Justyn-Henry Malloy

Organization Prospect Rankings

• 
  Ranked Detroit Tigers #6 prospect in 2024
  BA Grade: 50/Medium
  
  Track Record: After two years of receiving little playing time at Vanderbilt, Malloy transferred to Georgia Tech and quickly became the team’s cleanup hitter. The Braves drafted him in the sixth round in 2021, watched him put up a .408 on-base percentage in 2022 and then shipped him to the Tigers that December for reliever Joe Jimenez in what was incoming Tigers president of baseball operations Scott Harris’ first transaction. Malloy led Triple-A Toledo in numerous offensive categories in 2023 and led the minor leagues with 110 walks.
  
  Scouting Report: Malloy manages to get to average or better power--despite modest raw juice--because he’s an highly intelligent hitter with a plan at the plate and an excellent idea of the strike zone. He has been an on-base machine in pro ball, with a career .410 OBP. Malloy switched from being Toledo’s regular third baseman to playing most days in left or right field in the second half. He slid back to third base in the season’s final weeks. Malloy is expected to be a full-time outfielder going forward because he struggled with his throwing accuracy at third base. He made 10 throwing errors in 60 games there compared to one in 44 games in the outfield. Malloy is a below-average runner, but he should be able to play a fringe-average outfield. His above-average arm works in right field better than it did at third.
  
  The Future: Malloy’s move to the outfield clears his path to Detroit. He’s not yet on the 40-man roster, and if Riley Greene’s recovery from Tommy John surgery goes as planned, the Tigers should have a relatively set outfield for Opening Day. That should only slow Malloy temporarily. On a team that has struggled to score runs, Malloy’s ability to get on base and hit for power can’t be ignored, and he should reach Detroit in 2024.
  
  Scouting Grades Hit: 55 | Power: 50 | Run: 40 | Field: 45 | Arm: 55
• 
  Ranked Detroit Tigers #10 prospect in 2023
  BA Grade/Risk: 45/High
  
  Track Record: Malloy ranked as the No. 214 prospect in the 2021 draft class out of Georgia Tech, where he showed impressive on-base skills and developing power. The Braves signed him for $300,000 in the sixth round, and he had a solid 2021 pro debut before breaking out in 2022 and pushing himself to Triple-A Gwinnett and then the Arizona Fall League.
  
  Scouting Report: Malloy is a strong and physical corner infielder and outfielder who homered 17 times between three minor league levels in 2022. He played in pitcher-friendly home parks, making the total more impressive. While Malloy might have above-average raw power, his strike-zone discipline and contact ability drive his value as a prospect. Malloy has one of the keenest batting eyes in Atlanta's system and chased just 18% of the time while also showing quick hands and good bat-to-ball skills. He has a chance to be an above-average hitter who walks at a high rate, though scouts are mixed on his true power potential. His exit velocity numbers are modest, but he has flashed impressive pop to the pull side. Of note, his power numbers trended down as he moved up levels. A well below-average runner, Malloy will be limited to a corner and his most likely defensive home is left field. He played third base at High-A Rome and flashed plus arm strength but had trouble with throwing accuracy and needs much more work on his hands and footwork at the position. Malloy exclusively played left field and DH at Double-A and Triple-A and fits best at that position.
  
  The Future: Malloy's defensive limitations could cap his upside as an everyday player, though his pure hitting ability and zone control could make him a quality platoon option. More power could increase his potential role as well.
  
  Scouting Grades: Hitting: 55. Power: 45. Speed: 30. Fielding: 40. Arm: 55

Draft Prospects

• Ranked #211 prospect in 2021 draft
  Malloy has shown impressive on-base skills in his collegiate career (two abbreviated seasons with Vanderbilt prior to Georgia Tech and in college summer leagues) and after posting a .308/.436/.558 line with the Yellow Jackets this spring, he has more walks (63) than strikeouts (52) for his career. While he’s never been a big power hitter, scouts think he has above-average raw power and he did hit a career-best 11 home runs this spring, with 17 doubles, which was also a career-best mark. As his walk rate might suggest, Malloy has a good understanding of the zone, but scouts have noted that he struggles to recognize and drive good breaking stuff. Defensively, Malloy has solid hands and actions, with above-average arm strength, but at times has struggled with his internal clock and throwing accuracy. Scouts think he has the tool set to handle second or third base. He’s an average runner. With his track record of getting on base and average all-around tool set, Malloy has a chance to go at some point in the sixth-to-10th-round range.

• February, 2023 Scouting Report
  BA Grade/Risk: 45/High
  
  Track Record: Malloy ranked as the No. 214 prospect in the 2021 draft class out of Georgia Tech, where he showed impressive on-base skills and developing power. The Braves signed him for $300,000 in the sixth round, and he had a solid 2021 pro debut before breaking out in 2022 and pushing himself to Triple-A Gwinnett and then the Arizona Fall League.
  
