Richard Palacios

Richard Palacios - Scouting Report


Rank History
Year Team Position Team Rank OFP
2021 CLE SS/2B 43 35

Grades Update: Nov 2020
OFP Role Hit Power Field Arm Run
35 30 45 40 50 45 60

Nov 2020 Report

Evaluator: Russ Peters

Age: 24 yr
Height: 5-11
Weight: 180 lbs
Hits/Throws: L/R
Acquired: 2018 Draft - Round 3
RuleV: 2021

Physical Description: Thick, stocky. Has definitely added weight and muscle since college and his last appearance in the minors during the 2018 season (missed all of 2019 with a labrum injury and 2020 was cancelled). Beginning to resemble a football running back build.

Hit: Upright stance. Legs shoulder width apart. Hands at his shoulder with back elbow up, hips set back a bit with a slight pigeon-toed back foot. Small leg kick leads into an aggressive swing. Really drives the ball. Excellent strike zone awareness. Grade: 45

Power: Natural loft to current swing. Swings very hard and aggressively but controls the bat well. Gets good torque with hip rotation. Uses leverage to drive the ball. Added strength to frame. Conservatively possesses a 12-15 homer bat. Grade: 40

Field: Very smooth, quick transitions. Gets to the ball quickly. Does everything you want a middle infielder to do. Grade: 50

Arm: Makes quick and even acrobatic throws. Adjusts arm angle to make the quickest play. Accurate, fringy arm for SS. Best profiles is 2B. Grade: 45

Run: Above-average tool. Will be interesting to see how he moves with the added bulk. Base stealer and asset on the basepaths. Gets good jumps and has good instincts. Grade: 60

Overall: Profiles as a potential top of the lineup, bat-first second baseman and on-base machine, if everything works. Lack of defensive versatility puts more pressure on the bat and the legs. Hasn't played in a regular-season game since 2018. However, when he has played he has been impressive. Until he is "back" and reasserts himself expectations will be tempered.

OFP: 35
Role: 30 - Up/Down Emergency Depth
Risk: High