Alex Bregman Stats & Scouting Report — College Baseball, MLB Draft, Prospects

AB	54
AVG	.241
OBP	.305
SLG	.333
HR	0

Full name Alexander David Bregman
Born 03/30/1994 in Albuquerque, NM
Profile Ht.: 6'0" / Wt.: 192 / Bats: R / Throws: R
School Louisiana State
Debut 07/25/2016
Drafted in the 1st round (2nd overall) by the Houston Astros in 2015 (signed for $5,900,000).

View Draft Report

Bregman brings the longest track record of success of anyone in this draft class. He led USA Baseball's 16U team to a gold medal in 2010, led the 18U team to another gold medal in 2011 and set the New Mexico single season high school home run record as a junior. He's earned Baseball America Freshman of the Year honors in 2013. If there is anything disappointing about Bregman's career, it's been the difficulty of topping his outstanding freshman season. His numbers this year are quite similar to what he produced in his LSU debut. Bregman is one of the safest picks in this year's draft, as scouts are nearly unanimous that he should at the worst be a productive big league middle infielder. The debate revolves entirely over how much of an impact he will make. Blessed with excellent bat speed, Bregman has a flat bat path and contact-oriented swing that fits well with his excellent hand-eye coordination. This year, he's walked significantly more than he's struck out. He's a tick above-average runner who has gotten more aggressive on the basepaths, leading the Southeastern Conference in stolen bases. He's proven to be a very reliable shortstop and a number of evaluators believe he will be able to stick at shortstop as a pro with average range, an accurate, average arm and quality hands. Average isn't enough at short for most teams, and Bregman projects as an above-average defender at second base. Wherever he goes, he'll make his new team better with his follow-me approach.

Top Rankings

Organization Prospect Rankings

Bregman has been one of the best players everywhere he's ever played. A USA Baseball veteran since early in his high school days, he was the BA Freshman of the Year in 2013, a two-time first-team All-American for Louisiana State and, ultimately, the second overall pick in the 2015 draft. His $5.9 million signing bonus ranks second in Astros' history. Blessed with excellent hand-eye coordination and a simple, level swing, Bregman has plenty of bat speed and is equally comfortable yanking the ball down the left-field line or staying back and stinging a ball to the right-field wall. He should be at least a plus hitter who racks up walks as well. Defensively, Bregman is the kind of player who grows on evaluators the longer they see him. His range is average at best and his arm is only average as well, but he anticipates exceptionally well and plays with a smooth unruffled grace. Nothing surprises him and the ball never seems to eat him up. He's an above-average runner who runs the bases well. Bregman has the power to hit 10-15 home runs a year at the expense to his average, but he's at his best when he's spraying line drives. He is one of the safer college picks in recent years with a long track record of success and a Carlos Correa-like drive to succeed, but without Correa's physical gifts. At worst, Bregman should be an everyday second baseman who hits for average with occasional power. He's blocked with the Astros by Correa and second baseman Jose Altuve, but if traded he could be an above-average offensive shortstop with reliable defense. He's on the fast track and should spend much of 2016 at Double-A Corpus Christi.

Draft Prospects

Bregman brings the longest track record of success of anyone in this draft class. He led USA Baseball's 16U team to a gold medal in 2010, led the 18U team to another gold medal in 2011 and set the New Mexico single season high school home run record as a junior. He's earned Baseball America Freshman of the Year honors in 2013. If there is anything disappointing about Bregman's career, it's been the difficulty of topping his outstanding freshman season. His numbers this year are quite similar to what he produced in his LSU debut. Bregman is one of the safest picks in this year's draft, as scouts are nearly unanimous that he should at the worst be a productive big league middle infielder. The debate revolves entirely over how much of an impact he will make. Blessed with excellent bat speed, Bregman has a flat bat path and contact-oriented swing that fits well with his excellent hand-eye coordination. This year, he's walked significantly more than he's struck out. He's a tick above-average runner who has gotten more aggressive on the basepaths, leading the Southeastern Conference in stolen bases. He's proven to be a very reliable shortstop and a number of evaluators believe he will be able to stick at shortstop as a pro with average range, an accurate, average arm and quality hands. Average isn't enough at short for most teams, and Bregman projects as an above-average defender at second base. Wherever he goes, he'll make his new team better with his follow-me approach.
Bregman put his name on the map by hitting .564/.596/.846 for USA Baseball's 16-and-under team in 2010. He followed that up by hitting .378/.500/.459 when he played for the 18-and-under team in 2011, and he broke New Mexico's high school single-season home run record with 18 last year. While he won't be a slugger as a pro, Bregman does pack impressive strength into his 5-foot-11 frame. He has quick hands and an efficient, compact swing. He has bat speed, knows how to get leverage and sprays the ball to all parts of the field. He was going to spend half of his games behind the plate this year, but that plan was derailed when he broke the tip of his right middle finger and missed most of the season. Most scouts believe he fits best at second base, where he's a steady defender with solid-average arm strength. Bregman is a fringe-average runner but shows good instincts on the bases. Scouts love his makeup, and coaches, teammates and fans appreciate his knack for putting the bat on the ball, hard-nosed hustle, smart play and quiet swagger. Bregman is believed to be a tough sign away from Louisiana State.

Minor League Top Prospects

While Bregman doesn't have the jaw-dropping physical tools of fellow Astros shortstop Carlos Correa, he brought quality tools and an even more impressive approach and attitude to a brief Double-A stopover on his way to the big leagues. Bregman's short, simple stroke drew raves from evaluators as a low-maintenance swing that will collect bushels of hits. He shows no fear about hitting with two strikes. He came into his power more frequently at Corpus Christi as he focused on pulling inside pitches more consistently. He's an average runner but runs the bases well. Bregman is an average defender at shortstop who showed his aptitude by picking up third base and left field on the fly. He projects as an above-average defender at second or third base.
The Astros fast-tracked the No. 2 overall pick in this year's draft to Lancaster after just 29 pro games, and he immediately took on a central role. Even though Bregman hit in the Cal League, the first thing evaluators want to talk about is his defense. He's a fluid shortstop whose attention to detail and preparation set him apart. He doesn't have a cannon arm, but it's solid. "When I watch a game, I watch it through the shortstop," Inland Empire manager Denny Hocking said. "Listening to him be the quarterback of that defense was some kind of special. I think his baseball IQ is beyond his years, especially for the level." Bregman's polish extends to his offensive game, where he quickly settled in as the JetHawks' No. 2 hitter down the stretch. He can turn on inside pitch for power, mainly to his pull side, but he profiles as a top-of-the-order bat with his flat swing path and good contact ability. He's not a plus runner, though he's fast and instinctive enough to be a threat on the bases.