| AB | 486 |
|---|---|
| AVG | .245 |
| OBP | .316 |
| SLG | .434 |
| HR | 18 |
- Full name Paul Christopher Abrams
- Born 10/03/2000 in Alpharetta, GA
- Profile Ht.: 6'2" / Wt.: 191 / Bats: L / Throws: R
- School Blessed Trinity
- Debut 04/08/2022
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Drafted in the 1st round (6th overall) by the San Diego Padres in 2019 (signed for $5,200,000).
View Draft Report
A unanimous first-team selection on the 2019 Preseason All-America team, scouts have long been enamored with Abrams’ elite athleticism, running ability and bat-to-ball skills from the left side. A 6-foot-2, 180-pound shortstop out of Georgia, Abrams’ standout tool is his running ability. An 80-grade runner, Abrams gets out of the batter’s box well and posts sub-4.00 second run times regularly. He has impressive instincts and routinely gets solid jumps on the base paths as well. Abrams pairs that speed with a line-drive oriented swing from the left side, and he has tremendous feel for putting the barrel on the baseball. He rarely swings and misses, and because of those skills scouts think Abrams could become a plus hitter. He still has plenty of work to do in regards to pitch selection and developing a real plan of attack, however, and at times Abrams has shown a tendency to get overly aggressive in the box and chase pitches out of the zone. He has below-average raw power at the moment and scouts have questioned his power potential at times, but he has improved his strength enough to the point that it would be fair to project average power in the future as he continues to fill out. It also wouldn’t be shocking if Abrams eventually reaches above-average power because of his impressive hand-eye coordination and ability to consistently put the barrel on the ball in today’s home run-friendly environment at the Triple-A and major league levels. Either way, he should get plenty of extra-base hits thanks to his running ability. Where scouts are most conflicted on Abrams is his future defensive home. He made center field look tremendously easy during his time with USA Baseball’s 18U National Team last fall (when he also hit .297/.395/.324 in nine games), and he projects as a plus defender in the outfield. But he also has a chance to stick at shortstop, where he has quick footwork, plus range, solid glovework and adequate arm strength. He’ll need to improve his throwing accuracy if he wants to stay on the dirt, as well as his ability to throw from multiple angles and arm slots, but he’s shown the ability to do all of those things at time. Now, it’s just a matter of consistency. He should be given every opportunity to play shortstop at the next level, with the excellent fallback option of becoming a premium defensive center fielder. In all, there’s still some polishing to do with Abrams, but he brings tremendous upside as a potential table-setter at the top of the lineup with plus defensive potential at multiple premium positions. Abrams is committed to Alabama, but he is expected to go off the board quickly this June.
Top Rankings
Organization Prospect Rankings
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Track Record: Abrams long stood out as one of the best and most athletic players for his age in high school and made a big impression when he took over center field for USA Baseball’s 18U National Team and made the position look easy despite never playing it before. He followed with a sensational senior spring, and the Padres were thrilled when he fell to them at the sixth overall pick in 2019. They lured him away from an Alabama commitment with a $5.2 million signing bonus, and by the end of that first pro summer, Abrams had won the Rookie-level Arizona League’s MVP award after batting .401 and earned a promotion to Low-A Fort Wayne. That assignment, however, was halted after just two games due to a shoulder injury. Abrams spent 2020 at the Padres’ alternate training site and made his full-season debut at Double-A San Antonio in 2021, where he got off to a hot start before fracturing his left tibia and spraining his left MCL in a collision with second baseman Eguy Rosario in late June, ending his season. Abrams recovered in time to get back on the field in instructional league but bruised his left shoulder while sliding into a base, an injury that prevented him from participating in the Arizona Fall League.
