Drew Waters

Organization Prospect Rankings

• 
  Ranked Kansas City Royals #3 prospect in 2023
  BA Grade/Risk: 45/Medium
  
  Track Record: The Braves drafted Waters out of their backyard in the second round in 2017. The Woodstock, Ga., native signed for $1.5 million. He was the MVP of the Double-A Southern League in 2019, but the jump to Triple-A in 2021 gave Waters his first real speed bump. Waters again struggled in 49 games at Triple-A Gwinnett in 2022 before being one of three players traded to the Royals in July 2022 for a supplemental first-round pick in that year's draft. The change of scenery suited Waters, who hit .295/.399/.541 with Triple-A Omaha before being called up to Kansas City on Aug. 22. His walk rate grew from 7.6% with Gwinnett to 14% with Omaha and then 11% with Kansas City.
  
  Scouting Report: Waters didn't make any big mechanical swing changes when he joined the Royals organization. Instead, he became more confident and consistent with his decisions at the plate. A switch-hitter, Waters has a narrow setup with a high leg kick and a hand position right around shoulder level. He uses the setup from both sides of the plate, giving him a quick and powerful swing. Waters especially excels in center field, with potential Gold Glove-caliber defense earning him plus grades in both fielding and throwing. A plus runner, Waters stole 18 bases at Triple-A in 2022.
  
  The Future: Waters showed enough in his late-season time with Kansas City that he'll head to spring training with a chance to earn a big league roster spot and perhaps a starting outfield job. His speed, defense and ability to play all three outfield positions will be especially valuable in the spacious Kauffman Stadium outfield.
  
  Scouting Grades: Hitting: 45. Power: 45. Speed: 60. Fielding: 60. Arm: 60
• 
  Ranked Atlanta Braves #6 prospect in 2022
  Track Record: Waters was a local prospect from Woodstock, Ga. who the Braves drafted in the second round in 2017 and signed for $1.5 million. He progressed through the minors and won MVP of the Double-A Southern League in 2019, but the canceled 2020 minor league season hampered his development. Waters returned to play at Triple-A Gwinnett in 2021 and hit just .240 with an alarming 31% strikeout rate, leading the Braves to look for other, external options when they needed outfield help in the majors.
  
  Scouting Report: A 6-foot-2 switch-hitter with long levers, Waters has long had a feel to hit but has struggled to find an approach. That was exploited by more advanced pitchers in 2021 and led to a disastrous season. The Braves want Waters to improve his mental approach at the plate and gain a better understanding of the pitches he can and cannot do damage with. Even with significant improvements, however, he projects to be no more than a fringe-average hitter. Waters’ supplemental toolset is still quite loud. He has average power and is an asset in center field with his plus speed, plus arm strength and overall plus defensive ability.
  
  The Future: Waters is still young and will enter his age-23 season in 2022. Whether he can make the necessary mental adjustments will determine whether he becomes a regular or never makes enough contact to crack the Braves’ starting outfield.
  
• 
  Ranked Atlanta Braves #3 prospect in 2021
  Hitting: 55. Power: 55. Run: 60. Fielding: 60. Arm: 55.
  Track Record: A local Georgia product drafted in the second round in 2016, Waters steadily climbed the minor league ladder and won the Double-A Southern League’s batting title and MVP award in 2019. The switch-hitter finished the year in Triple-A, played for Team USA’s Olympic qualifying team in the fall and spent 2020 at the alternate training site, where he mainly focused on his righthanded swing and improving his plate discipline and approach.
  
  Scouting Report: Waters is a long, lean athlete with a loose, handsy swing that gives him above-average hitting potential. He shows that potential against righthanders (.866 OPS in 2019) but still has improvements to make against lefties (.644 OPS). Waters is extremely aggressive in his pitch selection and has worked to become a more patient, selective hitter, particularly after his strikeout rate ballooned against upper-level arms. Waters has above-average power potential from both sides, but how much he accesses in games will depend on his pitch selection. His defense is underrated given his proximity to Cristian Pache in the system. He is capable of playing center field as a plus runner with above-average arm strength.
  
