Ryan Waldschmidt - Prospect Profile

Joel Reuter - Bleacher Report - July 7th: "Loud exit velocity numbers and a high contact rate have helped Waldschmidt make a late surge up draft boards as evaluators have started to dig further into batted-ball data and other metrics. He hit .333/.469/.610 with 17 doubles, 14 home runs, 46 RBI and 25 steals in 32 attempts this spring while working his way back from offseason ACL surgery."

Ayrton Ostly - USA Today - July 4th: "Waldschmidt's exit velocity is outstanding and if he continues to improve off of ACL surgery he could have a future as a centerfielder."

Baseball America - July 1st: "Waldschmidt slashed .359/.482/.657 with 14 home runs, 24 stolen bases, a 15.5% strikeout rate and 13.5% walk rate in 54 games. He has a powerfully built, fullback-like frame at 6-foot-2, 205 pounds with tons of strength in his chest and forearms that has led to lots of pull-side power."

MLB.com - July 1st: "Few players in this Draft can match Waldschmidt's ability to make contact, avoid chasing pitches and produce high exit velocities. He has a very patient approach and a quick right-handed stroke that looks less uphill than it did in his first season with the Wildcats. He uses the entire field but also has an affinity for driving balls in the air to his pull side."

Prospects Live - May 29th: "His exit velocities have jumped up compared to 2023, averaging ~91 MPH, and his home run production has improved as a result. It's legitimately plus power to the pull-side. His plate discipline and approach is pristine and there's little to critique, as he's running a contact rate over 80% with a minute chase rate."

Keith Law - The Athletic - May 22nd: "He rarely misses fastballs (13 percent whiff rate during the regular season) and doesn’t chase much regardless of pitch type. He’s a solid athlete who should be an above-average defender in a corner, playing left for Kentucky this year."

Kiley McDaniel - ESPN - May 8th: "The data types love his batted ball quality and patience in the best conference, while scouts taking a negative view see a fringy defensive third baseman without big tools. A draft throwback with a profile like this was Chase Headley, who went in the second round out of Tennessee in (shakes head) the 2005 draft. God, I'm old."

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