The 2021 MLB Draft will begin on July 11, 2021. We take a look at Edward Arroyo, a talented middle infielder who possesses both a great bat and glove.
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Edwin Arroyo, Shortstop, Central Pointe Christian (Fla.)
Height: 6’0″
Weight: 175 lbs.
Age: 17
Bats: Switch
Throws: Switch
Scouting Grades
Hit: 55
Power: 45
Run: 55
Field: 60
Throw: 55
Arroyo is a talented, rangy infielder with a good hit tool and the potential for some power. Primarily a shortstop in high school, he projects as a very well-rounded player with a utility floor.
Strengths
Arroyo is a switch-hitter who hits best as a right-hander. He makes good contact and has a solid approach, making him a weapon at the plate. Further, while not an elite runner, he does possess the quickness needed to be a talented hitter and fielder. In addition to his quickness, Arroyo is a driven player who gives hustle and effort nonstop. One of the youngest prospects in the draft, Arroyo’s dedication to the game does not go unnoticed.
In the field, Arroyo is the definition of a true athlete. In addition to batting both left- and right-handed, he can actually throw with both hands, too. While he plays shortstop as a right-hander, Arroyo took the mound as a southpaw in high school. While he’s not going to pitch in pro ball, this dual-threat ability is another indication of his incredible athleticism. At shortstop, he has range, quickness, impressive glovework, and a great arm. Arroyo also possesses versatility, so while he projects as a shortstop long-term, there is no doubt that he could adapt to a utility role if needed.
Weaknesses
Power is probably the biggest weakness when it comes to Arroyo. He’s not a terrible hitter by any means, but he does lack some pop. This is far from a deal-breaker, though it’s an area in which scouts surely hope he can improve once he grows older and stronger. Still, while the potential is there, his lack of power should be considered his top weakness.
Aside from a lack of power, there’s not much to dislike about the shortstop. With that said, he isn’t an exceptional hitter. Of course, he doesn’t need to be outstanding at the plate thanks to his reliability across all spectrums. Still, it’s at least worth noting that he won’t be one of those players like Fernando Tatis Jr. or Xander Bogaerts that makes noise with their bat, garnering praise all throughout the media.
Pro Comparison: Enrique Hernandez
This is a safe comparison for Arroyo and serves as an ideal floor. There are no indications that he can’t be a top shortstop and frequent All-Star in the majors. Still, he’s just 17 years old and is still growing, so projecting his career is far from a perfect science. At this point, a comparison to Boston’s utility player is a good start. Hernandez has played eight of the nine positions in his career (no catching experience), with most of his reps coming in the middle of the field (center field, second base, and shortstop). It’s hard to envision Arroyo spending a lot of time in the outfield, but he certainly shares the versatile middle infielder trait with Hernandez.
Draft Projection: Second-Round Pick
If I were a general manager, picking Arroyo with a pick in Competitive Balance Round A would not be out of the question. With that said, at this point, Arroyo projects as a mid-second-round pick. Of course, given his young age and lack of predictability, there could be some variation in opinion among scouts. It’s likely that some MLB departments have him ranked outside of their top-100 prospects while others could view him as a fringe first-rounder.
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