  The Future: The canceled minor league season hurt Waters’ ability to develop his offense against high-level arms. If his 2020 work translates in games, he should become a regular in Atlanta’s outfield.
• 
  Ranked Atlanta Braves #2 prospect in 2020
  TRACK RECORD: A local high school product, Waters has steadily climbed the minor league ladder alongside Cristian Pache, and reached Triple-A Gwinnett for the first time in 2019. At Double-A, the athletic, switch-hitting outfielder won the Southern League batting title and MVP award.
  
  SCOUTING REPORT: Waters has long been thought to be an above-average hitter thanks to a loose, handsy swing and a proclivity to use the entire field. However, scouts were concerned with the amount of swing-and-miss seen in his game this season—particularly from the righthanded side of the plate, where he also tends to get more pull-heavy. He still has a chance to be a solidaverage hitter and has shown the ability to make adjustments within at-bats, but at the moment he gets beat inside too frequently and his swing can get long from the left side—where he shows plus raw power. Waters could stick in center field as a plus runner with above-average arm strength, and he's also an efficient and smart baserunner.
  
  THE FUTURE: Waters should start 2020 in Triple-A, where he'll need to cut down his strikeout rate and improve his approach from the right side. If he does that, he could become a fixture in Atlanta during the season.
• 
  Ranked Atlanta Braves #7 prospect in 2019
  Track Record: Waters comes from an athletic family. His father played on the offensive line at Georgia Tech in the mid-1980s. Drew is more of a quick-twitch athlete. He was the first prep outfielder the Braves have signed out of Georgia since they drafted Jason Heyward in 2007. In 2018, he was one of the best hitters in the South Atlantic League. He would have ranked in the top five in the league in batting average (.303) and slugging (.513) if not for an August promotion to the Florida State League.
  
  Scouting Report: Waters has the tools to be an above-average or even plus hitter as a switch-hitter with a loose, handsy swing, especially from the left side. He uses the entire field and consistently squares up balls. But he has a good bit of work to do to become a mature, refined hitter. Right now, he too often looks to ambush the first hittable fastball he can find, leading to too many quick at-bats. It's worked so far, but pitchers working backwards can take advantage of his aggressiveness. Waters might eventually outgrow center field, but he's an above-average defender for now. His plus arm would fit in right field if he fills out too much to stay in center field. He's a plus runner and knows how to pick his spots to steal.
  
  The Future: The Braves have two center field prospects moving up in lockstep, with Cristian Pache one level ahead of Waters. Waters has more offensive potential and Pache has more defensive aptitude.
• 
  Ranked Atlanta Braves #17 prospect in 2018
  The Braves have long focused on drafting some of the top talents in the Atlanta area. Waters was the top hitter and athlete in the state of Georgia in 2017, making him a logical choice to be the Braves' second-round pick. He showed enough for the Braves to quickly move him to the Rookie-level Appalachian League, but a 36 percent strikeout rate was a sign of how much work Waters has left to do. Scouts are divided on the switch-hitter's hitting potential. There are some who don't believe Waters' funky swing will work consistently, but other scouts see loose hands and an ability to whip the bat head through the zone that compensates for a noisy and high-maintenance swing. He's already toned down what was an exaggerated leg kick that messed with his timing. Scouts are more confident in the rest of his tools. He has an excellent frame and the strength to develop plus power by getting bigger and stronger over the next few years. He is a plus runner who plays an above-average center field, though he's a little too aggressive with his plus arm, making throws he should leave in his back pocket. Waters will head to low Class A Rome in 2018.

