Follow the Prospects: Kevin Made, SS

[imref]

DoB: 09/10/2002
B/T: R/R5' 9"/160
Signed by the Chicago Cubs as an international free agent from the Dominican Republic in 2019

MiLB: https://www.mlb.com/player/kevin-made-691183

Scouting grades: Hit: 50 | Power: 45 | Run: 55 | Arm: 65 | Field: 60 | Overall: 45

Made signed for $1.5 million out of the Dominican Republic in 2019, but the pandemic delayed his debut until 2021. Chicago's logjam of young shortstops resulted in him being assigned to Single-A at age 18 for his introduction to pro ball and getting pushed to High-A at age 19 in mid-2022. Though his youth, inexperience and hamstring and elbow issues have limited him to a .244/.317/.366 line in 222 games, he has tremendous upside.

Made's quick right-handed swing and advanced bat-to-ball skills have helped him survive against much older and experienced competition. He has shown the ability to make adjustments as he has gotten acclimated to a level and his walk rate soared from 2 percent in his debut to 11 percent last year, a very encouraging sign. He has projectable strength and shows the ability to turn on pitches, so he could provide 15-20 homers per season once he begins driving the ball in the air more regularly.

A solid runner but not much of a basestealer, Made could be a big league regular with just modest offensive production because he's a gifted defender. He has smooth actions and quality instincts at shortstop, where he covers ground to both sides and has a well-above-average arm. He could play almost anywhere on the diamond if he winds up in a utility role.

Assigned to Wilmington High-A

[welch]

I don't understand how these predictions arrive at the FV or Overall. Made had one rating of 45. The rest are 50, 55, 60, and 65. How is he an overall 45?

Made pushes aside Jordy Barley, who has been playing SS at Wilmington. Unless he's a flat failure. he belongs at Harrisburg, in a few weeks, in place of Cluff.

[JCA-CrystalCity]

https://www.washingtonpost.com/sports/2023/08/01/nationals-trade-deadline-lane-thomas-kyle-finnegan/

As for those two prospects, here is Rizzo’s assessment:
...
On Made, 20, who reached high Class A: “Great tools defensively. He’s very slick at shortstop. He’s got a great arm, he’s got good tools, and the bat’s coming. We see this guy making improvements; he made improvements in the final part of this year before he was traded. And our scouts really like the upside there. You can never have enough good, talented, toolsy players that play the middle of the field, and we felt that we got two more to add to our system.”

[imref]

2-29 since the trade.

[Natsinpwc]

2-29 since the trade.

Need some time to adjust.
It’s been a long season.
Just hit a bad patch.
Etc.

[Five Banners]

Need some time to adjust.
It’s been a long season.
Just hit a bad patch.
Etc.

It’s early

[JCA-CrystalCity]

It’s early

fire Coles.

[imref]

Currently on an 0-17 streak. With Armando Cruz at Fredricksburg, and not seemingly ready for a promotion, there's no place to move him.

[imref]

1-5, 2B yesterday. Heating up!

[imref]

0-4 last night, average down to .069

Not a good way to start.

[imref]

3-4, 2-2Bs tonight. Average up to .125!!

[imref]

0-1. 3BBs tonight. Definitely heating up.

[imref]

only 3 games in September but the results are promising: .273 /.333 .364

[JCA-CrystalCity]

only 3 games in September but the results are promising: .273 /.333 .364

Is this guy Jackson Cluff 2.0? Cluff has had good hitting stretches, especially at lower levels and in the AFL. He's even doing fairly well in Harrisburg this year (.762 OPS, .354 wOBA) drawing tons of walks and providing some pop to go with some steals.

[imref]

Is this guy Jackson Cluff 2.0? Cluff has had good hitting stretches, especially at lower levels and in the AFL. He's even doing fairly well in Harrisburg this year (.762 OPS, .354 wOBA) drawing tons of walks and providing some pop to go with some steals.

Could be. Folks rave about his speed and fielding skills, probably ceiling is another Vargas-type player.

[GataNats]

Could be. Folks rave about his speed and fielding skills, probably ceiling is another Vargas-type player.

If he’s fast and can field, he’s nothing at all like Vargas

[nobleisthyname]

I think Made is viewed as being more toolsy and thus has a bigger ceiling than players like Cluff and Vargas. Actually putting those tools together is another story entirely though...

[JCA-CrystalCity]

I think Made is viewed as being more toolsy and thus has a bigger ceiling than players like Cluff and Vargas. Actually putting those tools together is another story entirely though...

. Yes. My Cluff comment had more to do with his actual performance than his upside. His upside is higher than the Player Who was Formerly Every Day, Every Play (PW-FEDEP).

[nobleisthyname]

2023 Recap

Age: 21
Team rank: 23
Current level: AA

2023: .218/.307/.319 .627 OPS, 3 HR, 4 SB (383 PA)
2023 position (games played): 80 SS, 7 2B, 5 3B

[imref]

.320   / .874 in 25 ABs so far.

[JCA-CrystalCity]

.320   / .874 in 25 ABs so far.

this is news to follow. This kid shows any bat, that's a major leaguer.

[imref]

Nationals Player Development:

Kevin Made, who was acquired from the Cubs at the deadline last year, is 2nd in the system in OBP (.489) and has hit safely in 9 of 10 games this year.

His 11 walks are tied for the most in the South Atlantic League, while that .489 OBP ranks third.

[JCA-CrystalCity]

If Made can hit, then there's no need for Nunez. He can field with Nunez, and guys like Young can pinch run. I guess he becomes competition for Lipscomb as backup MI.

[imref]

Up to .350 / .909