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Dylan Carlson, OF
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Scouting report
Carlson is balanced and coordinated while hitting from both sides of the plate, his left-handed swing has gorgeous lift and finish, and he has advanced bat control and rare on-field poise for a switch-hitter his age. He's also athletic and moves well for his size. I still have some questions about his ultimate upside because I think he's much more likely to end up in left field than in center. His instincts in center are okay, but I don't think he has the long speed that is typical at the position. His 2019 minor league TrackMan data indicates his statline from that year was a bit of a caricature, but his Savant page indicates the opposite with regard to his 2020 debut struggles. I wonder if pro models have been overrating Carlson due to his age because even though he's only the age of a college bat, he doesn't have the physical projection you'd expect of a hitter that age. Of course, it's not like Juan Soto still has physical projection, either. The league-average offensive production in left field has been lower than you might expect (good for a 100 wRC+ over the last five years) and Carlson might also be able to play a situational center when the Cards are behind and need offense, as well as some first base. That versatility is valuable icing on a switch-hitting cake. Carlson projects as a well-rounded switch-hitter with excellent feel for the strike zone. (Alternate site, MLB)