Jonathan India

Organization Prospect Rankings

• 
  Ranked Cincinnati Reds #3 prospect in 2021
  Hitting: 55. Power: 55. Running: 45. Fielding: 50. Arm: 55.
  
  TRACK RECORD: India had two solid-but-unspectacular seasons at Florida before exploding as a junior. He hit .350/.497/.717 with 21 home runs to vault up draft boards, and the Reds drafted him fifth overall and signed him for just under $5.3 million. India was again more solid than spectacular in his first taste of pro ball, but he still reached Double-A at the end of his first full season. He spent 2020 at the Reds’ alternate training site in Mason, Ohio.
  
  SCOUTING REPORT: India took a step forward at the alternate site. He did a better job of driving balls to the opposite field, and in turn his power to left and center field seemed to pick up. India has long had mature at-bats and controlled the strike zone, and the developments increased the confidence he’ll fulfill his potential as an above-average hitter with average or better power. India has moved around the infield but is most comfortable at third base, where he has average range. He flashes above-average arm strength, but at times his throws lack zip and are inaccurate, leading many to surmise his best long-term position will be second base.
  
  THE FUTURE: India projects as more of a solid regular than star, but Great American Ball Park could help his power numbers spike. He could make his big league debut in 2021.
• 
  Ranked Cincinnati Reds #2 prospect in 2020
  TRACK RECORD: Drafted fifth overall in 2018, India blasted 21 home runs as a junior at Florida after hitting 10 home runs in his first two years combined. He hit eight home runs in the high Class A Florida State League during the first half of his first full season and received a promotion to Double-A Chattanooga in late July. He posted a .414 on-base percentage in his first taste of the upper minors.
  
  SCOUTING REPORT: India brings a polished game on both offense and defense. He controls the strike zone and flashes an above-average hit tool, although he will go through spells where he swings and misses too much. India shows plus raw power, but evaluators are split on whether it will translate into games as he gets more experience. India has average range and plus arm strength at third base, and he has the hands and glove necessary for the position long-term. India is an average runner who will try to steal a bag on occasion.
  
  THE FUTURE: India's athleticism, polish and well-rounded game give him a chance to grow into a solid everyday player. A shortstop in college, India has the tools to move to second base in deference to Eugenio Suarez if needed. Wherever he plays, his natural feel to hit should keep him in the lineup.
• 
  Ranked Cincinnati Reds #4 prospect in 2019
  Track Record: India was part of one the best high school infields ever. At American Heritage High in Delray Beach, Fla., he played with Tyler Frank (a Rays second-round pick) and $6 million signee Lucius Fox. Drafted fifth overall in 2018, India blasted 21 home runs as a junior at Florida after hitting 10 home runs in his first two years combined.
  
  Scouting Report: Coming from a top college program, India has a advanced hitting skills and a polished defensive approach. The game doesn’t speed up on him, and he controls his at-bats like a veteran. He has a sound setup at the plate, allowing him to sync his lower and upper halves. His above-average power and above-average hit tool are excellent fits at third base. His footwork and average arm are stretched at shortstop, where he played some in his pro debut, but he can be an above-average defender at second or third. India has average speed but isn’t considered much of a stolen base threat.
  
  The Future: Nick Senzel jumped straight to high Class A in his first full pro season, and it makes sense for India to be on a similar timetable. The Reds will have to determine India’s ultimate position with Eugenio Suarez, Senzel and him all sharing similar defensive profiles. India’s bat should play regardless of position.

