Welcome to our first installment of the Elight Eh!ght.
Let’s get our 2024 Pre-Season list going with numbers 6, 7, & 8.
A note about ranking methodology:
#8. MYLES NAYLOR (Athletics)
The third Naylor to be drafted, Myles may have been the most raw of the three when drafted. Generally described as a blend of his brothers at the plate (Josh’s power & Bo’s hitting ability), Myles has shown plus raw power but has struggled with an abundance of swing & miss so far. Only 18 years old, the former Texas Tech commit has historically played SS but will likely slide over to the hot corner as he further matures and develops. Myles is a solid athlete and a good defender with an above-average arm that can play at third. His ceiling will be as high as his hit tool.
BEST TOOL: Power
MLB ETA: late 2027/early 2028
#7. ADAM MACKO (Blue Jays)
Macko comes to the mound with a 4 pitch mix (FB/CB/SL/CU). The six-foot-tall lefty struggled with injury in 2022 but came back in 2023 with an excellent 11.09 K/9 and a slider that evaluators have described as “rapidly improving”. His fastball sits in the mid-90s with his two breaking pitches playing off it well. While the arsenal is improving with plenty of potential within it, Adam is walking too many batters as shown by a well below-average 4.19 BB/9, and doesn’t quite leave enough of them on base. Improving his command and control should be a focus for 2024. Progress there would be a great step forward as it should further help the three pitches that are currently graded 50 or higher (FB/CB/SL) play even better.
BEST PITCH: Curveball
MLB ETA: This season, 2024
#6. DAVID MCCABE (Braves)
The 6ft 3in/230 lbs switch-hitting third baseman is a physically mature hitter with plus raw power. David also displays an excellent knowledge of the strike zone by taking walks at an excellent rate. One thing that does stand out to me with the stats above is McCabe’s Z-Swing% (swing percentage in the zone). Is it an excellent eye or is it a bit of passivity at the plate because his zone knowledge is so good? Some extra aggressiveness in the zone with his plus raw power and excellent SwStr% (6.9% in High-A over 348 PA 👀) wouldn’t necessarily be a bad thing and the results could be tremendous. A below-average defender with a plus arm at 3B, David likely end up as a first 1B/DH long-term.
BEST TOOL: Power
MLB ETA: 2027
Thank you for checking in today. Be on the lookout for numbers 3, 4 & 5 coming soon. Until the next time…KEEP IT 80 GRADE!