Zac Veen Vs. Garrett Mitchell: 2020 MLB Draft Prospect Showdown, Outfield Rankings

Leading up to the 2020 draft on June 10, we’ll preview each position group by comparing and contrasting two of the top players in the mix. Today is outfielders, led by Zac Veen and Garrett Mitchell.

Hitting:

Mitchell’s pure bat-to-ball skills are superior to Veen’s, but Veen’s swing is looser and more fluid than Mitchell’s has ever been. While Veen might have more swing-and-miss in his game, his hitting upside is a tick higher. EDGE: VEEN.

Power: Both Mitchell and Veen have similar raw power, though Veen comes with a still projectable 6-foot-5, 200-pound frame that should add more weight in the future. The bigger separator is that Veen’s swing has plenty of leverage to tap into his power in games right now, while Mitchell has a long track record of struggling to get to his during games, dating back to his time in high school. EDGE: VEEN.

Speed: This category isn’t close. Mitchell is one of the best runners in the entire draft class. He’s a legitimate 80-grade runner now and he was a legitimate 80-grade runner in high school, with terrific ability to get out of the lefthanded batter’s box, steal bases and track down balls in the outfield. Veen is more of an average runner who could slow down as he fills out. EDGE: MITCHELL.

Fielding: Because of Mitchell’s speed, he’s a good bet to stick in center field, where he has plus defensive potential at a premium position and can track fly balls down in the gaps. Veen is an average defender who will move to a corner in pro ball. EDGE: MITCHELL.

Arm: While Veen has a solid arm that has above-average potential, Mitchell’s is a tick better and could allow him to handle right field if necessary. Mitchell’s arm is consistently graded as plus and gives him another weapon to go with his collection of plus raw tools. EDGE: MITCHELL

X Factor: While each player’s tool set is considerably different, their health is also a factor. Mitchell is a Type I diabetic, and while teams don’t seem to have a quantifiable way to measure the exact risk that adds to his profile, every scout knows it will be a factor in his future projection and durability. Mitchell missed only one game in the last two years at UCLA. EDGE: VEEN.

Scout’s take on Veen: “I see no reason he shouldn’t hit a lot. And no reason he shouldn’t drive the ball a lot as he continues to add strength … Pretty swing, really good leverage, natural loft in the stroke. And you just look at the body and think, ‘Geez, he’s not there yet.'”

Scout’s take on Mitchell: “Might be the best player I’ve ever scouted. Take away the diabetic aspect and he could be (drafted) 1-1. Stays in center field, plus defender, plus arm, 80 run times on turns … zero effort.”

SPOTLIGHT: Top 2020 Outfielders

Strength: 5 stars

From Austin Martin’s outstanding hitting ability to the plus or better power offered by Zac Veen, Austin Hendrick, Heston Kjerstad and Dylan Crews, this year’s crop of outfielders is as deep as we have seen in recent drafts.

See full scouting reports in the BA 500 here.

First-Round Talents
No.	BA 500 Rank	Player	Pos	School	State	HIT	POW	RUN	FLD	ARM
1	2	Austin Martin	CF	Vanderbilt	TN	70	55	55	55	45
2	6	Garrett Mitchell	CF	UCLA	CA	55	55	80	60	60
3	7	Zac Veen	CF	HS—Port Orange	FL	60	60	45	50	55
4	9	Austin Hendrick	CF	HS—Imperial	PA	60	70	45	50	60
5	15	Heston Kjerstad	RF	Arkansas	AR	60	60	45	45	55
6	16	Robert Hassell	CF	HS—Thompson’s Sta.	TN	60	55	55	55	55
7	17	Pete Crow-Armstrong	CF	HS—Studio City	CA	55	40	60	70	60
Second-Round Talents
No.	BA 500 Rank	Player	Pos	School	State	HIT	POW	RUN	FLD	ARM
8	41	Daniel Cabrera	RF	Louisiana State	LA	60	55	45	50	45
9	49	Isaiah Greene	CF	HS—Corona	CA	60	50	60	55	40
10	54	Dylan Crews	CF	HS—Lake Mary	FL	55	60	50	55	60