Scouting Report: When he is on the field, Abrams stands out for all the right reasons. He has a flat, fluid swing and elite hand-eye coordination—thanks in large part to the various contraptions his dad devised during his youth—that allow him to hit any type of pitch no matter where it’s located. He expanded the strike zone a bit much in his first stint at San Antonio, which is not all that surprising given that he was essentially jumping from rookie ball all the way to Double-A. At his best, he has a keen eye for the zone and takes borderline pitches like a seasoned veteran. Abrams’ frame is long and lean, but he’s no slap hitter. He makes loud contact off the barrel and can drive the ball out to all fields. It’s not out of the question for him to develop 20-home run power as he matures. Abrams’ 80-grade speed allows him to regularly beat out infield singles and will make him an elite base-stealing threat once he learns pitchers’ tendencies. Defensively, Abrams has plus range at shortstop. He doesn’t always show off his above-average arm, but he has a plus internal clock and tends to save his bullets for when they’re needed. He has gotten more reliable at making the routine plays and will make the occasional highlight-reel play. While it’s easy to compare Abrams to the last shortstop to rise quickly through the Padres’ system, the similarities are few. Where Fernando Tatis Jr. seems to play with his hair on fire, Abrams is a low-motor player whose actions often appear effortless. Tatis’ presence means Abrams is likely destined for a position change. He has the athleticism and aptitude to make the transition to second base or center field when the time comes.
The Future: For all his talent, Abrams has just 348 plate appearances in three seasons and needs at-bats. If he can stay healthy, he should become a dynamic table-setter in front of Tatis and Manny Machado in the Padres’ lineup.
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Hitting: 70. Power: 50. Running: 80. Fielding: 60. Arm: 50.
TRACK RECORD: The Padres considered Abrams the top prep shortstop in the 2019 draft and were thrilled he fell to them at the sixth overall pick. After signing for $5.2 million, Abrams hit .401 in the Rookie-level Arizona League to win the league’s MVP award and received a promotion to low Class A Fort Wayne. He spent 2020 at the alternate training site and excelled against older competition before finishing the year with a dominant showing at instructional league.
SCOUTING REPORT: Abrams has a rare blend of elite athleticism and a gifted feel for hitting. His flat, fluid swing consistently produces hard contact and allows him to drive the ball wherever it’s pitched. Abrams has the direct stroke and bat speed to hit any fastball and the hand-eye coordination to barrel secondary pitches even when he’s fooled or off-balance. He occasionally chases off the edges of the plate, but he rarely swings and misses in the strike zone. A potential .300 hitter, Abrams has the long, lean frame to add strength and reach 20-home run power at maturity. His elite speed makes him a premier stolen base threat. Abrams has rapidly improved defensively at shortstop. He makes highlight-reel plays with his wide range and reliable hands, though his short, low-slot throwing stroke and average arm strength fit better at second base. Evaluators believe Abrams could excel in center field as well.
THE FUTURE: Abrams has the skills to be a dynamic talent atop the order. The Padres believe he’ll move quickly in 2021. -
TRACK RECORD: Most teams considered Bobby Witt Jr. the top high school player in the 2019 draft class, but the Padres preferred Abrams. They eagerly drafted him sixth overall when he fell to them and signed him for $5.2 million to forgo an Alabama commitment. Abrams promptly hit .401 in the Rookie-level Arizona League, winning league MVP honors, and earned a promotion to low Class A Fort Wayne before he suffered a season-ending bone bruise in his left shoulder sliding into a base.
SCOUTING REPORT: Abrams' lean, athletic frame jumps out, but his hand-eye coordination is what makes him special. He once went 113 consecutive at-bats without swinging and missing as a teenager and possesses a preternatural ability to find the barrel. Abrams takes easy, rhythmic swings with a direct path to the ball. He has a simple approach and makes adjustments, altogether projecting as a potential .300 hitter. Abrams' frame has plenty of room to add strength and grow into 20-plus home run power. An elite athlete who can do a windmill dunk, Abrams possesses nearly 80-grade speed and went 14-for-15 on stolen bases in his debut. He has the footwork, hands and athleticism to be a plus shortstop, with many scouts surmising he could be a plus defender at second base or in center field, too.
