Jeter D. Downs
SS / R/R / 5'11/180
Born: 7/27/1998
Draft: 2017, Cincinnati Reds (#32 overall)
Prospects Live: #60
.276/.362/.526, 24 HR, 24 SB
https://blogs.fangraphs.com/the-big-mookie-betts-deal-is-finally-happening-but-the-dodgers-angels-trade-isnt/
SS / R/R / 5'11/180
Born: 7/27/1998
Draft: 2017, Cincinnati Reds (#32 overall)
Prospects Live: #60
Baseball America: #86The Dodgers took on the salary of Homer Bailey from Cincinnati and gained two prospects from the Reds. Both prospects significantly improved their stock in 2019. Downs had great season-long numbers, but he finished by going .333/.429/.688 over 12 games with Double-A Tulsa with five home runs to finish the regular season then hitting .349/.391/.674 with four home runs over 10 games in the postseason. His future home may be on the other side of the keystone, but the bat is absolutely legit.
MLB Rank: #87Scouting Report: Downs is a bat-first player with a pretty swing. His hands work, he stays on time and he turns around velocity with a quick, efficient path. Downs can be overly at passive and take at-bats off, limiting him to an average hitter, but he’s a dynamic extra-base threat when he’s focused. He drives the ball from gap-to-gap and projects for above-average power as he gets stronger. Downs is an intelligent baserunner whose average speed plays up on the bases. His reliable hands and above-average arm fit anywhere on the infield, but his range is suboptimal for an everyday shortstop.
The Future: Evaluators see Downs as a multi-positional, everyday infielder in the mold of Josh Harrison. He finished last season at Double-A and will open back there in 2020.
Sickels (The Athletic): #95Downs has the tools to hit for average and power. He combines a simple right-handed swing with a patient, all-fields approach. He's strong for his size, delivering most of his home runs to his pull side and driving the ball to both gaps.
Downs gets the most out of his average speed, parlaying his aggressiveness and instincts into stolen bases. He played shortstop in his pro debut but spent more time in 2018 at second base, where his arm and range are better fits. He returned to shortstop at the beginning of 2019 and there's also a possibility that he winds up in center field, but the good news is that he has the bat to profile at all three positions.
2019 stats (107 games A+, 12 games AA)Not previously ranked; hit .276/.362/.526 with 24 homers, 24 steals, 60 walks in High-A/Double-A; another multi-category player, this may be too low. — ETA late 2021
.276/.362/.526, 24 HR, 24 SB
https://blogs.fangraphs.com/the-big-mookie-betts-deal-is-finally-happening-but-the-dodgers-angels-trade-isnt/
Downs has been a polished, advanced hitter for his age dating way back to high school. He’s not a shortstop for me and his thicker lower half means his likely future home is as a shift-aided second baseman at maturity, in my opinion. He’s short back to the ball with some pop, and his swing is bottom-hand heavy, which leaves him somewhat vulnerable to velo in on his hands, but he’s selective enough to swing at pitches he can damage. Despite the patience and bat control, I think he ends up with closer to average contact ability but with fully actualized power production, a well-rounded offensive profile that cleanly profiles at second base. His average exit velo was 88 mph last year, and there’s not a lot of room on the body so that might be all. He’s a 50 FV prospect set to be around 60th overall on Wednesday’s Top 100.