2017 #15 Prospect Adam Hall - SS

[Luke-OH]

By: Luke Siler

 

Adam Hall - SS

Height: 6’ 0” Weight: 170
Bats: R
Throws: R
Age: 18
2017 Team: GCL Orioles
 

Most Likely Major League Role: 4-platoon player, could be starter on second Division team

Ceiling: 6-Above average regular/occasional All-Star

Floor: 1-AA/AAA guy at best

 

Background:  The Orioles drafted Adam Hall in the second round of the 2017 draft (60th overall). He was ranked 115th on MLB.com’s draft prospect rankings.  He signed for $1.3 million, costing the team $232,000 against the slot value.  Hall was born in Bermuda before moving to Canada.  He played for the Canadian Junior National Team and has been known to talent evaluators for some time.  He passed up a chance to play for Texas A&M to sign with the O’s.  He was assigned to the Rookie level GCL Orioles. His GCL season was cut short by an oblique injury, but he returned to action in fall instructs.

 

2017 stats (GCL Orioles (Rookie))

AVG/OBP/SLG/OPS: .667/.667/1.000/1.667

PA: 9

H: 6

2B: 1

3B: 1

HR: 0

BB: 0 (0%)

SO: 2 (22.2%)

SB/CS: 1/0

RHP Slash: .667/.667/1.333/2.000

LHP Slash: .667/.667/.833/1.500

GO/AO: 1.00

 

Scouting report (now and future)

Hit 30/55

Power 35/45

Speed 65/60

Field 45/55

Arm 45/50

 

What we know:  Hall has plus or better speed and a legit chance to stick at SS.  He has solid bat speed and a mechanically sound swing.  He has room to add strength to an athletic frame.  Like many cold weather high school draftees, he’s a bit raw at the plate.

What we don't know:  A lot.  Will he keep his speed as he fills out? Will he develop enough power to profile as a regular? Will he add value at SS or will he just be ok?  How will he handle pro pitching?

What he needs to improve: Hall will start the 2018 season as an 18-year-old, so the primary focus will be adjusting to pro pitching. He also needs to add strength and get reps at SS.  It will be interesting to see how aggressive the Orioles are with him next year.  He doesn’t have big mechanical flaws so perhaps they push him with a Delmarva assignment.  I’m sure his first extended exposure to pro pitching will shine a light on what he’ll need to work on going forward.

Summary:  Hall is a high risk, high reward high school pick.  The Orioles system lacks SS prospects who profile there as regulars, so the Hall pick boosts their up the middle talent.  He’s young for a 2017 draftee and he’ll have plenty of time to develop.  While he is a bit undersized for a early round draft pick, all reports characterize Hall as a baseball rat who shows leadership abilities and the work ethic to succeed.  If he develops, the Orioles could have a solid defensive SS, with great speed, a good bat and fringe average power.

 

[MDtransplant757]

So his ceiling is the rich man's Mike bordick, and his floor is Reuben Tejada? 

[Luke-OH]

2 minutes ago, MDtransplant757 said:

So his ceiling is the rich man's Mike bordick, and his floor is Reuben Tejada? 

I haven't seen him play enough to put player comps on him.  He's a wait and see guy right now, 2018 should tell us a lot.  He has the tools to stick at shortstop and hit pretty well, he's just got a lot of developing to go to get there, and we have no idea how he'll adapt to pro pitching.

[MDtransplant757]

Just now, phillyOs119 said:

I haven't seen him play enough to put player comps on him.  He's a wait and see guy right now, 2018 should tell us a lot.  He has the tools to stick at shortstop and hit pretty well, he's just got a lot of developing to go to get there, and we have no idea how he'll adapt to pro pitching.

Gotcha. You think he'll start in Delmarva or Aberdeen? 

[Luke-OH]

Just now, MDtransplant757 said:

Gotcha. You think he'll start in Delmarva or Aberdeen? 

It's not a lock, but I'd say there is a solid chance he'll start in Delmarva.  His fundamentals at the plate and in the field are sound, so I think they push him.  

[MDtransplant757]

Just now, phillyOs119 said:

It's not a lock, but I'd say there is a solid chance he'll start in Delmarva.  His fundamentals at the plate and in the field are sound, so I think they push him.  