THE FUTURE: Abrams has the skills and makeup to move quickly despite his youth. He will open 2020 back at Fort Wayne.
Draft Prospects
-
A unanimous first-team selection on the 2019 Preseason All-America team, scouts have long been enamored with Abrams' elite athleticism, running ability and bat-to-ball skills from the left side. A 6-foot-2, 180-pound shortstop out of Georgia, Abrams' standout tool is his running ability. An 80-grade runner, Abrams gets out of the batter's box well and posts sub-4.00 second run times regularly. He has impressive instincts and routinely gets solid jumps on the base paths as well. Abrams pairs that speed with a line-drive oriented swing from the left side, and he has tremendous feel for putting the barrel on the baseball. He rarely swings and misses, and because of those skills scouts think Abrams could become a plus hitter. He still has plenty of work to do in regards to pitch selection and developing a real plan of attack, however, and at times Abrams has shown a tendency to get overly aggressive in the box and chase pitches out of the zone. He has below-average raw power at the moment and scouts have questioned his power potential at times, but he has improved his strength enough to the point that it would be fair to project average power in the future as he continues to fill out. It also wouldn't be shocking if Abrams eventually reaches above-average power because of his impressive hand-eye coordination and ability to consistently put the barrel on the ball in today's home run-friendly environment at the Triple-A and major league levels. Either way, he should get plenty of extra-base hits thanks to his running ability. Where scouts are most conflicted on Abrams is his future defensive home. He made center field look tremendously easy during his time with USA Baseball's 18U National Team last fall (when he also hit .297/.395/.324 in nine games), and he projects as a plus defender in the outfield. But he also has a chance to stick at shortstop, where he has quick footwork, plus range, solid glovework and adequate arm strength. He'll need to improve his throwing accuracy if he wants to stay on the dirt, as well as his ability to throw from multiple angles and arm slots, but he's shown the ability to do all of those things at time. Now, it's just a matter of consistency. He should be given every opportunity to play shortstop at the next level, with the excellent fallback option of becoming a premium defensive center fielder. In all, there's still some polishing to do with Abrams, but he brings tremendous upside as a potential table-setter at the top of the lineup with plus defensive potential at multiple premium positions. Abrams is committed to Alabama, but he is expected to go off the board quickly this June.
Minor League Top Prospects
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Abrams didn’t get nearly as much of a chance to show what he could do as Bobby Witt Jr. or Julio Rodriguez, but until he broke his leg and strained a knee ligament in a collision on June 30, he was one of the most dynamic players in the league. Witt is the league’s shortstop with the best power, but Abrams is a smoother shortstop. He has plus-plus range and the kind of easy fluidity that makes him a future impact defender if his knee and leg injury don’t slow him down. The Padres played him at both shortstop and second base to increase his versatility. At the plate, Abrams is a pure hitter with average power. He has a chance to hit .300 in the majors thanks to excellent hands and an adaptable swing that makes it hard to beat him with the same approach twice. There’s some pop in his bat as well, and his speed and aggressive, intelligent approach helps him to turn some singles into doubles. -
Expectations for Abrams were high after the Padres drafted him sixth overall. To say that he met expectations is an understatement. Abrams led the league in hitting with a .401 average and was named MVP, earning a late-season promotion to low Class A Fort Wayne before his season ended early with a shoulder bone bruise. Abrams is a twitchy athlete with top-of-the scale speed, a double-plus hit tool and an ability to change games. He has tremendous feel for the barrel and hits to all fields, with sneaky power that will increase as his body matures. Abrams is a plus defender at shortstop. While his arm angles can be a bit unorthodox, his arm plays because of how quickly he gets to balls and throws with a quick release and good carry. Still, there are some lingering questions as to whether or not Abrams would be better suited in center field due to his arm. "What was amazing about him was that he shrunk the field,” Padres manager Vinny Lopez said. "He made the field look small on defense.”
