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2019 MLB Draft Profile: Hunter Bishop

Not to be overshadowed by Arizona State teammate Spencer Torkelson, Bishop figures to come off the board very early in the 2019 MLB Draft.

By Hector Rodriguez
Cape Cod League Championship Series

Overview

Position: OF

Height: 6’5”

Weight: 210 pounds

High School: Serra High School

College: Arizona State

Hunter Bishop 2019 MLB Draft Profile

Hunter Bishop is a 20-year-old outfielder from San Carlos, California and plays college baseball for Arizona State University. He is one of the top collegiate prospects in the 2019 MLB Draft. He also played for the Brewster Whitecaps in the Cape Cod League in 2018. According to Perfect Game, Bishop was the 106th-ranked prospect and the 15th-ranked outfielder in the 2016 class. Hunter is the younger brother of Mariners outfield prospect Braden Bishop (who made his MLB debut earlier this season).

In his first two years with the Sun Devils, Bishop was one of their key contributors as he’s hit for high average and has a high on base percentage. In his junior season, Bishop has torn the cover the ball, batting .366 with 22 home runs, 61 RBIs and has a 1.306 OPS. He finally tapped into the raw power that scouts have always expected. The breakout is being noticed—he’s a semifinalist for the NCAA’s prestigious Golden Spikes award.

At 6-foot-5, 210 pounds, Bishop has a large, athletic frame and is one of the best bats in this draft class. He can spray the ball to all fields and not sacrifice contact for power, just like a certain NL MVP Marlins fans may be familiar with.

On defense, Bishop is a plus defensive outfielder that can play all three outfield positions. Bishop has good speed and has the range to play center field at the next level.

Scouts are very high on Hunter Bishop and think that he can be a really nice power hitter in the pros.

Strengths

  • Tremendous raw power
  • Strong arm
  • Good bat speed
  • Drives ball to all fields
  • Can play all three outfield positions
  • Great speed at 6’5”
  • Run producer
  • Draws a lot of walks

Weaknesses

  • Some swing and miss
  • Tends to pull a little
  • First season at center field
  • Sacrifices contact for power
  • Lacks a track record of success

Pro Comparison: Clint Frazier

Projection: Top 10 pick

Bottom Line

The 2019 Miami Marlins offense has been one of the worst offenses in MLB. They have a very high strikeout rate and fail to deliver at key scoring opportunities. The Marlins really need to add some top hitting prospects to their farm system who could eventually help the big club’s offense.

Hunter Bishop is a player they could plug in to the middle of the order and trust as a main run producer. Miami also lacks power in their lineup and a guy like Bishop would help. He’s a source for potentially 20-30 home runs per season at the next level and still hits around .250 and .285. Bishop may not be the Marlins pick at the No. 4 spot, but he’s definitely high on their draft board.

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