Draft Prospects

• Ranked #23 prospect in 2017 draft
  In a thinner than normal Georgia draft class, Waters is the Peach State's top position player prospect. He's a dynamic athlete with an wide variety of tools and ways to impact the game. Waters has a plus arm and the plus speed underway to stay in center field. He's strong and has a broad-shouldered frame at 6-foot-2. Waters's offensive skillset is what really sets him apart. He's a switch-hitter with legitimate power from both sides of the plate. He got off to a very strong start this spring and was launching home runs from both sides of the plate. Even when he doesn't loft the ball over the fence, Waters can hit screaming line drives or hard ground balls that skip through the infield. He's shown a bit of swing-and-miss, sometimes even against suspect competition, but he has the raw elements to develop into at least an average hitter with plus power. He turns in above-average or plus run times on the base paths, and scouts believe he will be a plus runner once he's done maturing. Waters is committed to Georgia, but is expected to be selected somewhere on the first day of the draft. Scouts note his competitive personality and desire to shine on the big stage and in high-leverage situations.

Minor League Top Prospects

• 
  Ranked Southern League #5 prospect in 2019
  The many dimensions to Waters’ game were apparent in his performance as the Southern League MVP. He led the league in average (.319), hits (134), doubles (35) and triples (nine) while placing second in slugging (.481) and OPS (.847). The Braves promoted him to Triple-A in August. The switch-hitting Waters is a present plus hitter with a chance to hit .300 in the big leagues. His smooth swing appears mirrored from both sides of the plate, and his balance enables him to drive the ball to all fields. As he continues to mature, Waters should add power and could approach 20 home runs. He swings and misses frequently and needs to become more selective and make pitchers come to him. Managers love Waters’ effort level and regard him as a five-tool player. He’s a plus runner with average range in center field and an above-average arm that plays in right.
• 
  Ranked South Atlantic League #3 prospect in 2018
  A year ago, center fielder Cristian Pache wowed Rome fans with highlight catches and elite range. Waters proved to be a worthy successor before earning a promotion to high Class A Florida at the end of July. Some scouts say Waters will slide to right field eventually as he gets bigger and probably slower, but he's an above-average defender in center right now. That profiles well with the switch-hitter's excellent barrel control and hands that work well at the plate. He is too aggressive now, especially early in the count as he looks to find a fastball to punish, but he has future 20-home run potential once he improves his approach.
• 
  Ranked National League #9 prospect in 2017
  Waters ranked as the fourth-best prep hitter in the 2017 draft class, and the Braves took particular notice of the Georgia product. They selected him in the second round and sent him to Danville after a short stint in the Rookie-level Gulf Coast League. Waters' switch-hitting ability stands out because he's able to impact the ball from both sides, rather than showing a clear preference for one side. His swing is built around quick hands and plus bat speed, and he laces line drives from line to line. He shows pull power and should grow into more opposite-field strength. He has toned down a leg kick that prevented him from catching up to fastballs and seeing pitches cleanly. Waters struggles with breaking pitches and recognizing spin, which led to high strikeout totals in the Appy League. Waters tends to be a little wild in everything he does now, causing one manager to compare his style of play to that of Hunter Pence. A plus arm and above-average speed give him a chance in center field, though right field is more likely.

Top 100 Rankings

• Ranked Baseball America's #32 prospect in 2021
• Ranked Baseball America's #36 prospect in 2020
• Ranked Baseball America's #83 prospect in 2019

• February, 2023 Scouting Report
  BA Grade/Risk: 45/Medium
  
  Track Record: The Braves drafted Waters out of their backyard in the second round in 2017. The Woodstock, Ga., native signed for $1.5 million. He was the MVP of the Double-A Southern League in 2019, but the jump to Triple-A in 2021 gave Waters his first real speed bump. Waters again struggled in 49 games at Triple-A Gwinnett in 2022 before being one of three players traded to the Royals in July 2022 for a supplemental first-round pick in that year's draft. The change of scenery suited Waters, who hit .295/.399/.541 with Triple-A Omaha before being called up to Kansas City on Aug. 22. His walk rate grew from 7.6% with Gwinnett to 14% with Omaha and then 11% with Kansas City.
  