Top 100 Rankings
Best Tools List
- Rated Best Athlete in the San Diego Padres in 2020
- Rated Fastest Baserunner in the San Diego Padres in 2020
- Rated Best Hitter for Average in the San Diego Padres in 2020
Scouting Reports
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BA Grade: 60/Medium
Track Record: Abrams long stood out as one of the best and most athletic players for his age in high school and made a big impression when he took over center field for USA Baseball's 18U National Team and made the position look easy despite never playing it before. He followed with a sensational senior spring, and the Padres were thrilled when he fell to them at the sixth overall pick in 2019. They lured him away from an Alabama commitment with a $5.2 million signing bonus, and by the end of that first pro summer, Abrams had won the Rookie-level Arizona League's MVP award after batting .401 and earned a promotion to Low-A Fort Wayne. That assignment, however, was halted after just two games due to a shoulder injury. Abrams spent 2020 at the Padres' alternate training site and made his full-season debut at Double-A San Antonio in 2021, where he got off to a hot start before fracturing his left tibia and spraining his left MCL in a collision with second baseman Eguy Rosario in late June, ending his season. Abrams recovered in time to get back on the field in instructional league but bruised his left shoulder while sliding into a base, an injury that prevented him from participating in the Arizona Fall League.
Scouting Report: When he is on the field, Abrams stands out for all the right reasons. He has a flat, fluid swing and elite hand-eye coordination—thanks in large part to the various contraptions his dad devised during his youth—that allow him to hit any type of pitch no matter where it's located. He expanded the strike zone a bit much in his first stint at San Antonio, which is not all that surprising given that he was essentially jumping from rookie ball all the way to Double-A. At his best, he has a keen eye for the zone and takes borderline pitches like a seasoned veteran. Abrams' frame is long and lean, but he's no slap hitter. He makes loud contact off the barrel and can drive the ball out to all fields. It's not out of the question for him to develop 20-home run power as he matures. Abrams' 80-grade speed allows him to regularly beat out infield singles and will make him an elite base-stealing threat once he learns pitchers' tendencies. Defensively, Abrams has plus range at shortstop. He doesn't always show off his above-average arm, but he has a plus internal clock and tends to save his bullets for when they're needed. He has gotten more reliable at making the routine plays and will make the occasional highlight-reel play. He will likely be the Nationals answer at shortstop moving forward.
The Future: As one of the main prospects sent to Washington in the Juan Soto, he should become a dynamic table-setter. He will likely spend a few weeks in Triple-A before making his debut in a Nationals Uniform.
Scouting Grades: Hit: 70. Power: 50. Run: 80. Fielding: 60. Arm: 55. -
Track Record: Abrams long stood out as one of the best and most athletic players for his age in high school and made a big impression when he took over center field for USA Baseball’s 18U National Team and made the position look easy despite never playing it before. He followed with a sensational senior spring, and the Padres were thrilled when he fell to them at the sixth overall pick in 2019. They lured him away from an Alabama commitment with a $5.2 million signing bonus, and by the end of that first pro summer, Abrams had won the Rookie-level Arizona League’s MVP award after batting .401 and earned a promotion to Low-A Fort Wayne. That assignment, however, was halted after just two games due to a shoulder injury. Abrams spent 2020 at the Padres’ alternate training site and made his full-season debut at Double-A San Antonio in 2021, where he got off to a hot start before fracturing his left tibia and spraining his left MCL in a collision with second baseman Eguy Rosario in late June, ending his season. Abrams recovered in time to get back on the field in instructional league but bruised his left shoulder while sliding into a base, an injury that prevented him from participating in the Arizona Fall League.
