Scouting the 2017 Draft: Keston Hiura

Keston Hiura, 2B/LF, College(UC Irvine).  B-R, T-R.  6'0", 190 lbs.

2016:  .358/.436/.539, 12 2B, 2 3B, 7 HR, 6 SB, 25 BB, 44 K, 204 AB.
2017:  .463/.563/.944, 11 2B, 5 HR, 12 BB, 14 K, 54 AB.

They say that of the 5 basic tools you scout a player on, the Hit Tool is the hardest to find.  Well, in a draft class that is weak in college hitters, the best Hit Tool in the entire draft may well belong to Hiura who has put up astonishing numbers in a historically pitching-friendly environment.  The problem for Hiura is the Hit Tool is his only plus tool.  He is not particularly fast, average at best.  He does not have much raw power although he has hit some dingers this season.  The arm is a big negative.  Never strong to begin with(74 MPH on a throw out of HS), he is now battling a partial UCL tear that has been treated with platelet-rich plasma injection.  He has been limited to DH duties so far in the college season.

But oh my!  You keep going back to the hit tool.  I'd grade it at least a 70.  He's go short arms, a quick swing and kind of an odd sweeping motion that some scouts don't love, but is probably part of why he is so successful at barreling the ball.  The power is probably more gap power at the next level.  Unfortunately, the arm and lack of speed probably limit him to 2B, LF, 1B and DH in the pros and he does not have the height you want at 1B nor the power you want at DH or even LF.

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DrB's Updated 2017 Draft Board:

1.  Jordan Adell, OF, HS.
2.  Mark Vientos, SS, HS.
3.  Hunter Greene, RHP/SS, HS.
4.  JB Bakauskas, RHP, College(North Carolina).
5.  Brendan McKay, LHP/1B, College(Louisville).
6.  Brady McConnell, SS, HS.
7.  Royce Lewis, SS/OF, HS.
8.  Trevor Rogers, LHP, HS.
9.  Brendon Little, LHP, JC(State College of Florida).
10. Seth Romero, LHP, College(Houston).
11.  Austin Beck, OF, HS.
12.  Wil Crowe, RHP, College(South Carolina).
13.  Jeren Kendall, OF, College(Vanderbilt).
14.  Alex Faedo, RHP, College(Florida).
15.  Tanner Houck, RHP, College(Missouri).
16.  Kyle Wright, RHP, College(Vanderbilt).
17.  Alex Lange, RHP, College(LSU).
18.  Alex Scherff, RHP, HS.
19.  Hans Crouse, RHP, HS.
20.  DL Hall, LHP, HS.
21.  Jacob Heatherly, LHP, HS.
22.  Calvin Mitchell, OF, HS.
23.  Conor Uselton, OF, HS.
24.  Garrett Mitchell, OF, HS.
25.  KESTON HIURA, 2B, College(UC Irvine).
26.  Clarke Schmidt, RHP, College(South Carolina).
27.  Michael Gigliotti, OF, College(Lipscomb).
28.  Pavin Smith, 1B, College(Virginia).
29.  Jake Burger, 3B, College(Missouri St).
30.  Cole Brannen, OF, HS.
31.  Evan Skoug, C, College(TCU).
32.  Colton Hock, RHP, College(Stanford).
33.  Mackenzie Gore, LHP, HS.
34.  Nick Allen, SS, HS.
35.  Blayne Enlow, RHP, HS.
36.  Hagen Danner, RHP, HS.
37.  Alejandro Toral, 1B, HS.
38.  Corbin Martin, RHP, College(Texas A&M).
39.  Tristan Beck, RHP, College(Stanford).
40.  JJ Schwarz, C, College(Florida).