  Scouting Report: Malloy is a strong and physical corner infielder and outfielder who homered 17 times between three minor league levels in 2022. He played in pitcher-friendly home parks, making the total more impressive. While Malloy might have above-average raw power, his strike-zone discipline and contact ability drive his value as a prospect. Malloy has one of the keenest batting eyes in Atlanta's system and chased just 18% of the time while also showing quick hands and good bat-to-ball skills. He has a chance to be an above-average hitter who walks at a high rate, though scouts are mixed on his true power potential. His exit velocity numbers are modest, but he has flashed impressive pop to the pull side. Of note, his power numbers trended down as he moved up levels. A well below-average runner, Malloy will be limited to a corner and his most likely defensive home is left field. He played third base at High-A Rome and flashed plus arm strength but had trouble with throwing accuracy and needs much more work on his hands and footwork at the position. Malloy exclusively played left field and DH at Double-A and Triple-A and fits best at that position.
  
  The Future: Malloy's defensive limitations could cap his upside as an everyday player, though his pure hitting ability and zone control could make him a quality platoon option. More power could increase his potential role as well.
  
  Scouting Grades: Hitting: 55. Power: 45. Speed: 30. Fielding: 40. Arm: 55
• December, 2022 Scouting Report
  BA Grade/Risk: 45/High
  
  Track Record: Malloy ranked as the No. 214 prospect in the 2021 draft class out of Georgia Tech, where he showed impressive on-base skills and developing power. The Braves signed him for $300,000 in the sixth round, and he had a solid 2021 pro debut before breaking out in 2022 and pushing himself to Triple-A Gwinnett and then the Arizona Fall League.
  
  Scouting Report: Malloy is a strong and physical corner infielder and outfielder who homered 17 times between three minor league levels in 2022. He played in pitcher-friendly home parks, making the total more impressive. While Malloy might have above-average raw power, his strike-zone discipline and contact ability drive his value as a prospect. Malloy has one of the keenest batting eyes in Atlanta's system and chased just 18% of the time while also showing quick hands and good bat-to-ball skills. He has a chance to be an above-average hitter who walks at a high rate, though scouts are mixed on his true power potential. His exit velocity numbers are modest, but he has flashed impressive pop to the pull side. Of note, his power numbers trended down as he moved up levels. A well below-average runner, Malloy will be limited to a corner and his most likely defensive home is left field. He played third base at High-A Rome and flashed plus arm strength but had trouble with throwing accuracy and needs much more work on his hands and footwork at the position. Malloy exclusively played left field and DH at Double-A and Triple-A and fits best at that position.
  
  The Future: Malloy's defensive limitations could cap his upside as an everyday player, though his pure hitting ability and zone control could make him a quality platoon option. More power could increase his potential role as well.
  
  Scouting Grades: Hitting: 55. Power: 45. Speed: 30. Fielding: 40. Arm: 55
• April, 2022 Scouting Report
  BA Grade: 45/High
  
  May Update: Drafted out of Georgia Tech in the sixth round of last July&#39s draft, Malloy hit .270/.388/.434 at Low-A Augusta out of the draft. Assigned to High-A Rome this spring, Malloy is picking up where he left off, showing impressive plate skills. It&#39s a hit-over-power profile, with plus on-base abilities, as he rarely chases or whiffs on pitches in the zone. At times it&#39s almost to an extreme as he avoids selling out for power, despite possessing average or better raw juice. It&#39s not unreasonable to think Malloy could unlock another level of power in the coming years, but it&#39s not a big part of his current approach. Defensively Malloy has spent his time at third base where as an amateur he showed solid actions and an above-average throwing arm, but his instincts were often put to the test. Malloy is a player with a strong foundation of offensive skills with room for growth on both sides of the ball.
• March, 2021 Scouting Report
  Malloy has shown impressive on-base skills in his collegiate career (two abbreviated seasons with Vanderbilt prior to Georgia Tech and in college summer leagues) and after posting a .308/.436/.558 line with the Yellow Jackets this spring, he has more walks (63) than strikeouts (52) for his career. While he’s never been a big power hitter, scouts think he has above-average raw power and he did hit a career-best 11 home runs this spring, with 17 doubles, which was also a career-best mark. As his walk rate might suggest, Malloy has a good understanding of the zone, but scouts have noted that he struggles to recognize and drive good breaking stuff. Defensively, Malloy has solid hands and actions, with above-average arm strength, but at times has struggled with his internal clock and throwing accuracy. Scouts think he has the tool set to handle second or third base. He’s an average runner. With his track record of getting on base and average all-around tool set, Malloy has a chance to go at some point in the sixth-to-10th-round range.