The outfielder from Marysville, Washington is an athlete…period. He has set High School records on the basketball court and can tank a baseball off of some of the best in the Pacific Northwest. Let’s take a look at Malakhi Knight.
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Malakhi Knight, Outfielder, Marysville Getchell HS (WA)
Height: 6’3″
Weight: 187 lbs.
Age: 18
Bats: Right
Throws: Right
High School Career: .352/.458/.514, 20 RBI, 1 HR, 14 SBs
Scouting Grades
Hit: 50
Power: 55
Run: 55
Arm: 55
Field: 50
Overall: 50
Malakhi Knight is an athletically gifted 18-year-old. The kid plays basketball for his High School team and has set records in that sport. While he is a UCLA commit, it has been his dream to play in the majors and if a team comes knocking with a first-round selection, it may be too much for the Washington native to pass up.
Strengths
Loud contact. Just those two words should intrigue major league scouts. Knight has a natural lift to his swing and can clobber the ball. He doesn’t have much movement as far as leg kick or stride to his swing and he extends his arms well. The bat-to-ball skills are very good at Knight’s age and will improve. He has the speed to beat out groundballs and steal a few bags at the major league level as well.
Defensively, Knight can stick in centerfield. His range is above average and he gets solid reads on the ball. The arm also plays anywhere in the outfield. He could stick in center if he maintains his lean build. Bulking up may take away from his speed and that would hurt his ability to chase down balls in the gap.
Weaknesses
Knight has a long swing which doesn’t bode well as he moves up the ladder to the majors. Holes will be exposed by the upper-level pitchers. He should be able to tighten his stroke without sacrificing power. The concern from some scouts is if he packs on more weight, he will be slower and moved to a corner outfield position. Through Knight’s early 20’s this shouldn’t be much of a problem but as he ages, he will need to move off of centerfield. He has the arm and athleticism to play left or right fairly easily.
Pro Comparison: Jason Heyward
Their builds are the same and Heyward came up as a hard-hitting outfielder with a linebacker’s build. Knight is similar and while he may not be the Gold Glove outfielder Heyward is, he will likely hit for more power. Heyward worked hard on being a discerning hitter. If the 18-year-old outfielder can do the same, he has a chance to be an offensive force in the majors.
Draft Projection: Round 1, Pick 32, Detroit Tigers
The Tigers need someone who can blast the ball out of Comerica Park. Knight brings that power. He will have plenty of time to work on things in the minors as Detroit is in the beginning of their rebuild. Once Knight gets to the majors in 2024, he will hit the ground running.
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Main Image Credit: https://www.heraldnet.com/sports/marysville-getchells-knight-switches-commitment-to-ucla/
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