Not a Prospect: Trey Lipscomb, 3B

[imref]

Full Name: LaVictor Antwain Lipscomb
Positions: Third Baseman, Shortstop and First Baseman
Bats: Right  •  Throws: Right
6-1, 200lb (185cm, 90kg)
Born: June 14, 2000 (Age: 22-059d) in Frederick, MD us
Draft: Drafted by the Washington Nationals in the 3rd round of the 2022 MLB June Amateur Draft from University of Tennessee (Knoxville, TN).
School: University of Tennessee (Knoxville, TN)

https://www.baseball-reference.com/register/player.fcgi?id=lipsco000tre

Jessica Camerato:

https://www.mlb.com/news/trey-lipscomb-taken-by-nationals-in-third-round-of-draft#:~:text=Lipscomb%20has%20an%20overall%20scouting,and%20confident%2C%E2%80%9D%20Kline%20said.

WASHINGTON -- The first three seasons were about patience. The final one was about performance.

Before third baseman Trey Lipscomb, 22, would become the Nationals’ third pick (No. 84 overall, third round) in the 2022 Major League Draft on Monday, he would have to bide his time at the University of Tennessee playing behind a pair of future Draft selections.

“The fact that a kid that hadn’t played a whole lot and then finally gets an opportunity and runs with it, I think that speaks a lot about how this guy’s wired,” Nationals assistant general manager and vice president of scouting operations Kris Kline said.

From 2019-21, Lipscomb appeared in 37 games (12 starts) and took just 69 at-bats as Andre Lipcius (‘19 third round, Tigers) and Jake Rucker (‘21 seventh round, Twins) saw the majority of playing time.

Once he earned the starting role his senior year, the 6-foot-1, 200-pound infielder from Frederick, Md., made the most of the moment. He slashed .355/.428/.717 with a 1.145 OPS in 66 games (251 at-bats). Lipscomb led Tennessee with 89 hits, 84 RBIs, 22 home runs and 180 total bases. He also tied for a team high with 68 runs.

“His ability to be out in the field and play every day, things started to blossom for him,” said Nationals assistant director of amateur scouting Mark Baca.

Lipscomb’s RBI total ranked fifth nationally and first in the SEC. In the conference, he finished first in extra-base hits, second in slugging percentage, second in total bases, fourth in homers and fourth in runs.

Among his senior year accolades were First Team All-SEC, First Team NCBWA All-American, NCBWA Dick Howser Trophy finalist, Golden Spikes Award semifinalist, SEC Tournament All-Tournament Team and Spring SEC Academic Honor Roll.

“He put up huge numbers,” Kline said. “[He] started out the year like that and never let off the gas pedal.”

Lipscomb entered the Draft ranked as MLB Pipeline’s No. 136 prospect. He was lauded by the Pipeline crew for exhibiting patience at the plate while consistently connecting for hard contact that can deliver to all fields. On the defensive end, Lipscomb was noted for having a solid arm and quick reactions, along with room to improve his footwork and instincts with more experience.

“One thing you recognize with him is that the swing’s a little different, but he absolutely has the knack for centering the baseball,” Kline said. “[You’re] looking at a kid that’s got a chance to hit for some power and play a solid third base.”

Lipscomb has an overall scouting grade of 45 on a 20-80 scale: hit 50, power 50, run 45, arm 55, field 50.

“For somebody that hasn’t played as much as he had, he sure looks advanced and confident,” Kline said. “And he does the one thing that he’s going to need to do in the big leagues, and that’s hit -- and he knows how to do that.”

[imref]

Off to a hot start at Fredicksburg, 4-9, .444 / .444 / 1.000 with a HR, 3B, 1K, 0BB, playing 3B

[imref]

went 3-4 last night, now at .315   .315   .444, 1HR, 9SB, in 54 ABs at Low-A

[JCA-CrystalCity]

Yet to take a walk.

[GNatsNoMore]

Yet to take a walk.

Lipscomb hit a 2 run dinger in the game against the Mets other day.

https://www.mlb.com/video/trey-lipscomb-s-two-run-homer

#19 on our prospect list according to the latest top 30.

[Slateman]

Yet to take a walk.

Fitting right in

[JCA-CrystalCity]

https://www.mlb.com/nationals/news/washington-nationals-spring-training-report-2023?t=mlb-pipeline-coverage

Callis complements both his discipline and bat to ball skills. 3 walks in 10 PAs this spring, 4 for 7, with an HR.