  Scouting Report: Waters didn't make any big mechanical swing changes when he joined the Royals organization. Instead, he became more confident and consistent with his decisions at the plate. A switch-hitter, Waters has a narrow setup with a high leg kick and a hand position right around shoulder level. He uses the setup from both sides of the plate, giving him a quick and powerful swing. Waters especially excels in center field, with potential Gold Glove-caliber defense earning him plus grades in both fielding and throwing. A plus runner, Waters stole 18 bases at Triple-A in 2022.
  
  The Future: Waters showed enough in his late-season time with Kansas City that he'll head to spring training with a chance to earn a big league roster spot and perhaps a starting outfield job. His speed, defense and ability to play all three outfield positions will be especially valuable in the spacious Kauffman Stadium outfield.
  
  Scouting Grades: Hitting: 45. Power: 45. Speed: 60. Fielding: 60. Arm: 60
• December, 2022 Scouting Report
  BA Grade/Risk: 45/Medium
  
  Track Record: The Braves drafted Waters out of their backyard in the second round in 2017. The Woodstock, Ga., native signed for $1.5 million. He was the MVP of the Double-A Southern League in 2019, but the jump to Triple-A in 2021 gave Waters his first real speed bump. Waters again struggled in 49 games at Triple-A Gwinnett in 2022 before being one of three players traded to the Royals in July 2022 for a supplemental first-round pick in that year's draft. The change of scenery suited Waters, who hit .295/.399/.541 with Triple-A Omaha before being called up to Kansas City on Aug. 22. His walk rate grew from 7.6% with Gwinnett to 14% with Omaha and then 11% with Kansas City.
  
  Scouting Report: Waters didn't make any big mechanical swing changes when he joined the Royals organization. Instead, he became more confident and consistent with his decisions at the plate. A switch-hitter, Waters has a narrow setup with a high leg kick and a hand position right around shoulder level. He uses the setup from both sides of the plate, giving him a quick and powerful swing. Waters especially excels in center field, with potential Gold Glove-caliber defense earning him plus grades in both fielding and throwing. A plus runner, Waters stole 18 bases at Triple-A in 2022.
  
  The Future: Waters showed enough in his late-season time with Kansas City that he'll head to spring training with a chance to earn a big league roster spot and perhaps a starting outfield job. His speed, defense and ability to play all three outfield positions will be especially valuable in the spacious Kauffman Stadium outfield.
  
  Scouting Grades: Hitting: 45. Power: 45. Speed: 60. Fielding: 60. Arm: 60
• April, 2022 Scouting Report
  BA Grade: 45/High
  
  Track Record: Waters was a local Georgia prospect who the Braves signed in the second round in 2017 for $1.5 million. He progressed through the minors and was named the Double-A Southern League MVP in 2019, but the lost 2020 covid season hampered his offensive development.
  
  Scouting Report: Waters needed as many upper-level at-bats as he could get and this year repeated Triple-A after struggling at the level in 26 games during 2019. Overall, Waters made marginal improvements offensively, but was still a below league-average hitter in Triple-A, per wRC+ (94). A 6-foot-2 switch hitter with long levers, Waters has struck out 30% or more in 129 games with Gwinnett, though he went from a 36.1% strikeout rate in 2019 to 30.9% in 2021, and in the final month of the season, saw that clip drop to 21.9%. The Braves want Waters to improve his mental approach at the plate and gain a better understanding of the pitches he can and cannot do damage with. His toolset is still quite loud, with plus speed, defensive ability and arm strength that will allow him to play center field well and either left or right exceptionally with average in-game power potential to go along with it.
  
  The Future: For Waters, his role will rely on the mental adjustments he&#39s able to make at the plate. His toolset suggests an above-average regular, but if his strikeout rate prevents him from being a fringy or average hitter with solid power, well, Atlanta&#39s outfield room is getting more crowded with Michael Harris coming up behind him. Waters is still young and will enter his age-23 season in 2022.
  
