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Hitting Ability: Skipworth is a strong hitter from the left side with the ability to hit line drives to all fields. Whether he hits for average while handling the rigors of catching remains to be seen.
Power: He has plus power from pole-to-pole, evidenced by an opposite-field home run at this showcase.
Running Speed: As a catcher, he's a below-average runner.
Arm Strength: Skipworth has a plus arm; he threw out three would-be basestealers at the event.
Fielding: He is average at best receiving and he occasionally gets handcuffed behind the plate. He has shown improvement from last summer.
Range: As a big catcher, he'll need to show better footwork and mobility as he progresses.
Physical Description: Skipworth is a big, physical catcher with a pretty left-handed swing.
Medical Update: Skipworth broke his hand at an event in Jupiter over the summer, but he's 100 percent healthy now.
Strengths: Power to all fields from left side of plate; arm strength behind the plate.
Weaknesses: There are still questions about his ability behind the plate. He'll need to improve his receiving and footwork. He makes up for his release time with his plus arm, but that should improve over time.
Summary: Arguably the best catching prospect in the draft class, Skipworth has all the makings of an offensive-minded catcher with plenty of power from the left side, a hot commodity for every organization. He's got plus arm strength, but needs some work in his defensive game, something scouts believe will improve over time.
Power: He has plus power from pole-to-pole, evidenced by an opposite-field home run at this showcase.
Running Speed: As a catcher, he's a below-average runner.
Arm Strength: Skipworth has a plus arm; he threw out three would-be basestealers at the event.
Fielding: He is average at best receiving and he occasionally gets handcuffed behind the plate. He has shown improvement from last summer.
Range: As a big catcher, he'll need to show better footwork and mobility as he progresses.
Physical Description: Skipworth is a big, physical catcher with a pretty left-handed swing.
Medical Update: Skipworth broke his hand at an event in Jupiter over the summer, but he's 100 percent healthy now.
Strengths: Power to all fields from left side of plate; arm strength behind the plate.
Weaknesses: There are still questions about his ability behind the plate. He'll need to improve his receiving and footwork. He makes up for his release time with his plus arm, but that should improve over time.
Summary: Arguably the best catching prospect in the draft class, Skipworth has all the makings of an offensive-minded catcher with plenty of power from the left side, a hot commodity for every organization. He's got plus arm strength, but needs some work in his defensive game, something scouts believe will improve over time.
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Five players remain public possibilities for the No. 1 pick when the Rays make the first selection in the First-Year Player Draft next Thursday, but behind closed doors, the list appears to have been whittled down to three.
According to Rays scouting director R.J. Harrison, the five players are: Florida State catcher Buster Posey; Vanderbilt third baseman Pedro Alvarez; Georgia high school shortstop Tim Beckham; San Diego left-handed pitcher Brian Matusz; and California high school catcher Kyle Skipworth.
According to Rays scouting director R.J. Harrison, the five players are: Florida State catcher Buster Posey; Vanderbilt third baseman Pedro Alvarez; Georgia high school shortstop Tim Beckham; San Diego left-handed pitcher Brian Matusz; and California high school catcher Kyle Skipworth.
Obviously, catcher was a need, but you always make it sound like we took some guy who was supposed to go late in the 1st round.
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