MLB Draft 2022: Tampa Bay Rays choose SS Jalen Battles with No. 164 select

The Tampa Bay Rays comprise supplemental their 3rd shortstop of the draft, Jalen Battles against the College or university of Arkansas. Battles is touted as one particular of the easiest defenders within just all of university baseball, still lacks highly effective offensive resources, projecting a listed here common strike resource and ability position. Regrettably, he is incredibly athletic, thus there is long term for him towards make improvements to his skills at the plate. Even though MLB Pipeline didn't consist of Battles between their best 250 draft potential customers, they glimpse towards be high upon him than Baseball The united states, as they raved more than his defensive techniques:One particular of the suitable defensive shortstops within just faculty baseball, Battles contains robust amount and perfectly more than common arm electrical power. Whilst he's a under ordinary hitter with electrical power in direction of activity, he did posting the ideal quantities of his school vocation this spring, battingwith 10 homers inside 66 game titles whilst assisting Arkansas realize the Higher education Planet Collection. He's an ordinary runner. In the meantime, Baseball The usa experienced this in direction of say over the Rays draftee:He consists of an in excess of common arm and higher than normal variety. His glove ought to deliver him an top quality senior indicator, though his bat will decrease how large he will transfer. He can change upon a fastball with his fringe regular electricity, still he's in essence been an straightforward mark for pitchers who cause him towards chase sliders, and specially changeups, absent. He pulls off these pitches also normally, though his typical hand eye coordination retains him against staying a substantial legal responsibility as a backside of the buy bat. The moment the Rays introduced their option of Battles, MLB. com's Jonathan Mayo reaffirmed the declare of Battles getting a final notch defender:"Jalen Battles is just one of the perfect defensive shortstops in just the college or university ranks. He's obtained robust wide range and a Pretty powerful arm Rays Store. He can undoubtedly engage in brief. He's the explanation why Robert Moore was at instant foundation. He's obtained some energy it's not large period electrical power. The bat is moving in direction of Compute if he's an each working day participant or is he a utility man. "Battles was now drafted by way of the Philadelphia Phillies within just the 34th spherical of the 2019 draft out of higher faculty, however selected in direction of transfer toward university rather of signing.