LOU
Joe Gray, OF
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Scouting report
I've been skeptical of Gray's hit tool since high school, and he still strikes out a lot, but because he's missed so much time and dealt with the physical aftermath of pneumonia (2018), not to mention a severe hamstring strain ('19) and the pandemic, it's premature to declare his hit tool faulty. Gray's carrying tool has long been his prodigious power, and he's filled out and enjoyed a measurable leap in his top-end exit velos. He gets to the power in games via an extreme uphill swing. Gray just collapses his back side and swings with huge uppercut. The simplicity of the cut helps balance how extreme it is in leverage, and Gray has shown an ability to catch letter-high fastballs and also adjust to curveballs in flight. The result is a paltry 28% groundball rate, which is among the lowest in the minors. He's going to swing and miss a bunch, but the combination of playable power and approach (Gray has good feel for the zone and has walked at a well-above average clip during his brief career) gives him a chance to hit 25 or 30 annual bombs. Gray has good center field instincts but as he's added mass, he doesn't have the long speed to play center field and probably fits in a corner. That defensive fit plus the strikeouts mean Gray's profile is on relatively shaky ground, but he has everyday tools. He's a high-risk/reward prospect.