ABQ
Curtis Mead, IF
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Scouting report
The Rays acquired Mead from Philadelphia for 40-man crunch reliever Cristopher Sánchez early during the 2019 offseason. Because of the pandemic Mead still hasn't played an affiliated game for the Rays, but he did play at instructs and has posted a raucous statline during winter ball in his home country of Australia. Last year, scouts described Mead as raw but toolsy, and even though his on-paper performance during his pro debut didn't indicate it (Mead hit .285/.351/.462 with a 13% strikeout rate), they were right, and a year later that remains true. His swing, especially his stride, is weird and atypical (the front foot lifts, dangles, and slowly drifts back to his rear foot, then comes forward again for what is a huge move forward) but it's also really athletic, and Mead has freaky bat control even though he takes a very healthy hack. He has the physical ability to both hit and hit for power, and offensively looks like a toolsy, crude junior college sort of prospect. Defensively, Mead has some of the more bizarre infield throwing mechanics I have seen on a pro prospect; he just sort of rainbows the ball over to first base without real zip. He might have a better shot of playing second base due to a lack of arm strength, though the outfield is a distinct possibility because of how odd his mechanics are. He remains a very interesting developmental project. (Fall Instructional League, Australian Baseball League)