2020 MLB Draft Scouting Report: Zac Veen

The first player in the series that we’re covering from the high school ranks, taking a deep dive into the reports on outfielder Zac Veen. He’s the 7th player in our series that looks at scouting reports in our 2020 Major League Baseball Draft Scouting Report series.

Zac Veen’s High School Career

Playing at Spruce Creek High School in Port Orange, Florida, Zac Veen burst onto the scene in a big way as a junior in 2019. He had a strong showing against Matt Allan, who was arguably the top high school pitcher in 2019’s draft (but fell to the 3rd round due to signing bonus concerns – though he did sign for $2.5M with the Mets) – homering against him. He followed up his junior season with a big showing on the summer baseball circuit and cemented his name as a first round candidate.

There wasn’t a lot of baseball played before things were shut down for the year. But Zac Veen is from Florida and they begin their season earlier than most other states. That is advantageous for both Veen and scouts, who got a chance to see the progress he made from his junior to senior years – even if the latter was cut short early on.

Zac Veen Video

Zac Veen Scouting Report

Height: 6′ 5″ | Weight: 200 lbs

Bats: Left | Throws: Right

Position(s): Outfield

During the offseason he got bigger, putting on 15-20 pounds of good weight and he’s now listed at 6′ 5″ and 200 lbs. Between his size, strength, and bat speed – he’s got plus raw power to tap into in the future. His pitch recognition skills stand out among the high school class. But, there are some concerns that there’s some swing-and-miss in his game. Still, his hit tool rates out as average to potentially plus.

Defensively there’s not much doubt that he’s going to slide from center field, where he plays in high school, to a corner spot as a professional. While he’s a solid runner, he doesn’t quite have center field speed now and certainly won’t as he continues to mature. He should provide quality defense in either left or right field – where his arm will play, though it won’t stand out.

He’s a potential 5-tool player, and one that most scouts feel safely in that rating with. While power is the top tool, his hit-tool also grades out well on most reports and he’s at least average with his speed and defensive tools.

Where the concern could be

There’s not a ton to nitpick with Zac Veen, but there are some scouts who do wonder about the hit-tool a little bit because of the swing-and-miss questions. It’s not a majority held belief, but it’s not a lone belief, either.