Born: 5/16/2001 in Tallahassee, FL
Draft: 2022, Washington Nationals, Round: 5, Overall Pick: 141
College: Baylor
MiLB Scouting Report:
Scouting grades: Hit: 50 | Power: 45 | Run: 55 | Arm: 45 | Field: 55 | Overall: 40
McKenzie established himself as one of the best pure hitters in college baseball by batting a school-record .389 in his first two seasons at Baylor. Then he left scouts scratching their heads with his performance in the Cape Cod League last summer, when he hit .225/.316/.245. He didn't exactly rebound this spring, batting .197 in the first month of the season and finishing at .288 with 64 strikeouts in 54 games. The Nats grabbed him in the fifth round, signing him for $410,500.
Utilizing a pretty left-handed swing, McKenzie has an aggressive approach that produces line drives to all fields. He has made contact with ease at Baylor and showed some developing power in 2021, then struck out 31 percent of the time and made no impact with wood bats on the Cape. He should hit for average but may not have more than 15-homer pop, and his propensity for putting balls in play means he doesn't walk much.
McKenzie isn't much of a threat to steal despite his solid speed, which plays better in center field. He has fine instincts and gets good jumps, which should enable him to remain up the middle in pro ball. His arm strength is fringy, which precludes him from playing right field.
