HOUSTON, TX - APRIL 02: Baltimore Orioles baseball cap rests in the visitors' dugout during the MLB game between the Baltimore Orioles and Houston Astros on April 2, 2018 at Minute Maid Park in Houston, Texas. (Photo by Leslie Plaza Johnson/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
BALTIMORE, MD – SEPTEMBER 29, 2012: The West wall of the warehouse building bears the uniform number of Baseball Hall of Famer Broooks Robinson as the video screen and digitial message boards show images from his playing career and broadcast the unveiling ceremonies for a bronze statue in Robinson’s honor in the centerfield court prior to a game on September 29, 2012 between the Boston Red Sox and the Baltimore Orioles at Oriole Park in Baltimore, MD. (Photo by: Diamond Images/Getty Images) /
After a pop-up season in 2018, can the Baltimore Orioles outfield prospect build on his 2018 success?
With each of our top 10 prospect lists this offseason, we will have a scouting report on one player from that organization’s top 10 list. With today’s review of the Baltimore Orioles, we will take a look at outfielder Ryan McKenna, the Orioles #4 prospect.
Player Profile
The Baltimore Orioles drafted Ryan McKenna out of high school in New Hampshire in the 4th round of the 2015 draft. Considered the best high school player in the New England area in that year’s draft, the Orioles stepped in over the local Red Sox in drafting McKenna and signed him away from a commitment to Liberty.
In his draft season, McKenna was assigned to the GCL Orioles, where he played in just 10 games, hitting .265/.366/.324 with a triple and a stolen base. He moved up to short-season A-ball with the New York-Penn League in 2016, spending the entire season with Aberdeen. McKenna flashed his speed with 17 steals, hitting .241/.320/.309 with 10 doubles, a triple, and a home run over 62 games.
The Orioles assigned McKenna to low-A Delmarva for the 2017 season. He had similar numbers to Aberdeen the year before, hitting .256/.331/.380 with 33 doubles, 2 triples, 7 home runs, and 20 stolen bases over 126 games.
This past season, McKenna opened the season with high-A Frederick in the Carolina League. He hit .377/.467/.556 with 18 doubles, 2 triples, 8 home runs, and 5 steals in 67 games.
He was promoted to AA Bowie in the Eastern League, and he struggled, hitting .239/.341/.338 with 8 doubles, 2 triples, 3 home runs, and 4 stolen bases over 60 games. Due to his AA numbers being so similar to his previous years, many assumed McKenna’s performance in the Carolina League was a flash in the pan.
McKenna was assigned to the Arizona Fall League, where he’s facing many of the best pitchers in minor league baseball, and he’s done nothing but hit for Glendale. Going into action tonight, McKenna is hitting .373/.484/.647 with 5 doubles, 3 triples, 1 home run, and 2 stolen bases over 13 games.
Let’s dig deeper into his profile…
Scouting Report
Size/Build
Ryan McKenna is a small guy, listed at 5’11” and 185 pounds. That looks about 1-2 inches and about 15-20 pounds exaggerated when you see him against guys listed at 6′ and 190!
He’s a right-handed hitter with a slim, lean build. He sets up with the bat on his shoulder and straight-on with the pitcher with his feet. He has a very slight leg lift and a short forward stride from his initial base leading into his swing.
Hitting
Contact (55) – McKenna’s swing is compact and quick. He has a very impressive ability to get the heart of the bat to the ball to maximize the effectiveness of his contact, leading to an array of line drives sprayed around.
Power (40) – While he gets the barrel to the ball, McKenna simply works with a line drive swing in all counts, so he does not maximize loft at this point. He could alter that a touch and perhaps range up to 45-50 power, but at the cost of contact, it may not be worth it for him.
Eye (55) – I had a chance to see multiple top prospects pitch to McKenna, and he is not overwhelmed by big velocity or big break, able to foul off multiple areas of the zone without an issue and spit on balls just off the zone.
Base Running/Fielding
Speed (65) – McKenna has definite plus speed and he plays it up with impressive instincts as a base runner. McKenna’s stolen base instincts, on the other hand, could use some polishing, as he takes an extra base well on balls that get away, but straight steals were exposed this year.
Defense (65) – McKenna has no trouble getting to balls with his good speed, but more than anything, he has very good instincts in the outfield off the ball. While he’s not the most instinctual for his route, he is on the move the correct way on the crack of the bat.
Arm (45) – McKenna’s arm is accurate, but it’s below-average in strength, which will likely lead to his best position being center or left. The accuracy will allow his arm to play up from it’s pure strength, though.
MLB Player Comp
Though they swing from different sides of the plate, there is a lot of Shane Victorino in McKenna, even though McKenna’s stolen base skills are not quite to the level that Victorino’s were with the Phillies. The swings are very similar, as is the lack of pre-swing movement or leg kick or anything of the sort.
One of the things always attributed to Victorino was his excellent ability to run the bases, with double-digit triples three seasons in a row. McKenna has that same ability to run well once he’s on the basepaths and on the move, and if the Orioles were going to get a guy who hit .275/.340/.425 for them with 10-15 home runs, 30 doubles, and 8-10 triples for a number of seasons from the top of the order, they’d be overjoyed.
Future Role
The Victorino comp is an apt one for McKenna. If he’s not able to play full-time in the outfield and work at the top of the lineup, he’ll be a very quality platoon guy or 4th outfielder. He could use some more time to build up his ability to tap into his power more fully and be a true 10-15 home run threat along with developing his stolen base reads.
Right now, with guys stuck into outfield spots for power purposes that are negative defenders, having a quality glove that can set up the lineup the way McKenna should be able to do would be something vital for the Baltimore Orioles.
Next. Orioles top 10 prospects for 2019. dark
The Baltimore Orioles haven’t had a quality leadoff guy in some time, really since Brian Roberts was at his best. If McKenna can be that guy, it would be a huge asset for the Orioles.
