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Hunter Renfroe
| Hunter Renfroe |
||
|---|---|---|
| Pos | High School / College | Consensus Rank |
| OF |
Mississippi State (junior) |
1st round |
| B/T | Birthdate (age) | Height / Weight |
| R/R | 1/28/92 (21) | 6'1" / 210 lbs |
Selected in the 31st round by the Red Sox in 2010, Renfroe struggled in his first couple of years in college. However, he's been a revelation in 2013, batting .350/.442/.650 with 15 home runs during the regular season and SEC Tournament. He's finally seen his top tier power blossom in games, though a noticeable uppercut approach will likely limit his hit tool as he climbs the pro ranks. Additionally, he's very mobile in the outfield and features an excellent arm for right. Renfroe pretty much fits the classic, power-hitting right fielder profile to a t.
Video (via ESPN Insider)
What scouts are saying:
Keith Law, ESPN:
"Renfroe has always had the tools to be a first round pick but had no performance to speak of in his first two years in college. He really started to put everything together at the start of this, his junior year, showing great raw power that started to carry over into games and a better ability to square up the baseball."
Jonathan Mayo, MLB.com:
"He's a good runner who's even better underway, and he has a cannon for an arm. He's strong and physical and might very well fit the profile for a right fielder at the highest level."
What Alex is saying:
With Renfroe power is the name of the game, and his is a swing geared toward power. He's always had a spotty track record performance-wise, but 2013 has been a major improvement. His mechanics bear this out. He starts with his hands held high, which forces him to uppercut noticeably and enables him to use his long arms to leverage the ball out. In the past, he's been plagued by inconsistency in his stride and hand load, but he's cut the stride down and solved the load issue by moving his hands higher. Contact is going to be his primary fault. The swing length provides power but also means holes, and toe taps like his often foul up timing. Adjusting to better breaking balls is often problematic for hitters like Renfroe. Defensively, he profiles as a rightfielder with good mobility and a strong arm. Any team that drafts him should work toward continuing to streamline his stride while knowing that contact issues are always going to be part of his game.
