Kevin McGonigle Scouting Report

Background

Kevin McGonigle was a fixture on the amateur showcase circuit, with consistent strong performances and a knack for being on winning teams. His Light Blue team took home the 2022 Prospect Development Pipeline (PDP) League title. He’s a career. 427 hitter with 11 home runs and a 1.267 OPS in 111 Perfect Game events, and his West squad won the 2022 PG All-American Classic. He also posted an .887 OPS over nine games as Team USA took home the gold medal in the 2022 U-18 Baseball World Cup.

Physical description

Listed size of 5-foot-10 and 187 pounds appears accurate. He’s slightly on the smaller side, though he’s sturdy and looks to have good strength. It’s a classic baseball build, with a fit, but not overtly muscular, physique.

Hit – 60

McGonigle is compact in the batters box, with his knees bent and his hands at shoulder height with the bat relaxed over his shoulder. His quick hands and short levers help him fire the barrel through the zone with balance and natural loft. He attacks fastballs early in counts, but controls the zone well, and he showcases an advanced two-strike approach to fight off borderline offerings.

Power – 50

McGonigle isn’t overly strong, but his bat speed and barrel accuracy give him a chance to hit for average in-game power. There could even be a tick more than that if he leans into a pull-heavy approach.

Run – 50

Has shown above-average speed in showcase settings, with a 60-yard dash under 6.6 seconds. More fringe-average speed in game action, but his good instincts may lead to double-digit steals annually.

Defense – 50

McGonigle was drafted as a shortstop, and he has the instincts, hands, and footwork to handle the position. He likely lacks the range to stay at short, but he has plenty of experience playing second base and could be a solid-average defender there.

Arm – 50

McGonigle’s arm strength is average, but he’s an accurate thrower with a good sense of when he needs to get rid of the ball. Probably stretched a bit on the left side of the infield, but strong enough to turn the double play from second with no issues.

Overall

Kevin McGonigle’s advanced feel for hitting should get him to the big leagues. He’s otherwise a well-rounded player whose ultimate role will likely be determined by how much power he can coax out of his bat. There’s everyday player upside here if he gets to average pop. But even if he doesn’t, his bat is solid enough for him to potentially develop into a David Fletcher-style second-division regular at the keystone.

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