  Tool Grades: Hit: 45. Power: 50. Speed: 60. Fielding: 60. Arm: 60.
• December, 2021 Scouting Report
  Track Record: Waters was a local prospect from Woodstock, Ga. who the Braves drafted in the second round in 2017 and signed for $1.5 million. He progressed through the minors and won MVP of the Double-A Southern League in 2019, but the canceled 2020 minor league season hampered his development. Waters returned to play at Triple-A Gwinnett in 2021 and hit just .240 with an alarming 31% strikeout rate, leading the Braves to look for other, external options when they needed outfield help in the majors.
  
  Scouting Report: A 6-foot-2 switch-hitter with long levers, Waters has long had a feel to hit but has struggled to find an approach. That was exploited by more advanced pitchers in 2021 and led to a disastrous season. The Braves want Waters to improve his mental approach at the plate and gain a better understanding of the pitches he can and cannot do damage with. Even with significant improvements, however, he projects to be no more than a fringe-average hitter. Waters’ supplemental toolset is still quite loud. He has average power and is an asset in center field with his plus speed, plus arm strength and overall plus defensive ability.
  
  The Future: Waters is still young and will enter his age-23 season in 2022. Whether he can make the necessary mental adjustments will determine whether he becomes a regular or never makes enough contact to crack the Braves’ starting outfield.
  
• July, 2021 Scouting Report
  Hitting: 55. Power: 55. Run: 60. Fielding: 60. Arm: 55.
  Track Record: A local Georgia product drafted in the second round in 2016, Waters steadily climbed the minor league ladder and won the Double-A Southern League's batting title and MVP award in 2019. The switch-hitter finished the year in Triple-A, played for Team USA's Olympic qualifying team in the fall and spent 2020 at the alternate training site, where he mainly focused on his righthanded swing and improving his plate discipline and approach.
  
  Scouting Report: Waters is a long, lean athlete with a loose, handsy swing that gives him above-average hitting potential. He shows that potential against righthanders (.866 OPS in 2019) but still has improvements to make against lefties (.644 OPS). Waters is extremely aggressive in his pitch selection and has worked to become a more patient, selective hitter, particularly after his strikeout rate ballooned against upper-level arms. Waters has above-average power potential from both sides, but how much he accesses in games will depend on his pitch selection. His defense is underrated given his proximity to Cristian Pache in the system. He is capable of playing center field as a plus runner with above-average arm strength.
  
  The Future: The canceled minor league season hurt Waters' ability to develop his offense against high-level arms. If his 2020 work translates in games, he should become a regular in Atlanta's outfield.
• March, 2021 Scouting Report
  Hitting: 55. Power: 55. Run: 60. Fielding: 60. Arm: 55.
  Track Record: A local Georgia product drafted in the second round in 2016, Waters steadily climbed the minor league ladder and won the Double-A Southern League’s batting title and MVP award in 2019. The switch-hitter finished the year in Triple-A, played for Team USA’s Olympic qualifying team in the fall and spent 2020 at the alternate training site, where he mainly focused on his righthanded swing and improving his plate discipline and approach.
  
  Scouting Report: Waters is a long, lean athlete with a loose, handsy swing that gives him above-average hitting potential. He shows that potential against righthanders (.866 OPS in 2019) but still has improvements to make against lefties (.644 OPS). Waters is extremely aggressive in his pitch selection and has worked to become a more patient, selective hitter, particularly after his strikeout rate ballooned against upper-level arms. Waters has above-average power potential from both sides, but how much he accesses in games will depend on his pitch selection. His defense is underrated given his proximity to Cristian Pache in the system. He is capable of playing center field as a plus runner with above-average arm strength.
  
  The Future: The canceled minor league season hurt Waters’ ability to develop his offense against high-level arms. If his 2020 work translates in games, he should become a regular in Atlanta’s outfield.
• December, 2020 Scouting Report
  Hitting: 55. Power: 55. Run: 60. Fielding: 60. Arm: 55.
  Track Record: A local Georgia product drafted in the second round in 2016, Waters steadily climbed the minor league ladder and won the Double-A Southern League’s batting title and MVP award in 2019. The switch-hitter finished the year in Triple-A, played for Team USA’s Olympic qualifying team in the fall and spent 2020 at the alternate training site, where he mainly focused on his righthanded swing and improving his plate discipline and approach.
  
