Some players are so talented at both hitting and pitching, they are good enough to be drafted either way. Some scouts flirted with the idea of Bret Saberhagen or Zack Greinke playing shortstop (Greinke may have wanted to be a two-way player at one point) but ultimately decided that staying on the mound was best for their respective careers. In recent years, there was some question on where Royals picks like Khalil Lee, Trevor Werner, and Jac Caglianone might end up on the diamond, but all three ended
up in the batter’s box.
California prep player Jared Grindlinger is the best two-way player in this draft, with scouts mixed on where he will end up playing. He is the rare player that offers enticing potential both ways, as a legitimate first-round talent both as a left-handed pitcher and as a hitter.
Jared Grindlinger, LHP/OF, Huntington Beach High School (CA)
Bats: Left
Throws: Left
Draft rankings:
- The Athletic: #12
- Baseball America: #18
- ESPN: #11
- MLB Pipeline: #18
- Perfect Game: #16
Grindlinger is one of the youngest players available after reclassifying from the 2027 class earlier this year. He won’t turn 18 until well after the draft, making him younger than nearly every other prospect in the class. That youth gives him a lot of projectability. At 6’3”, 185 lbs., Grindlinger is still growing into his frame. Most evaluators believe there is significantly more strength and power to come, which explains why teams are willing to bet on his long-term upside despite an already accelerated timeline.
Keith Law ultimately believes the bat is where his future lies. As a hitter, Law praises his “outstanding bat-to-ball skills” while noting that his bat speed still has room to improve. Even so, the ball already carries well off his bat, and as he adds strength, many scouts expect considerably more power to emerge.
Baseball America echoes that assessment, highlighting Grindlinger’s elite contact ability. Despite possessing long levers and a naturally large strike zone, he “almost never swung and missed” during last summer’s showcase circuit. Because he projects as either a first baseman or corner outfielder, developing more over-the-fence power will be critical. He is a below-average runner and will likely not be a defensive asset in the outfield.
His offensive profile is why many clubs prefer him as a position player, but his value is boosted by the fact that he also offers legitimate upside on the mound. As a left-hander, Grindlinger has already touched 96 mph with his fastball, though he generally sits between 90-94 mph. His arsenal also includes a pair of promising offspeed pitches: a slider around 80 mph that he can manipulate into different shapes and a low-80s changeup with excellent arm speed. MLB Pipeline notes that some scouts believe his loose arm action and physical projection could eventually produce a plus fastball as he matures.
There is still plenty of refinement needed. Law points out that Grindlinger’s delivery gets him off the rubber too quickly and causes him to spin off his front side, while Baseball America notes that none of his current pitches grade as true plus offerings. Still, the combination of youth, athleticism, arm strength, and feel for pitching gives him significant long-term upside.
Grindlinger is committed to Tennessee, where he would join his older brother Trent, a former highly regarded prep prospect himself. That commitment provides plenty of leverage, but most evaluators expect a team to select him in the first round rather than allow him to reach campus.
Jim Callis at MLB Pipeline reports that while most teams like Grindlinger as a hitter, the Royals prefer him as a pitcher. The Nationals and Red Sox have been the most-linked teams to him, although Callis thinks the Royals could be “bold” and draft him to let him play both ways.
For a club like the Royals, Grindlinger represents the ultimate upside gamble. There is risk in betting on one of the youngest players in the draft, especially one whose body and tools are still developing. But they seem to love young, athletic players who can go both ways.