Would be cool to see this guy do well. I also think it's crazy seeing guys my age get drafted, with me grading them. 

[Ruzious]

This was my favorite pick in the last draft (based entirely on what I read), because it sounds like he has a legit chance to become an excellent all-around SS.  Ya take a shot at a SS like that - something the O's haven't done (and maybe havent had the opportunity to do so) in the draft - not counting Machado since he was such an obvious phenom.  

[Frobby]

6 hours ago, MDtransplant757 said:

Would be cool to see this guy do well. I also think it's crazy seeing guys my age get drafted, with me grading them. 

Just wait until you get to the stage where there are superstars younger than your own kids.   My son is about a month older than Bryce Harper.    I have to remind myself of that every time I watch Harper play.

As to Hall, his GCL debut was so exciting that it kills me that his season was cut short.    I’m really looking forward to seeing what this kid can do.    

[Tony-OH]

7 hours ago, phillyOs119 said:

It's not a lock, but I'd say there is a solid chance he'll start in Delmarva.  His fundamentals at the plate and in the field are sound, so I think they push him.  

The Orioles have traditionally pushed their high school high ceiling draft picks to Delmarva in their first full season so I think he'll get pushed there unless he struggles badly next spring. The only wild card is the Orioles like Mason McCoy enough that they'll want him to play shortstop as well. If Hall is ready for Delmarva, then McCoy probably gets the two level jump to Frederick.

[Luke-OH]

10 hours ago, Tony-OH said:

The Orioles have traditionally pushed their high school high ceiling draft picks to Delmarva in their first full season so I think he'll get pushed there unless he struggles badly next spring. The only wild card is the Orioles like Mason McCoy enough that they'll want him to play shortstop as well. If Hall is ready for Delmarva, then McCoy probably gets the two level jump to Frederick.

I think they should push McCoy to Frederick, I'm a fan of being very aggressive with older guys with some promise.  I liked McCoy from first time I saw him, I need to see him against better competition to be convinced he can hit though.  The swing works, so if he can keep his good approach against better pitching, he could be Wilkerson with SS defense and a slightly better hit tool, which is something.  The approach could fall apart against advanced pitching though.

[ChrisP]

Any updates on Adam? Being such a high pick, I was hoping he'd be on a roster by now.

[Legend_Of_Joey]

1 hour ago, ChrisP said:

Any updates on Adam? Being such a high pick, I was hoping he'd be on a roster by now.

Aberdeen starts their season next week. Expect him there and if he does really good, maybe a last week look in Delmarva.

[McLovin]

Was excited to see Hall's ABD debut. He looks like a SS - built a bit like Joey Rickard, maybe a bit slimmer. 

At the plate, he chokes up on the bat, batted leadoff. Seemed to have a patient approach, was able to battle in AB's. Had a very hard single up the middle after battling for about 8 7 pitches in his last AB. Definitely looked like more of a pesky leadoff SS, vs. a slugger.

He wasn't really challenged at SS. Looks to have plenty of arm for the position though.

[weams]

13 minutes ago, McLovin said:

Was excited to see Hall's ABD debut. He looks like a SS - built a bit like Joey Rickard, maybe a bit slimmer. 

At the plate, he chokes up on the bat, batted leadoff. Seemed to have a patient approach, was able to battle in AB's. Had a very hard single up the middle after battling for about 8 7 pitches in his last AB. Definitely looked like more of a pesky leadoff SS, vs. a slugger.

He wasn't really challenged at SS. Looks to have plenty of arm for the position though.

Thank you for the scouting report. Info I was excited to hear. He's a very young man. 

[MDtransplant757]

6 hours ago, McLovin said:

Was excited to see Hall's ABD debut. He looks like a SS - built a bit like Joey Rickard, maybe a bit slimmer. 

At the plate, he chokes up on the bat, batted leadoff. Seemed to have a patient approach, was able to battle in AB's. Had a very hard single up the middle after battling for about 8 7 pitches in his last AB. Definitely looked like more of a pesky leadoff SS, vs. a slugger.

He wasn't really challenged at SS. Looks to have plenty of arm for the position though.

I don't mind an OBP hitter like him. Good stuff to see