With the 73rd overall pick in the 2022 Major League Baseball Draft the Cincinnati Reds have selected Justin Boyd, an outfielder out of Oregon State.
Justin Boyd Scouting Report
Height: 6′ 0″ | Weight: 210
Bats: Right | Throws: Right | Position: Outfield
Highest Ranking: 133rd (Baseball America)
The profile for Justin Boyd is an interesting one. He shows four average to above-average tools, but the one below-average one doesn’t fit his positional profile well. Boyd only played every day as a junior at Oregon State, but hit .373 in 2022. His hit tool, though, grades out as an average one at the next level despite carrying such a high average as a junior. It’s his power that is a bit of a concern. He did slug .577 this season, but scouts project his power as below-average as a professional.
Defensively he’s been a corner outfielder. With below-average power that makes it a tough fit as a corner guy. That said he does have plenty of speed, so it could be an option to slide him into center and see if his speed and getting more experience there can make it work because his bat profiles a lot better in center than it does in the corners.
Justin Boyd Video
Justin Boyd College Stats
| Year | PA | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | SB | BB | K | AVG | OBP | SLG |
| 2021 | 88 | 4 | 2 | 0 | 10 | 1 | 10 | 16 | .301 | .395 | .411 |
| 2022 | 308 | 14 | 4 | 9 | 53 | 24 | 52 | 58 | .373 | .490 | .577 |
| Totals | 396 | 18 | 6 | 9 | 63 | 25 | 62 | 74 | .357 | .469 | .538 |
Instant Reaction
If the Reds believe that he can play center then this pick makes a lot of sense. He can run, has a good idea of the strikezone, has a good arm, and is expected to hit for a solid average. The lower end power doesn’t matter as much in center. But if he has to play in the corners his profile with the lower expected power output really means he would have to max out everything else in his game to be an every day player.
Scouting Director Joe Katuska on Justin Boyd
“Justin Boyd was a guy that really grew on us this year. We hadn’t seen him a whole lot in the past, but scouted that team heavily this spring and he stood out for his athleticism, bat to ball skills, and we think he’s a great fit in center field for us.”
“We just really liked the profile. We got strong support from the scouts, strong support from the analytics. He’s athletic, he’s played multiple positions. He had a teammate that generally played center field so he moved around to all three outfield spots. And he’s played on the infield dirt before, so we see a lot of versatility, athleticism, and upside in his package.”
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