MLB Scout's Video View: Analyzing Angels Prospect Brandon Marsh

Image credit: Angels outfielder Brandon Marsh (Bill Mitchell)

While the game is away, Baseball America is digging into its video database and asking scouts around the game to analyze what they see from some of the sport’s best prospects. Today’s subject is Angels outfielder Brandon Marsh.

Marsh entered the season as the fourth-youngest player in the Double-A Southern League. In a season limited by injuries, the 2016 second-rounder hit .300/.383/.428 with seven home runs and 43 RBIs. He continued his season in the Arizona Fall League, where he produced a .909 OPS, including two more home runs (in one game), and established himself as one of the Angels’ best prospects.

Marsh enters the year as the Angels’ No. 2 prospect. You can find his full scouting report here.

Here our our previous installments:

Miguel Amaya | Jo Adell | Luis Garcia | Nolan Jones

Here’s the video below, followed by what our scout had to say.

SCOUT: Marsh is a good-looking athlete. He moves very well on the field, has the frame to add weight and strength in a good way. This guy moves well in the outfield and his body has really good sequencing and fluidity to his movements in the box. It will be interesting to see who becomes the better player between Marsh and (Jo) Adell. I personally have the same grade on both guys, and the Angels are in a really good spot with their outfield moving forward.

On the defensive side of the ball, I feel like Marsh is a solid defender in center and plus in a corner. He is an easy glider to the gaps with more than enough range to stick in center. He will be blocked by Trout, but I see this guy as a plus in the corner when he plays there. He can throw and throw accurately under pressure. Like I said, I see this guy as a center fielder more than a corner outfielder, but he will be able to cover ground and run the ball down no matter where he plays.

Offensively, this is a loose, rhythmic swing with easy bat speed. The first time I saw him, I was shocked at how few homers he has hit in pro ball because the raw power is legit in BP. This guy will crank balls for you and just put on a show at times. It seems like his path gets more under the ball with lift to his finish in batting practice and does not always translate to the game.

He has more of a solid contact, line-drive spray approach in the game with the ability to utilize the entire field. He stays on pitches really well and stays through his swing. It’s really impressive how easily he can get on top of an elevated fastball. It’s what you see the plus MLB hitters do with the good, high fastball.

I think it’s only a matter of time until he learns what pitches he can drive, and I see him increasing the power numbers in time. He’s also a good baserunner who knows when to take the extra base and when to be aggressive. He should be able to steal bases as well because he is a plus runner.

I really like this guy. The Angels are in an enviable position with their outfield alignment in the near future. I think there is untapped power in Marsh’s bat and I believe when he realizes it, this guy can be an all-star.

The easy comp here is Charlie Blackmon because of the facial hair, body type and athletic similarities, and I think that is a fair comp as to what type of player Marsh ends up becoming. Even if the power doesn’t come on like I think it will, he is an everyday center fielder with the ability to hit. This guy is a really good player.