Jared
Dickey

Within the scouting industry there is a wide range of opinions as to Dickey’s current draft value. Those who believe he will succeed behind the dish likely have him pegged as a top 50 overall pick. Others don’t buy into his future home as a catcher and point to the lack of a pure swing as reasons to downgrade his value. After mashing at the plate during the first half of last spring, his 2022 season was interrupted by a deep bone bruise in his right foot. The injury didn’t sideline him at first, but then it worsened in late April and ended up completely shutting him down for over a month. He had a smaller battle with injury this fall, as he was limited by a hand injury. Now back and fully healthy, Dickey has also returned behind the plate, a position he’s familiar with from his prep days. During my look against Florida he received and blocked adequately, but his arm strength and long release (2.13 POP) was a point of concern. At the plate his swing was off a tick in the series opener with an 0-for-4 and three strikeouts, but he adjusted to how the Gators were pitching him and banged out a pair of hits and worked a walk in games two and three. After a .380/.484/.690 slash as a sophomore, Dickey is currently producing a .311/.403/.504 line this spring. His slugging has dropped 186 points due to much more ground ball contact this spring (52%) vs 39% in 2022. However, he continues to see pitches (total of 66 pitches over 13 plate appearances), work counts and control the zone with a 10% walk rate and 14% strikeout rate this season. Ranked at No. 95 there's room for late season helium as he shortens his draw and POP times behind the plate, while increasing his rate of elevating the baseball in the batter’s box.

A converted catcher at 6-foot-2, 200 pounds, Dickey has both the hit tool and the ability to put his raw power into game production. He has a professional approach at the plate, works the middle of the field and consistently finds barrels for triple digit exit velocities.

Lookout Dylan Crews, Jacob Gonzalez and Jake Gelof, there's a new bat rising up the 2023 draft rankings. If you haven't heard of him yet, now is the time. Dickey is one of the fastest rising 2023 prospects in the country. He red-shirted in 2021 and underwent a body transformation, losing 20-plus pounds. Now sporting a slimmed down physique at 6-foot-2, 200 pounds Dickey has both the hit tool and the ability to put his batting practice raw power into game production. He has a Big League approach at the plate, works the middle of the field and consistently finds barrels. From the leadoff spot, the left handed hitter was 3-for-8 this past weekend with top EVs of 107 mph (double) and 104 (single). His season slash of .403/.495/.805 is tied for the team lead in batting average and exceeds the SLG production of teammate Drew Gilbert.

60 Time: 7.52, Position Velocity:  OF - 80
6'2, 220-pound, LHH shows a physical frame w/ high-level bat speed.  Hits from a straight on, slightly crouched stance w/ back shoulder hand location.  Knee to knee leg kick w/ proper load.  Generates elite bat speed w/ lower half working well in swing.  Plus power to all fields w/ feel for barrel.  Will hit for average and power.  Defensively, shows above average arm strength w/ carry through target in good release.  Prototypical RF profile.

9/10/17 - 6-2, 220 pound outfielder.  The lefty hitter hits from a straight on, upright stance w/ back shoulder hand location.  Crouches slightly w/ inconsistent lower half trigger (showed a toe tap, stride and mini leg kick) and proper load.  Premium bat speed w/ big power ceiling.  Advanced approach w/ idea of strike zone.  Got a little pull heavy on this day, but is normal for a young hitter.  DNS enough defensively to have thoughts.  Elite prospect w/ special offensive profile.

9/25/16 - 60 Time: 7.44, Position Velocity:  IF-80, Exit Velocity: 89
6-foot-1, 205-pound, LHH hits from a balanced and even stance with some fairly high initial hand positioning and a waggle to stay loose, uses a toe-tap and stride with a lowering of his hands to get loaded, lower half explodes through and maintains a wide and strong base for him to operate on, bat path is flat through the zone with some lift at the end that helps supply a little more drive, had a great round of BP with a flurry of line drives and deep fly balls with pop to right and right-center field.  Defensively, showed pretty good hands and above average footwork in the outfield, not afraid to play through the ball, could be a little more confident in his positioning, used a long arm action through a high ¾ slot.

9/25/16 - Max FB: 83, FB: 80-83, CB: 60-66, CH: 63-70,
6-foot-1, 205-pound, RHP is a big-bodied athlete that moves well and has the ability to do a lot of things on the field, uses a solid and up-tempo motion that starts with a rhythmic rocker step to the side that brings his hands down, hands come back up with a leg lift that doesn’t quite get his front side closed and loaded, shoulders stay even and strides in line toward the plate, short arm action comes through a ¾ slot.  Fastball was mostly straight with slight and occasional run, curveball showed 11/5 shape, changeup was a good pitch with arm-side run and sink through the zone.