Jalen
Battles

Moving up draft lists due to his strong play, while also benefiting from the lackluster results by many of his middle infielder peers, Battles is a defense-first prospect who projects to remain at shortstop in pro ball. He is similar to Andrelton Simmons, who many thought would be an elite defender with too light of a bat for an everyday role. Simmons proved doubters wrong and Battles will have the same opportunity. Battles has sweet hands, smooth actions, a plus-to-better arm and plus range in all directions with the ability to quickly transfer and throw on the run. He's wiry strong at 6-foot-2, 205 pounds and has all the defensive tools scouts look for in a shortstop. Offensively, Battles has currently produced a .284/.348/.481 slash with seven home runs. With a pair of triple digit exit velocities on Friday, he generates ample bat speed to produce 10-15 home runs on an annual basis at the pro level, but contact will be the key. He tends to get pull happy and long at times. His 2022 season strikeout rate sits at 21.0% which is nearly identical to his career rate at Arkansas (21.7%). He's a likely mid-Day Two selection who will be both a prospect and a money saver as an "older", fourth-year college player. Battles is currently 22 years old after spending the first two years of his collegiate career at McLennan JC, Tex.

2021 MLB Draft: A former junior college talent, Battles is similar to Andrelton Simmons, who most scouts thought would be an elite defener with too light of a bat for an everyday role. Simmonrs proved doubters wrong and Battles will have the same opportunity. He has sweet hands, smooth actions, a plus-to-better arm and plus range in all directions with the ability to quickly transfer and throw on the run. He's wiry strong at 6-foot-2, 195 pounds and has all the defensive tools scouts look for in a shortstop. As a defense-first middle infielder who batted at the bottom of the order, Battles hit .269/.371/.407 in 61 games.

Showed sweet hands, smooth actions, a plus-to-better arm and plus range up the middle with the ability to quickly transfer and throw on the run. Wiry strong at 6-foot-2, 195 pounds, Battles has all of the defensive tools that scouts look for in a shortstop. As a defense first middle infielder who batted in the 9-hole, he outperformed the expectations with a big Showdown in the batter’s box. He found the barrel on opening night, resulting in a 3-for-5, three RBI performance against Texas Tech before adding another knock in game two against Texas. He then led off a Razorback eighth inning rally with a single to center field in their comeback W on Monday over TCU. In a draft class light on college shortstops expect Battles to move up draft boards as he continues to develop offensively. 2015 was a much different draft year in terms of the depth of talent, but if Richie Martin (Florida) can be selected in the first round, then Battles must be scouted extensively and considered for the top three rounds. 

An Arkansas commit, Battles is an extremely twitchy and athletic shortstop. Currently his bat is his carrying tool with the ability to drive the ball to all parts of the park. Defensively he will make plays that you can't teach with his natural athleticism and quick hands. At times get caught in between hops relying on his athleticism too much. Battles’ ceiling is extremely high and he will continue to make jumps as he refines his skills and gets more reps.

10/14/19: Arkansas commit, extremely twitchy and athletic SS whose bat plays. Currently his bat is his carrying tool with the ability to drive the ball to all parts of the ball park. Defensively he will make plays that you cant teach with his natural raw athleticism and quick hands, and at times get caught in between hops relying on his athleticism too much. Battles’ ceiling is extremely high and he will continue to make jumps as he refines his skills and gets more reps playing games. (Haig)

6-foot-2, 185-pound, athletic, high-waisted, projectable frame. Battles showed smooth actions and a clean accurate arm on the infield. On the mound, the right-hander worked in the 82-83 mph range with his fastball and his curveball was 67-70 mph. With his already projectable frame and smooth actions, Battles is an infielder that college recruiters will want to see this summer.