2023 Cleveland Guardians prospect scouting report: #34 1B/OF Micah Pries
Pries power and speed combination as a versatile 1B/OF helped him to a quiet breakout season in 2022. What's next for him?
Build & Background
Tall and high waisted. Longer levers. Moderate, athletic build for a corner type player. Looks the part at first and outfield corner. Comes from small school, Point Loma Nazarene as an underrecrutied high school player despite strong baseball family ties. Had Tommy John in 2019.
What Pries does well
Does a little of everything with his power being the standout tool. Above average raw power and enough contact and life to get to most of it. Moderate contact ability. Good speed for a first base/left fielder, showing above average run times. Smart runner on the bases and capable defender at first and the outfield spots.
Where Pries needs to improve
Does tend to chase low and high heat can give him trouble. Enough chase and miss to have some concerns about hit tool. Arm hasn’t been challenged much as a pro since arm surgery. Could lose a step as a runner if he fills out his frame any further.
Intangibles
Pries’ grandfather helped find MLB’s scouting bureau and worked for the Orioles. His dad and brother were both drafted by the Yankees. Strong baseball bloodlines. Humble type player. Worked hard to earn opportunities despite famous baseball family. Drafted out of a small Division II school after not being a high recruit in high school due to concerns about not filling out his frame, but has since added to it.Â
Future
One of the least talked about prospects in the system, and nowhere else around the prospect community, Pries had a quiet breakout in 2022, just missing a 20/20 season with 18 homers and 20 steals while mostly playing first base. There are some swing and miss concerns, but Pries showed he could impact the ball, run, draw some walks and is versatile and fast enough to play the corner outfield spots, not just first base. He was a pitcher in high school at one time but it’s hard to know where his arm is at since having Tommy John and being mostly untested in the pros. Played center as an amateur as well. He could be a late developing sleeper due to his age and lack of reps. After playing against D II competition in college and then Tommy John and the pandemic limiting his reps in 2019 and 2020, Pries’ first full season wasn’t until 2022, and it was in Double-A, and a good one at that. He could be a 20/20 type corner if he proves at Triple-A in 2023 that his quiet breakout was no fluke. At the least, he should be on the map as a bench type bat with some unique skills for his positional fit.
Role: 40 - Potential fringe-average regular at 1B/OF, solid bench bat.
