortstop in a pinch. He has just average speed but is a dangerous basestealer with his advanced reads and instincts.
  
  The Future: Downs will get a do-over in Triple-A in 2022. He is young enough to re-establish himself as a potential everyday middle infielder.
  
• 
  Ranked Boston Red Sox #2 prospect in 2021
  Hitting: 55. Power: 55. Run: 50. Fielding: 50. Arm: 50.
  Track Record: Unlike the eponymous Yankees superstar for whom he’s named, Downs already has become accustomed to changing teams. The Reds traded Downs to the Dodgers before the 2019 season, and when the Red Sox pivoted away from Brusdar Graterol in the Mookie Betts blockbuster, Los Angeles shipped him to Boston prior to spring training in 2020. Downs made his Red Sox debut at the alternate training site and was one of the team’s top performers in Pawtucket.
  
  Scouting Report: Downs has an efficient swing with impressive whip, driving the ball from gap to gap for doubles and homers. His bat speed buys time for good pitch recognition, allowing him both to manage the strike zone and identify pitches to drive. Downs has crushed lefthanders while doing enough against righties to suggest a potential regular. While he’s mainly spent time at shortstop, his solid but unspectacular range suggests a future at second base. Downs features average speed that plays up with his excellent baseball IQ and strong feel for the game.
  
  The Future: Downs could open 2021 in Triple-A with a solid spring and will be part of Boston’s depth equation. With offense down at second base across the majors in recent years, Downs projects as an above-average regular at the position with a chance to be an all-star. .
• 
  Ranked Boston Red Sox #3 prospect in 2020
  TRACK RECORD: Downs was one of the top high school players in the 2018 draft class and signed with the Reds for just over $1.8 million after they made him the 32nd overall pick. The Dodgers acquired him after the season in the trade that sent Matt Kemp and Yasiel Puig to Cincinnati. Downs started slow in his first season in the Dodgers' system, but he caught fire during the summer and finished as one of only 10 minor leaguers with 20 home runs (24) and 20 stolen bases (24). Downs was traded to Boston in February in the Mookie Betts trade.
  
  SCOUTING REPORT: Downs is a bat-first player with a pretty swing. His hands work, he stays on time and he turns around velocity with a quick, efficient path. Downs can be overly at passive and take at-bats off, limiting him to an average hitter, but he's a dynamic extra-base threat when he's focused. He drives the ball from gap-to-gap and projects for above-average power as he gets stronger. Downs is an intelligent baserunner whose average speed plays up on the bases. His reliable hands and above-average arm fit anywhere on the infield, but range is suboptimal for an everyday shortstop.
  
  THE FUTURE: Evaluators see Downs as a multi-positional, everyday infielder in the mold of Josh Harrison. He finished last season at Double-A and will open back there in 2020.
• 
  Ranked Los Angeles Dodgers #13 prospect in 2019
  Track Record: Downs comes from a baseball family. His father, Jerry Sr., pitched in Colombia. His older brother Jerry is a first baseman in the Red Sox organization. And Jeter was named after Yankees shortstop Derek Jeter. Drafted 32nd overall in 2017 by the Reds, Downs showed power and speed in his first taste of full-season ball with 13 home runs and 37 stolen bases at low Class A Dayton. After the season, the Reds traded him to the Dodgers as part of the deal for Yasiel Puig, Matt Kemp, Alex Wood and Kyle Farmer.
  
  Scouting Report: Downs wasn’t fazed by the Midwest League, showing off a future above-average hit tool and racking up extra-base hits. He uses a simple setup and sound mechanics to generate loud contact, showing the ability to hit to all fields with average power. Downs has the tools to stay in the infield, though evaluators believe his modest range and above-average arm will fit better at third base or second base than his present shortstop. He’s an above-average runner who is a constant threat to steal because of good reads and jumps.
  
  The Future: Downs joins a Dodgers system light on infield prospects and projects as a regular at either second or third base. He'll begin his Dodgers career at Class A Class Rancho Cucamonga in 2019.
• 
  Ranked Cincinnati Reds #11 prospect in 2018
  Jeter Downs' mother was so impressed with the way a young Yankees shortstop played that she named her second son after Derek Jeter. Nearly 20 years later, he was drafted by one of the teams that passed on the future Hall of Famer in the 1993 draft. Downs' father played professionally in Colombia, and his older brother, Jerry, is a first baseman in the Red Sox organization. A Miami commitment, Downs passed on playing for the Hurricanes when the Reds took him 33rd overall. His potentially plus bat is his best tool, with gap-to-gap power. Downs started in rookie ball at Billings and showed a good approach with quality at-bats. He put up a .370 on-base percentage with the Mustangs, with 27 walks to 32 strikeouts in 50 games. He has good motions and hands at shortstop, with enough arm to stick there. Some evaluators wonder if Downs will be better suited at second base long-term, but the Reds will give him every chance to show that he can be an every-day shortstop. He'll likely start 2018 at low-Class A Dayton.

