2017 Mets draft profile: Quinn Brodey

Name: Quinn Brodey
Born: Los Angeles, California
Age: 21 (9/03/95)
Height/Weight: 6'1"/200 lbs
Position: OF
Bats/Throws: L/L
School: Stanford University

Quinn Brodey has been performing double duty his entire life. As a student at Loyola High School, he was an excellent student and athlete. In the classroom, he was attracted to figuring out how things worked, which is what led him to eventually going to Stanford and majoring in management science and engineering. On the baseball diamond, he excelled as both a position player and a pitcher. Though he possessed a 90 mile-per-hour fastball that got great movement, a feel for a loose curveball, and an advanced changeup, he was better as an outfielder, where his strong bat and solid defensive instincts come into play more often.

Brodey had a strong commitment to Stanford, and as such, he received a token selection in the 2014 MLB Draft, being selected by the Washington Nationals with their 37th-round pick. In 2015, his first year at Stanford, Brodey continued performing as a two-way player. He appeared in ten games out of the Cardinal bullpen, posting a 3.48 ERA in 10.1 innings pitched with 15 hits allowed, 10 walks, and 4 strikeouts. It became quickly apparent that his future would be on the field rather than on the mound, as the freshman hit .262/.345/.340 in 47 games.

The outfielder had a stronger season in 2016, as a sophomore. No longer a two-way player, Brodey started all 54 games Stanford played and hit an improved .280/.302/.445. His 61 hits led Stanford, as did his 7 home runs, 41 RBI, and 97 total bases. That summer, he went to play at the prestigious Cape Cod League. Playing in 37 games for the Cotuit Kettleers, he was one of the best players in the Cape, hitting a robust .326/.359/.486.

Brodey returned to Stanford in 2017 for coach Mark Marquess’s 41st and final season, He started all 58 games the team played once again. He hit .314/.371/.556, leading Stanford in batting average, slugging percentage, home runs, RBI, and total bases. In addition to leading his team, he found his name among the league leaders in the Pac-12 Conference in slugging percentage, RBI, total bases, doubles, triples, and home runs.

Stanford was eliminated during NCAA Regional play, but it was not because of anything the left-hander did, as he was instrumental in Stanford’s two regional wins. In their first win, against Sacramento State on June 1st, he went 4-for-4 with a double, two home runs, and two RBI. In their second, against Brigham Young University on June 3rd, he went 3-for-5 with a triple, home run, and two RBI.

Throughout his collegiate career, Quinn Brodey has put up solid-if-unspectacular numbers, hitting a cumulative .291/.340/.473. A left-handed hitter, the 21-year-old has a balanced, clean swing with bat speed that flashes plus at times. He is spread at the plate, allowing him to tap into power from his lower body and get torque in his swing. His hit tool is currently more advanced than his ability to hit for power, as he has consistently demonstrated the ability to barrel the ball and put it in play, but has not shown consistent power.

To his pull side, he generally hits hard ground balls and liners with topspin rather than fly balls and elevated balls with backspin. To the opposite field, he generally gets more carry, with balls having more lift and more backspin. His approach at the plate is a bit aggressive, as he looks to jump on balls early in the count, but Brodey has fair pitch recognition skills and has the ability to work the count.

Defensively, Brodey has shown solid outfield actions. His speed is generally fringe-to-average, but he is quick to the ball, taking good routes. He generally plays deep, showing enough baseball acumen to know that a ball falling in front of him for a single is generally preferable to a ball falling in behind him for extra bases. Despite being a pitcher in high school and his freshman year in college, he does not have a plus arm. The mechanics of his throwing causes it to back up, giving him fringe-to-average arm strength. If professional coaching is able to improve this aspect of his defense, he may be able to play right field going forward, but if it cannot be corrected, the outfielder is likely destined for left field.