Scouting Report: When he is on the field, Abrams stands out for all the right reasons. He has a flat, fluid swing and elite hand-eye coordination—thanks in large part to the various contraptions his dad devised during his youth—that allow him to hit any type of pitch no matter where it’s located. He expanded the strike zone a bit much in his first stint at San Antonio, which is not all that surprising given that he was essentially jumping from rookie ball all the way to Double-A. At his best, he has a keen eye for the zone and takes borderline pitches like a seasoned veteran. Abrams’ frame is long and lean, but he’s no slap hitter. He makes loud contact off the barrel and can drive the ball out to all fields. It’s not out of the question for him to develop 20-home run power as he matures. Abrams’ 80-grade speed allows him to regularly beat out infield singles and will make him an elite base-stealing threat once he learns pitchers’ tendencies. Defensively, Abrams has plus range at shortstop. He doesn’t always show off his above-average arm, but he has a plus internal clock and tends to save his bullets for when they’re needed. He has gotten more reliable at making the routine plays and will make the occasional highlight-reel play. While it’s easy to compare Abrams to the last shortstop to rise quickly through the Padres’ system, the similarities are few. Where Fernando Tatis Jr. seems to play with his hair on fire, Abrams is a low-motor player whose actions often appear effortless. Tatis’ presence means Abrams is likely destined for a position change. He has the athleticism and aptitude to make the transition to second base or center field when the time comes.
The Future: For all his talent, Abrams has just 348 plate appearances in three seasons and needs at-bats. If he can stay healthy, he should become a dynamic table-setter in front of Tatis and Manny Machado in the Padres’ lineup.
-
Abrams didn’t get nearly as much of a chance to show what he could do as Bobby Witt Jr. or Julio Rodriguez, but until he broke his leg and strained a knee ligament in a collision on June 30, he was one of the most dynamic players in the league. Witt is the league’s shortstop with the best power, but Abrams is a smoother shortstop. He has plus-plus range and the kind of easy fluidity that makes him a future impact defender if his knee and leg injury don’t slow him down. The Padres played him at both shortstop and second base to increase his versatility. At the plate, Abrams is a pure hitter with average power. He has a chance to hit .300 in the majors thanks to excellent hands and an adaptable swing that makes it hard to beat him with the same approach twice. There’s some pop in his bat as well, and his speed and aggressive, intelligent approach helps him to turn some singles into doubles. -
Hitting: 70. Power: 50. Running: 80. Fielding: 60. Arm: 50.
TRACK RECORD: The Padres considered Abrams the top prep shortstop in the 2019 draft and were thrilled he fell to them at the sixth overall pick. After signing for $5.2 million, Abrams hit .401 in the Rookie-level Arizona League to win the league's MVP award and received a promotion to low Class A Fort Wayne. He spent 2020 at the alternate training site and excelled against older competition before finishing the year with a dominant showing at instructional league.
SCOUTING REPORT: Abrams has a rare blend of elite athleticism and a gifted feel for hitting. His flat, fluid swing consistently produces hard contact and allows him to drive the ball wherever it's pitched. Abrams has the direct stroke and bat speed to hit any fastball and the hand-eye coordination to barrel secondary pitches even when he's fooled or off-balance. He occasionally chases off the edges of the plate, but he rarely swings and misses in the strike zone. A potential .300 hitter, Abrams has the long, lean frame to add strength and reach 20-home run power at maturity. His elite speed makes him a premier stolen base threat. Abrams has rapidly improved defensively at shortstop. He makes highlight-reel plays with his wide range and reliable hands, though his short, low-slot throwing stroke and average arm strength fit better at second base. Evaluators believe Abrams could excel in center field as well.
THE FUTURE: Abrams has the skills to be a dynamic talent atop the order. The Padres believe he'll move quickly in 2021. -
Hitting: 70. Power: 50. Running: 80. Fielding: 60. Arm: 50.
TRACK RECORD: The Padres considered Abrams the top prep shortstop in the 2019 draft and were thrilled he fell to them at the sixth overall pick. After signing for $5.2 million, Abrams hit .401 in the Rookie-level Arizona League to win the league’s MVP award and received a promotion to low Class A Fort Wayne. He spent 2020 at the alternate training site and excelled against older competition before finishing the year with a dominant showing at instructional league.