Draft Prospects

• Ranked #53 prospect in 2017 draft
  Downs played in many of the key showcase events prior to his senior year, but it was at the Area Code Games that he really shined. There, Downs hit two home runs and made one of the best defensive plays of the week in the middle of the infield, showing plus hands and an advanced internal clock. Evaluators are still split on whether Downs will end up sticking at shortstop--in part because he is an average to near-average runner--but he established himself as one of the top hitters in the class with an outstanding spring. As of mid-may, Downs was batting .422/.518/1.000 with 12 home runs and only 10 strikeouts. Downs has a smooth swing; he uses his lower half well and has quick hands and loose wrists. He uses the whole field well and earns praise for his natural timing in the batter's box. Defensively, while he flashes plus arm strength, some scouts haven't seen Downs' arm play at that level on a consistent basis. Downs is committed to Miami but is expected to sign professionally. He could surprise on draft day and sneak into the back of the first round, depending on how the board plays out ahead of him.

Minor League Top Prospects

• 
  Ranked California League #9 prospect in 2019
  Downs started slow but hit .310 with a .961 OPS from May 10 until his promotion to Double-A in mid-August. He led the league with 33 doubles, finished third with an .862 OPS and also finished top 10 in runs (fifth), home runs (seventh), RBIs (fourth) and stolen bases (10th). Downs’ swing draws high praise. His hands work, he catches up to velocity and he drives the ball from gap to gap. He struggled to find a consistent approach early but improved. "He progressed really well over the season,” Inland Empire manager Ryan Barba said. "To watch him grow over the period of a couple months and develop a better approach as he went along, and also defensively, I thought he did a pretty good job.” Downs worked hard to improve his shortstop defense to average. Most evaluators still project him as a bat-first infielder who plays multiple positions.
• 
  Ranked Midwest League #8 prospect in 2018
  A shortstop named Jeter carries lofty expectations, but Downs started making his own name with an impressive season. Downs is a bat-first middle infielder who has a plus hit tool to go with developing power. He has a quiet stance, starting from a narrow base and using a modest load. Defensively, scouts are skeptical that he will have the range to stay at shortstop. Downs played more second base than shortstop with the Dragons in 2018, and that likely is his long-term home. His above-average arm would fit at third base, too. Downs is an above-average athlete with plus speed.
• 
  Ranked Pioneer League #10 prospect in 2017
  A high school teammate of Angels pitching prospect Chris Rodriguez at Pace High, Downs turned pro rather than attend the University of Miami. PL observes shared mixed opinions on Downs' upside in his pro debut, with the consensus that he's got mostly average but still raw tools. He appeared to wear down later in the season and not play with the same energy. Scouts expect Downs to hit. He's got a good approach at the plate with some pull power. He uses the whole field with quick wrists and a strong lower half, and heshowed good plate discipline in his debut. He's an average runner. While Downs flashed a plus arm as an amateur, PL scouts saw it more as average. His average range might be stretched at shortstop, but he can shift to second base.

Top 100 Rankings

• Ranked Baseball America's #71 prospect in 2021
• Ranked Baseball America's #86 prospect in 2020

• April, 2022 Scouting Report
  BA Grade: 45/High
  
  Track Record: Originally drafted by the Reds in 2017, Downs was traded to the Dodgers in the deal for Yasiel Puig and Matt Kemp after the 2018 season and had a standout campaign in his lone year in the Dodgers&#39 system, leading the Red Sox to acquire him in the trade that sent Mookie Betts to Los Angeles. Downs spent all of 2020 at the Red Sox&#39s alternate training site and made his highly-anticipated organizational debut in 2021, but he was overmatched for much of the season in Triple-A. His low point came during a shocking 52-game stretch from July through mid-September in which his approach unraveled completely and he hit .117/.207/.211.
  
  Scouting Report: At his best, Downs has an efficient, righthanded swing that allows him to let pitches travel deep. He drives balls hard from left-center to right-center with above-average power when he connects, but he is prone to stretches of poor pitch selection and giving away at-bats. He started pressing in 2021 and made poor swing decisions that led to both an alarming number swings and misses and an inordinate amount of weak contact. While Downs flashes the traits of an average hitter, the lack of consistency in his approach has yielded a career .248 batting average in the minors. Defensively, Downs is an average defender at second base with decent hands and an average arm and can play shortstop in a pinch. He has just average speed but is a dangerous base-stealer with his advanced reads and instincts.
  
