Gavin Cross Slugging Homers In High-A
2 years agoKansas City Royals minor league outfielder Gavin Cross, a 2022 first-round pick, is widely regarded as the top prospect in the club's farm system. The Virginia Tech product played so well through just 26 games at Single-A last season that he started 2023 in High-A. The quick promotion has resulted in an underwhelming stat line through the first month-plus of action, but there's still a whole lot to love about Cross' makeup. A lefty, Cross demonstrated improved bat control in his latter college years and even into pro baseball. There were also some indications that he had been able to cut down on strikeouts, but his 32.9 K% in 2023 suggests we may need to be a little more patient on that front. Defensively, he has the range needed to play in center field long-term but could probably handle a shift to right field if necessary. This past week was a big one for Cross as he went 9-for-24 with five home runs, 11 RBI, six walks, and 10 strikeouts. He also swiped two bags. Despite a strikeout rate that continues to be elevated, Cross' latest outings suggest that his offensive dominance is returning after a slow start to the season.
Source: FanGraphs
Source: FanGraphs