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Riley Greene, OF

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Scouting report

Advanced high school hitters are common on Florida's diamonds, and while Greene constantly squared up top high school pitching as well as any of his peers, he also underwent a bit of a physical transformation that made at least some scouts more optimistic that he'll be able to play an instincts-driven center field long-term. During his pre-draft summer, Greene was a little soft-bodied, his running gait was odd, and he seemed destined to play little more than an average outfield corner. The player scouts watched the following spring had a better physical composition, was more explosive and a better runner, and had as ripe a high school hit tool as was available in the draft. This was similar to how Jarred Kelenic's skills were colored as he came out of high school. Greene's swing, curated by his father from an early age, is beautiful. He can clear his hips and turn on just about anything on the inner half, drop the bat head and lift balls with power, strike balls the other way with authority, and he tracked and whacked many high school benders. The bend and flexion in Greene's front knee as his swing clears the point of impact is reminiscent of several Dodgers hitters. Though there are many examples of Greene having certain types of athleticism (he is a tremendous leaper, for instance), he's not a runner and we don't have him projected in center field. But we think he'll hit enough that it doesn't matter. Though he started a string of high-upside early 20-somethings on this year's top 100, his skills are more comparable to those of the polished college draftees in their mid-20s who are slightly ahead of him there because they're further up the minor league ladder. (Alternate site, Fall Instructional League)