  The Future: Downs will get a do-over in Triple-A in 2022. He is young enough to re-establish himself as a potential everyday middle infielder.
  
  Scouting Grades: Hit: 45. Power: 55. Speed: 50. Fielding: 50. Arm: 50.
• December, 2021 Scouting Report
  Track Record: Originally drafted by the Reds in 2017, Downs was traded to the Dodgers in the deal for Yasiel Puig and Matt Kemp after the 2018 season and had a standout campaign in his lone year in the Dodgers’ system, leading the Red Sox to acquire him in the trade that sent Mookie Betts to Los Angeles. Downs spent all of 2020 at the Red Sox’s alternate training site and made his highly-anticipated organizational debut in 2021, but he was overmatched for much of the season in Triple-A. His low point came during a shocking 52-game stretch from July through mid September in which his approach unraveled completely and he hit .117/.207/.211.
  
  Scouting Report: At his best, Downs has an efficient, righthanded swing that allows him to let pitches travel deep. He drives balls hard from left-center to right-center with above-average power when he connects, but he is prone to stretches of poor pitch selection and giving away at-bats. He started pressing in 2021 and made poor swing decisions that led to both an alarming number of swings and misses and an inordinate amount of weak contact. While Downs flashes the traits of an average hitter, the lack of consistency in his approach has yielded a career .248 batting average in the minors. Defensively, Downs is an average defender at second base with decent hands and an average arm and can play shortstop in a pinch. He has just average speed but is a dangerous basestealer with his advanced reads and instincts.
  
  The Future: Downs will get a do-over in Triple-A in 2022. He is young enough to re-establish himself as a potential everyday middle infielder.
  
• July, 2021 Scouting Report
  Hitting: 55. Power: 55. Run: 50. Fielding: 50. Arm: 50.
  Track Record: Unlike the eponymous Yankees superstar for whom he's named, Downs already has become accustomed to changing teams. The Reds traded Downs to the Dodgers before the 2019 season, and when the Red Sox pivoted away from Brusdar Graterol in the Mookie Betts blockbuster, Los Angeles shipped him to Boston prior to spring training in 2020. Downs made his Red Sox debut at the alternate training site and was one of the team's top performers in Pawtucket.
  
  Scouting Report: Downs has an efficient swing with impressive whip, driving the ball from gap to gap for doubles and homers. His bat speed buys time for good pitch recognition, allowing him both to manage the strike zone and identify pitches to drive. Downs has crushed lefthanders while doing enough against righties to suggest a potential regular. While he's mainly spent time at shortstop, his solid but unspectacular range suggests a future at second base. Downs features average speed that plays up with his excellent baseball IQ and strong feel for the game.
  
  The Future: Downs could open 2021 in Triple-A with a solid spring and will be part of Boston's depth equation. With offense down at second base across the majors in recent years, Downs projects as an above-average regular at the position with a chance to be an all-star. .
• March, 2021 Scouting Report
  Hitting: 55. Power: 55. Run: 50. Fielding: 50. Arm: 50.
  Track Record: Unlike the eponymous Yankees superstar for whom he’s named, Downs already has become accustomed to changing teams. The Reds traded Downs to the Dodgers before the 2019 season, and when the Red Sox pivoted away from Brusdar Graterol in the Mookie Betts blockbuster, Los Angeles shipped him to Boston prior to spring training in 2020. Downs made his Red Sox debut at the alternate training site and was one of the team’s top performers in Pawtucket.
  
  Scouting Report: Downs has an efficient swing with impressive whip, driving the ball from gap to gap for doubles and homers. His bat speed buys time for good pitch recognition, allowing him both to manage the strike zone and identify pitches to drive. Downs has crushed lefthanders while doing enough against righties to suggest a potential regular. While he’s mainly spent time at shortstop, his solid but unspectacular range suggests a future at second base. Downs features average speed that plays up with his excellent baseball IQ and strong feel for the game.
  
  The Future: Downs could open 2021 in Triple-A with a solid spring and will be part of Boston’s depth equation. With offense down at second base across the majors in recent years, Downs projects as an above-average regular at the position with a chance to be an all-star. .
• December, 2020 Scouting Report
  Hitting: 55. Power: 55. Run: 50. Fielding: 50. Arm: 50.
  Track Record: Unlike the eponymous Yankees superstar for whom he’s named, Downs already has become accustomed to changing teams. The Reds traded Downs to the Dodgers before the 2019 season, and when the Red Sox pivoted away from Brusdar Graterol in the Mookie Betts blockbuster, Los Angeles shipped him to Boston prior to spring training in 2020. Downs made his Red Sox debut at the alternate training site and was one of the team’s top performers in Pawtucket.
  
