OF Kala'i Rosario, Waiakea HS [HI]
Full index of profiles here
DoB: 7/2/2002. B/T: R/R.
Commitment: California Baptist.
Hawaii has given us players like Kolten Wong, Kurt Suzuki, and Kirby Yates, but only after they want off to college. Every year, there tends to be a couple of prospects here and there, but otherwise the islands are not a major exporter of baseball talent. In 2020, yet another "K" first name is set to try to break through in outfielder Kala'i Rosario, the top Hawaiian in the class. Armed with some of the best power in the high school class, he could be drafted high enough this year to forego a commitment to California Baptist.
Rosario can hit the ball a mile with relative ease. He packs a ton of strength into his 6'1" frame and can unload on baseballs to send them incredible distances. While there is some swing and miss in his game, it's not enough to where scouts are worried if he'll hit. It'll take some adjustment, as Hawaiian players often don't face the toughest competition back home, but he should tap his power regularly enough to be productive. His swing could be cleaned up a bit, as he tends to lean into pitches and get out on his front foot, so he'll need to learn to keep his weight back a bit. Good news is that he's fairly young for the class and won't turn 18 until after the draft, so he has that much more time to make adjustments.
Rosario is a bit of a sleeper with very high upside as a 30 or 40 home run guy, albeit one that's likely limited to left field. There is considerable bust risk because he needs so much refinement, but he could provide great value starting around the third round. If he gets to Cal Baptist, he'd be one of the best recruits they've ever landed, and he could significantly elevate his stock by hitting for three years there. He could be a cheaper alternative to a similar hitter, Blaze Jordan.
Highlight reel from fall event
No comments:
Post a Comment