SCOUTING REPORT: Abrams has a rare blend of elite athleticism and a gifted feel for hitting. His flat, fluid swing consistently produces hard contact and allows him to drive the ball wherever it’s pitched. Abrams has the direct stroke and bat speed to hit any fastball and the hand-eye coordination to barrel secondary pitches even when he’s fooled or off-balance. He occasionally chases off the edges of the plate, but he rarely swings and misses in the strike zone. A potential .300 hitter, Abrams has the long, lean frame to add strength and reach 20-home run power at maturity. His elite speed makes him a premier stolen base threat. Abrams has rapidly improved defensively at shortstop. He makes highlight-reel plays with his wide range and reliable hands, though his short, low-slot throwing stroke and average arm strength fit better at second base. Evaluators believe Abrams could excel in center field as well.
THE FUTURE: Abrams has the skills to be a dynamic talent atop the order. The Padres believe he’ll move quickly in 2021. -
Hitting: 70. Power: 50. Running: 80. Fielding: 60. Arm: 50.
TRACK RECORD: The Padres considered Abrams the top prep shortstop in the 2019 draft and were thrilled he fell to them at the sixth overall pick. After signing for $5.2 million, Abrams hit .401 in the Rookie-level Arizona League to win the league’s MVP award and received a promotion to low Class A Fort Wayne. He spent 2020 at the alternate training site and excelled against older competition before finishing the year with a dominant showing at instructional league.
SCOUTING REPORT: Abrams has a rare blend of elite athleticism and a gifted feel for hitting. His flat, fluid swing consistently produces hard contact and allows him to drive the ball wherever it’s pitched. Abrams has the direct stroke and bat speed to hit any fastball and the hand-eye coordination to barrel secondary pitches even when he’s fooled or off-balance. He occasionally chases off the edges of the plate, but he rarely swings and misses in the strike zone. A potential .300 hitter, Abrams has the long, lean frame to add strength and reach 20-home run power at maturity. His elite speed makes him a premier stolen base threat. Abrams has rapidly improved defensively at shortstop. He makes highlight-reel plays with his wide range and reliable hands, though his short, low-slot throwing stroke and average arm strength fit better at second base. Evaluators believe Abrams could excel in center field as well.
THE FUTURE: Abrams has the skills to be a dynamic talent atop the order. The Padres believe he’ll move quickly in 2021. -
TRACK RECORD: Most teams considered Bobby Witt Jr. the top high school player in the 2019 draft class, but the Padres were one of a few clubs who preferred Abrams. They eagerly drafted him sixth overall when he fell to them and signed him for $5.2 million to forgo an Alabama commitment. Abrams promptly hit .401 in the Rookie-level Arizona League, winning league MVP honors, and earned a promotion to low Class A Fort Wayne before he suffered a season-ending bone bruise in his left shoulder sliding into a base.
SCOUTING REPORT: Abrams’ lean, athletic frame jumps out, but it’s his handeye coordination that makes him special. He once went 113 consecutive atbats without swinging and missing as a teenager and possesses a preternatural ability to find the barrel. Abrams takes easy, rhythmic swings with a direct path to the ball. He has a simple approach and makes adjustments, altogether projecting as a potential .300 hitter. Abrams’ frame has plenty of room to add strength and grow into 20-plus home run power. An elite athlete who can do a windmill dunk, Abrams possesses nearly 80-grade speed and went 14-for-15 on stolen bases in his debut. He has the footwork, hands and athleticism to be a plus shortstop, with many scouts surmising he could be a plus defender at second base or in center field, too.
THE FUTURE: Abrams has the skills and makeup to move quickly despite his youth. He will open 2020 back at Fort Wayne. -
TRACK RECORD: Most teams considered Bobby Witt Jr. the top high school player in the 2019 draft class, but the Padres preferred Abrams. They eagerly drafted him sixth overall when he fell to them and signed him for $5.2 million to forgo an Alabama commitment. Abrams promptly hit .401 in the Rookie-level Arizona League, winning league MVP honors, and earned a promotion to low Class A Fort Wayne before he suffered a season-ending bone bruise in his left shoulder sliding into a base.