  Scouting Report: Downs has an efficient swing with impressive whip, driving the ball from gap to gap for doubles and homers. His bat speed buys time for good pitch recognition, allowing him both to manage the strike zone and identify pitches to drive. Downs has crushed lefthanders while doing enough against righties to suggest a potential regular. While he’s mainly spent time at shortstop, his solid but unspectacular range suggests a future at second base. Downs features average speed that plays up with his excellent baseball IQ and strong feel for the game.
  
  The Future: Downs could open 2021 in Triple-A with a solid spring and will be part of Boston’s depth equation. With offense down at second base across the majors in recent years, Downs projects as an above-average regular at the position with a chance to be an all-star. .
• July, 2020 Scouting Report
  TRACK RECORD: Downs was one of the top high school players in the 2018 draft class and signed with the Reds for just over $1.8 million after they made him the 32nd overall pick. The Dodgers acquired him after the season in the trade that sent Matt Kemp and Yasiel Puig to Cincinnati. Downs started slow in his first season in the Dodgers’ system, but he caught fire during the summer and finished as one of only 10 minor leaguers with 20 home runs (24) and 20 stolen bases (24). Downs was traded to Boston in February in the Mookie Betts trade.
  
  SCOUTING REPORT: Downs is a bat-first player with a pretty swing. His hands work, he stays on time and he turns around velocity with a quick, efficient path. Downs can be overly at passive and take at-bats off, limiting him to an average hitter, but he’s a dynamic extra-base threat when he’s focused. He drives the ball from gap-to-gap and projects for above-average power as he gets stronger. Downs is an intelligent baserunner whose average speed plays up on the bases. His reliable hands and above-average arm fit anywhere on the infield, but range is suboptimal for an everyday shortstop.
  
  THE FUTURE: Evaluators see Downs as a multi-positional, everyday infielder in the mold of Josh Harrison. He finished last season at Double-A and will open back there in 2020.
• February, 2020 Scouting Report
  TRACK RECORD: Downs was one of the top high school players in the 2018 draft class and signed with the Reds for just over $1.8 million after they made him the 32nd overall pick. The Dodgers acquired him after the season in the trade that sent Matt Kemp and Yasiel Puig to Cincinnati. Downs started slow in his first season in the Dodgers' system, but he caught fire during the summer and finished as one of only 10 minor leaguers with 20 home runs (24) and 20 stolen bases (24). Downs was traded to Boston in February in the Mookie Betts trade.
  
  SCOUTING REPORT: Downs is a bat-first player with a pretty swing. His hands work, he stays on time and he turns around velocity with a quick, efficient path. Downs can be overly at passive and take at-bats off, limiting him to an average hitter, but he's a dynamic extra-base threat when he's focused. He drives the ball from gap-to-gap and projects for above-average power as he gets stronger. Downs is an intelligent baserunner whose average speed plays up on the bases. His reliable hands and above-average arm fit anywhere on the infield, but range is suboptimal for an everyday shortstop.
  
  THE FUTURE: Evaluators see Downs as a multi-positional, everyday infielder in the mold of Josh Harrison. He finished last season at Double-A and will open back there in 2020.
• December, 2018 Scouting Report
  Downs started slow but hit .310 with a .961 OPS from May 10 until his promotion to Double-A in mid-August. He led the league with 33 doubles, finished third with an .862 OPS and also finished top 10 in runs (fifth), home runs (seventh), RBIs (fourth) and stolen bases (10th). Downs’ swing draws high praise. His hands work, he catches up to velocity and he drives the ball from gap to gap. He struggled to find a consistent approach early but improved. "He progressed really well over the season,” Inland Empire manager Ryan Barba said. "To watch him grow over the period of a couple months and develop a better approach as he went along, and also defensively, I thought he did a pretty good job.” Downs worked hard to improve his shortstop defense to average. Most evaluators still project him as a bat-first infielder who plays multiple positions.
• July, 2018 Scouting Report
  Jeter has impressed in his first full season of pro ball, batting 265/.347/.429 with 10 home runs and 25 stolen bases through 83 games. After playing exclusively shortstop last season, Downs has spent the majority of his 2018 season at second base. A future move to third base isn’t out of the question, either. Regardless, Downs is proving his bat could profile anywhere, as the above-average runner is showing above-average power and an advanced approach at the plate.