  Scouting Report: Waters is a long, lean athlete with a loose, handsy swing that gives him above-average hitting potential. He shows that potential against righthanders (.866 OPS in 2019) but still has improvements to make against lefties (.644 OPS). Waters is extremely aggressive in his pitch selection and has worked to become a more patient, selective hitter, particularly after his strikeout rate ballooned against upper-level arms. Waters has above-average power potential from both sides, but how much he accesses in games will depend on his pitch selection. His defense is underrated given his proximity to Cristian Pache in the system. He is capable of playing center field as a plus runner with above-average arm strength.
  
  The Future: The canceled minor league season hurt Waters’ ability to develop his offense against high-level arms. If his 2020 work translates in games, he should become a regular in Atlanta’s outfield.
• July, 2020 Scouting Report
  TRACK RECORD: A local high school product, Waters has steadily climbed the minor league ladder alongside Cristian Pache, and reached Triple-A Gwinnett for the first time in 2019. At Double-A, the athletic, switch-hitting outfielder won the Southern League batting title and MVP award.
  
  SCOUTING REPORT: Waters has long been thought to be an above-average hitter thanks to a loose, handsy swing and a proclivity to use the entire field. However, scouts were concerned with the amount of swing-and-miss seen in his game this season—particularly from the righthanded side of the plate, where he also tends to get more pull-heavy. He still has a chance to be a solidaverage hitter and has shown the ability to make adjustments within at-bats, but at the moment he gets beat inside too frequently and his swing can get long from the left side—where he shows plus raw power. Waters could stick in center field as a plus runner with above-average arm strength, and he’s also an efficient and smart baserunner.
  
  THE FUTURE: Waters should start 2020 in Triple-A, where he’ll need to cut down his strikeout rate and improve his approach from the right side. If he does that, he could become a fixture in Atlanta during the season.
• February, 2020 Scouting Report
  TRACK RECORD: A local high school product, Waters has steadily climbed the minor league ladder alongside Cristian Pache, and reached Triple-A Gwinnett for the first time in 2019. At Double-A, the athletic, switch-hitting outfielder won the Southern League batting title and MVP award.
  
  SCOUTING REPORT: Waters has long been thought to be an above-average hitter thanks to a loose, handsy swing and a proclivity to use the entire field. However, scouts were concerned with the amount of swing-and-miss seen in his game this season—particularly from the righthanded side of the plate, where he also tends to get more pull-heavy. He still has a chance to be a solidaverage hitter and has shown the ability to make adjustments within at-bats, but at the moment he gets beat inside too frequently and his swing can get long from the left side—where he shows plus raw power. Waters could stick in center field as a plus runner with above-average arm strength, and he's also an efficient and smart baserunner.
  
  THE FUTURE: Waters should start 2020 in Triple-A, where he'll need to cut down his strikeout rate and improve his approach from the right side. If he does that, he could become a fixture in Atlanta during the season.
• December, 2018 Scouting Report
  The many dimensions to Waters’ game were apparent in his performance as the Southern League MVP. He led the league in average (.319), hits (134), doubles (35) and triples (nine) while placing second in slugging (.481) and OPS (.847). The Braves promoted him to Triple-A in August. The switch-hitting Waters is a present plus hitter with a chance to hit .300 in the big leagues. His smooth swing appears mirrored from both sides of the plate, and his balance enables him to drive the ball to all fields. As he continues to mature, Waters should add power and could approach 20 home runs. He swings and misses frequently and needs to become more selective and make pitchers come to him. Managers love Waters’ effort level and regard him as a five-tool player. He’s a plus runner with average range in center field and an above-average arm that plays in right.
• July, 2018 Scouting Report
  Rome has seen its fair share of center field prospects. Two years ago, Ronald Acuna roamed the middle of the field as he turned himself into a top prospect. Last year, Cristian Pache played Gold Glove-caliber defense while also showing hitting potential. This year, Waters is making highlight catches in center field while showing above-average power potential.