SS Nick Loftin, Baylor
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DoB: 9/25/1998. B/T: R/R
2020 Stats: 2 HR, .298/.339/.544, 0 SB, 11/4 K/BB in 14 games
I've always liked Loftin as a prospect, and some minor helium means that others are starting to like him too. Always a steady hitter, he hit .306/.370/.441 as a freshman at Baylor before improving to .331/.391/.517 as a sophomore, striking out a grand total of just 37 times over 108 games those two seasons (just a 7.1% rate). His junior 2020 season was looking a bit different through 14 games, with his .298/.339/.544 slash line a bit higher on the slugging end and his eleven strikeouts a bit higher than typical (a 17.7% rate). The new Loftin has been hitting for a bit more power, and he showed that on February 29th when he blasted a ball over the train tracks at Minute Maid Park off of LSU Saturday starter and 2021 draft prospect Landon Marceaux.
Loftin has an exceptional feel for hitting, having consistently barreled up pitchers from across the Big 12 since he stepped onto campus in Waco. Those minuscule strikeout rates are evidence of that, and he also struck out just twice in nine games in the elite Cape Cod League over the summer (5.3% rate). Even before his 2020 power spree, Loftin was never just a slap hitter, as his ability to find the barrel consistently has meant plenty of doubles and even a few triples. This year, he's been more willing to turn on pitches and drive them in the air, which has helped showcase his ambush power but which has also led to that elevated strikeout rate.
Of course, this new Loftin has only shown up in a short, 14 game sample, and most in the industry (plus myself) agree that this has done more good for his stock than bad. While nobody every mistook Loftin for a slap hitter, his brief power spree has shown that there can be some serious impact in the bat when he wants it. Moving up through the minors will mean a lot of learning how to best deploy that power in a disciplined manner, and I definitely see that as more of an opportunity for further growth than as something holding him back. Additionally, he's a steady defender at shortstop who will be able to stick there, making him one of the most well-rounded players in this class.
He's an example of a player whose floor and ceiling are relatively close together. Loftin should be at least a utility infielder, and his upside puts him around 15-20 home runs per season with high, batting average-driven on-base percentages. He won't steal a ton of bags or draw a ton of walks, the latter of which is mostly just because he makes such easy contact and doesn't get into deep counts. He's been creeping up draft boards and could find himself in the back of the first round, and regardless it's hard to see him falling too far into the second with his combination of floor and upside.
2020 game action
Loftin's 2020 power spree
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