Draft Prospects

• Ranked #6 prospect in 2018 draft
  Scouts have admired the way India plays the game and his overall package of tools since he was a standout shortstop at American Heritage School in Delray Beach, Fla. India was ranked as the No. 82 player in the 2015 class, but after the Brewers drafted him in the 26th round he made his way to Gainesville. India was solid, but unspectacular, in his first two season with the Gators, missing some time with injury during his sophomore campaign in which he hit 274/.354/.429 with 23 strikeouts and 42 walks. He''s improved his draft stock substantially this spring, hitting .420/.551/.840 with 13 home runs and more walks (34) than strikeouts (30) through his first 40 games. He is among the nation's top-10 hitters in each triple-slash category and scouts have been extremely happy to see his raw power translate more into games this year. His ultimate role will depend on his defensive position. He played a decent amount of innings at shortstop early this year, but most of his time with Florida has been at third base, where he has solid hands and an average arm. He's likely a third baseman or a second baseman at the next level, with the flexibility to move to shortstop in a pinch or for a team that doesn't prioritize shortstop defense. If third base is the destination, he has more than enough bat to profile there, especially if this year's power display is here to stay.
• Ranked #82 prospect in 2015 draft
  After a solid showing last summer on the showcase circuit, India continued to play well this spring for American Heritage's perennial powerhouse program and picked up plenty of admirers along the way. He earns near universal praise for his approach to the game and baseball instincts. India has solid tools, but stands out more for his overall package. He has good bat-to-ball skills and spays line drives around the field. Listed at 6-foot, 190 pounds, he is physically built and produces good bat speed, which gives him average power. He is a fringy runner, but his speed plays up on the basepaths thanks to his high baseball IQ. India has good infield actions, solid hands and an average arm. That package is likely enough for him to play shortstop in college, but he's more likely to move to second or third base in the professional ranks as his body matures. India is committed to Florida and earns comparisons to players such as Aaron Hill and Avery Romero.

Minor League Top Prospects

• 
  Ranked Florida State League #18 prospect in 2019
  India was the fifth overall pick in the 2018 draft and made it to Double-A by the end of his first full season as a pro. He was celebrated as an amateur for his mix of tools both offensively and defensively and has lived up to that report in the minor leagues. His numbers in the FSL don’t jump off the page, but his .757 OPS would have placed him seventh on the circuit if he’d stayed long enough to qualify. India spent his time in Daytona working on continuing to move his feet at third base and keeping his swing from getting too long. He has excellent plate discipline, which evaluators believe will help him eventually hit for a solid blend of average and power. India might have enough power to profile at third base, but he’s likely to get time at other positions—second base or the outfield—as he moves up the ladder.

Top 100 Rankings

• Ranked Baseball America's #51 prospect in 2019

• March, 2021 Scouting Report
  Hitting: 55. Power: 55. Running: 45. Fielding: 50. Arm: 55.
  
  TRACK RECORD: India had two solid-but-unspectacular seasons at Florida before exploding as a junior. He hit .350/.497/.717 with 21 home runs to vault up draft boards, and the Reds drafted him fifth overall and signed him for just under $5.3 million. India was again more solid than spectacular in his first taste of pro ball, but he still reached Double-A at the end of his first full season. He spent 2020 at the Reds’ alternate training site in Mason, Ohio.
  
  SCOUTING REPORT: India took a step forward at the alternate site. He did a better job of driving balls to the opposite field, and in turn his power to left and center field seemed to pick up. India has long had mature at-bats and controlled the strike zone, and the developments increased the confidence he’ll fulfill his potential as an above-average hitter with average or better power. India has moved around the infield but is most comfortable at third base, where he has average range. He flashes above-average arm strength, but at times his throws lack zip and are inaccurate, leading many to surmise his best long-term position will be second base.
  
  THE FUTURE: India projects as more of a solid regular than star, but Great American Ball Park could help his power numbers spike. He could make his big league debut in 2021.
• December, 2020 Scouting Report
  Hitting: 55. Power: 55. Running: 45. Fielding: 50. Arm: 55.
  
  TRACK RECORD: India had two solid-but-unspectacular seasons at Florida before exploding as a junior. He hit .350/.497/.717 with 21 home runs to vault up draft boards, and the Reds drafted him fifth overall and signed him for just under $5.3 million. India was again more solid than spectacular in his first taste of pro ball, but he still reached Double-A at the end of his first full season. He spent 2020 at the Reds’ alternate training site in Mason, Ohio.
  