Roster Resource has both Lipscomb and House projected to be at Wilmington this year. That said, the Nats will need somebody at 3rd in Harrisburg, as RR has Alu along with Mejia at 3rd in Rochester. Of course, Sammy Infante has the most minor league playing time, but it'd mean skipping A+ for him as well. While he showed power, his 30% K rate and low average do not suggest he'd be helped by pushing him. There's Omar Merigeldo too, who could possibly play there repeating AA.

[imref]

Posting decent #s at Wilmington: .265   .347   .757, 2HRs, 2SBs in 83 ABs

[imref]

SAL Player of the week: 6 games, 5 2B, 1 HR, 7 RBI, 2 BB, 7 R

[imref]

Heading to Harrisburg!!  Congrats Trey!

[welch]

Yet another reason to go see the Senators. I-270 to Rte 15...a snap. Even though the Shamrock, in Thurmont, has closed, it is still a nice drive.

[imref]

Yet another reason to go see the Senators. I-270 to Rte 15...a snap. Even though the Shamrock, in Thurmont, has closed, it is still a nice drive.

sorry to hear that. Always enjoyed stopping at the The Cozy on Rt. 15 as well during drives through the area.

[imref]

This guy might be our sleeper prospect this season: .311 .323 .492 at Harrisburg

[JCA-CrystalCity]

while the thread title lists 3 positions, he hasn't played in the field anywhere but 3rd this year. Is SS even on the table?

[imref]

while the thread title lists 3 positions, he hasn't played in the field anywhere but 3rd this year. Is SS even on the table?

MiLB only lists him as a 3B now, i'll fix.

[RD]

while the thread title lists 3 positions, he hasn't played in the field anywhere but 3rd this year. Is SS even on the table?

Just looking at the track record, I'd assume no. He had to wait until his senior year to get onto the field at 3b. 83 AB's in 3 years. You'd think you could get him a couple at short, and if he had that athleticism, then 2nd as well. Even the OF. But he couldn't get in at all.

He's suppose to be a decent athlete, so MAYBE he can shift to 2nd? More likely OF would be the change if need be. I guess there's always 1b as well if he continues to hit and we don't address it elsewhere. I'd think SS isn't an option though.

[JCA-CrystalCity]

more or less, optimistic case, he gets a shot at 3rd between say, Alu this year and House in 2025 or late 2024.

[imref]

Yesterday: 3-5, R, 2B(5), HR, RBI

[ZimW1N]

Assuming Candelario gets traded soon I'd imagine Alu/Libscomb/House all get bumped up level.

 Does Libscomb have a future move to 2nd base in his future? House could very well be up in 2024 with Woods and Crews if he keeps his pace.

[welch]

Assuming Candelario gets traded soon I'd imagine Alu/Libscomb/House all get bumped up level.

 Does Libscomb have a future move to 2nd base in his future? House could very well be up in 2024 with Woods and Crews if he keeps his pace.

Or Lipscomb shifts to 1B. I remember a great 3B who went to first when his shoulder got too bad. A 1B needs to play like an infielder, the way La Roche did. Or Don Mattingly and Keith Hernandez were, to speak of important stars. (Not to imagine that Lipscomb will hot or field like Hernandez and Mattingly...)

Still, a team needs depth. No way to be certain that any prospect will become am all-star, or even a regular. Having Alu, Lipscomb, House, and Yoyo Morales can only help.

Now, if the Nats had another shortstop coming up, and one who can hit...

[RD]

Looks like he's played 2 games at 2b since the House promotion. It'd be great if that transition works.

[JCA-CrystalCity]

Looks like he's played 2 games at 2b since the House promotion. It'd be great if that transition works.

yah. that's not an unusual position combo, 3rd and 2nd. Candelario is an example, but they are countless.  Honestly though, it seems like  a pretty different set of skills defensively in terms of arm strength and range to me, but if you can find a place for a bat at 2nd rather than 1st, it's great. Seems like an obvious "let's try it."

[nobleisthyname]

His Fangraphs prospect writeup mentioned him being more athletic than Alu and that like Alu trying him out at 2B and LF is his best shot at making the majors from the extra positional flexibility.

He’s an average big league athlete and a rangy third baseman with enough arm to stay there, though Lipscomb’s more likely path to a big league role is by incorporating other positions into his skill set over time. It’s easy to project him to the four corner positions, but Lipscomb is more athletic than Jake Alu, who Washington has tried at second base, so perhaps that’s also in the cards. The offensive projection here — 50 future raw power with a 50 bat that plays down due to below-average slider recognition — would be fine for a multi-positional role-player

[Slateman]

I mean, is his defense better than Brady House's. Cus Brady can always move to first or LF

[Natsinpwc]

I mean, is his defense better than Brady House's. Cus Brady can always move to first or LF

Or DH.