SCOUTING REPORT: Abrams' lean, athletic frame jumps out, but his hand-eye coordination is what makes him special. He once went 113 consecutive at-bats without swinging and missing as a teenager and possesses a preternatural ability to find the barrel. Abrams takes easy, rhythmic swings with a direct path to the ball. He has a simple approach and makes adjustments, altogether projecting as a potential .300 hitter. Abrams' frame has plenty of room to add strength and grow into 20-plus home run power. An elite athlete who can do a windmill dunk, Abrams possesses nearly 80-grade speed and went 14-for-15 on stolen bases in his debut. He has the footwork, hands and athleticism to be a plus shortstop, with many scouts surmising he could be a plus defender at second base or in center field, too.
THE FUTURE: Abrams has the skills and makeup to move quickly despite his youth. He will open 2020 back at Fort Wayne. -
A unanimous first-team selection on the 2019 Preseason All-America team, scouts have long been enamored with Abrams' elite athleticism, running ability and bat-to-ball skills from the left side. A 6-foot-2, 180-pound shortstop out of Georgia, Abrams' standout tool is his running ability. An 80-grade runner, Abrams gets out of the batter's box well and posts sub-4.00 second run times regularly. He has impressive instincts and routinely gets solid jumps on the base paths as well. Abrams pairs that speed with a line-drive oriented swing from the left side, and he has tremendous feel for putting the barrel on the baseball. He rarely swings and misses, and because of those skills scouts think Abrams could become a plus hitter. He still has plenty of work to do in regards to pitch selection and developing a real plan of attack, however, and at times Abrams has shown a tendency to get overly aggressive in the box and chase pitches out of the zone. He has below-average raw power at the moment and scouts have questioned his power potential at times, but he has improved his strength enough to the point that it would be fair to project average power in the future as he continues to fill out. It also wouldn't be shocking if Abrams eventually reaches above-average power because of his impressive hand-eye coordination and ability to consistently put the barrel on the ball in today's home run-friendly environment at the Triple-A and major league levels. Either way, he should get plenty of extra-base hits thanks to his running ability. Where scouts are most conflicted on Abrams is his future defensive home. He made center field look tremendously easy during his time with USA Baseball's 18U National Team last fall (when he also hit .297/.395/.324 in nine games), and he projects as a plus defender in the outfield. But he also has a chance to stick at shortstop, where he has quick footwork, plus range, solid glovework and adequate arm strength. He'll need to improve his throwing accuracy if he wants to stay on the dirt, as well as his ability to throw from multiple angles and arm slots, but he's shown the ability to do all of those things at time. Now, it's just a matter of consistency. He should be given every opportunity to play shortstop at the next level, with the excellent fallback option of becoming a premium defensive center fielder. In all, there's still some polishing to do with Abrams, but he brings tremendous upside as a potential table-setter at the top of the lineup with plus defensive potential at multiple premium positions. Abrams is committed to Alabama, but he is expected to go off the board quickly this June. -
Expectations for Abrams were high after the Padres drafted him sixth overall. To say that he met expectations is an understatement. Abrams led the league in hitting with a .401 average and was named MVP, earning a late-season promotion to low Class A Fort Wayne before his season ended early with a shoulder bone bruise. Abrams is a twitchy athlete with top-of-the scale speed, a double-plus hit tool and an ability to change games. He has tremendous feel for the barrel and hits to all fields, with sneaky power that will increase as his body matures. Abrams is a plus defender at shortstop. While his arm angles can be a bit unorthodox, his arm plays because of how quickly he gets to balls and throws with a quick release and good carry. Still, there are some lingering questions as to whether or not Abrams would be better suited in center field due to his arm. "What was amazing about him was that he shrunk the field,” Padres manager Vinny Lopez said. "He made the field look small on defense.”