  SCOUTING REPORT: India took a step forward at the alternate site. He did a better job of driving balls to the opposite field, and in turn his power to left and center field seemed to pick up. India has long had mature at-bats and controlled the strike zone, and the developments increased the confidence he’ll fulfill his potential as an above-average hitter with average or better power. India has moved around the infield but is most comfortable at third base, where he has average range. He flashes above-average arm strength, but at times his throws lack zip and are inaccurate, leading many to surmise his best long-term position will be second base.
  
  THE FUTURE: India projects as more of a solid regular than star, but Great American Ball Park could help his power numbers spike. He could make his big league debut in 2021.
• July, 2020 Scouting Report
  TRACK RECORD: Drafted fifth overall in 2018, India blasted 21 home runs as a junior at Florida after hitting 10 home runs in his first two years combined. He hit eight home runs in the high Class A Florida State League during the first half of his first full season and received a promotion to Double-A Chattanooga in late July. He posted a .414 on-base percentage in his first taste of the upper minors.
  
  SCOUTING REPORT: India brings a polished game on both offense and defense. He controls the strike zone and flashes an above-average hit tool, although he will go through spells where he swings and misses too much. India shows plus raw power, but evaluators are split on whether it will translate into games as he gets more experience. India has average range and plus arm strength at third base, and he has the hands and glove necessary for the position long-term. India is an average runner who will try to steal a bag on occasion.
  
  THE FUTURE: India’s athleticism, polish and well-rounded game give him a chance to grow into a solid everyday player. A shortstop in college, India has the tools to move to second base in deference to Eugenio Suarez if needed. Wherever he plays, his natural feel to hit should keep him in the lineup.
• February, 2020 Scouting Report
  TRACK RECORD: Drafted fifth overall in 2018, India blasted 21 home runs as a junior at Florida after hitting 10 home runs in his first two years combined. He hit eight home runs in the high Class A Florida State League during the first half of his first full season and received a promotion to Double-A Chattanooga in late July. He posted a .414 on-base percentage in his first taste of the upper minors.
  
  SCOUTING REPORT: India brings a polished game on both offense and defense. He controls the strike zone and flashes an above-average hit tool, although he will go through spells where he swings and misses too much. India shows plus raw power, but evaluators are split on whether it will translate into games as he gets more experience. India has average range and plus arm strength at third base, and he has the hands and glove necessary for the position long-term. India is an average runner who will try to steal a bag on occasion.
  
  THE FUTURE: India's athleticism, polish and well-rounded game give him a chance to grow into a solid everyday player. A shortstop in college, India has the tools to move to second base in deference to Eugenio Suarez if needed. Wherever he plays, his natural feel to hit should keep him in the lineup.
• December, 2018 Scouting Report
  India was the fifth overall pick in the 2018 draft and made it to Double-A by the end of his first full season as a pro. He was celebrated as an amateur for his mix of tools both offensively and defensively and has lived up to that report in the minor leagues. His numbers in the FSL don’t jump off the page, but his .757 OPS would have placed him seventh on the circuit if he’d stayed long enough to qualify. India spent his time in Daytona working on continuing to move his feet at third base and keeping his swing from getting too long. He has excellent plate discipline, which evaluators believe will help him eventually hit for a solid blend of average and power. India might have enough power to profile at third base, but he’s likely to get time at other positions—second base or the outfield—as he moves up the ladder.
• July, 2018 Scouting Report
  The Reds made India the No. 5 overall pick in June after he won Southeastern Conference Player of the Year at Florida. He signed just north of $5.2 million. India shares a lot of similarities with Senzel as an SEC third baseman with an advanced hit tool and above-average power potential. There is some belief, however, that India might be able to play shortstop, as he did in high school and a little bit at Florida and in the Cape Cod League. He’s primarily played third base since reporting to Greenville, and that’s where he profiles long-term.