Baseball Prospectus | | Eyewitness Scouting Report


	Jonah Heim Born: 06/27/1995 (Age: 19)
	Bats: Switch	Throws: Right
	Height: 6' 4"	Weight: 220
	Primary Position: C

Very tall and wiry frame; extremely projectable; flexible frame and able to get low enough while catching; able to put on more muscle/weight because speed is already not an impact tool.

Evaluator	Tucker Blair
Report Date	09/05/2014
Dates Seen	6/27 - 6/29, 8/23, 8/24, 8/31, 9/1
Affiliate	Aberdeen IronBirds (Short Season, Orioles)

MLB ETA	Risk Factor	OFP	Video
2018	High	50	No

Tool	Future Grade	Report
Hit	30	Switch hitter but replicates a consistent-styled swing well from both sides; above-average bat speed; slight hitch in first viewing; lessened in next viewing; good extension with hands; sometimes will drift hands and causes him to drop hands and back shoulder; moderate load; can become unbalanced at times due to timing issues; uses hips well to provide torque; steps in the bucket sometimes on the good soft stuff; below-average pitch recognition currently; has improved over the season and looks more relaxed at the plate; approach is growing as he plays deeper into his professional career.
Power	50	Plus raw power from both sides; loft in swing; above-average bat speed; inconsistency with hit tool like plays down in-game ability.
Baserunning/Speed	30	4.55 from right side; 4.49 from left side; well below-average runner; runs like a catcher; not a good first or second gear.
Glove	60	Plays well behind the plate already; strong wrists and hands allow him to provide an excellent target and frame pitches; moves and shuffles well behind the plate for his lack of speed; able to maneuver horizontally at an above-average rate; footwork is strong; able to receive and set himself up for throws; able to get low and provide the lower quadrant target; can still improve his blocking skills on sliders.
Arm	60	Plus arm strength; pop times currently 1.90 - 1.94; recorded a 1.97 pop time from his knees; able to fire lines to 2B; ball will occasionally tail some; accuracy not always there but has gradually improved over season; arm could grow stronger with potentially muscle; fast-twitch throwing motion.

Heim is an extremely raw prospect, but has an above-average defense and arm already. The hitting is well behind the defense, but he has shown mild improvements throughout the entire season. Heim has slowly improved over the year and his excellent makeup is a large reason why. He displayed a slight hitch from both sides, but has decreased this some. His hands were too high one game, too low the next, and then he was able to find a balanced location that provided a better path to the ball. He is able to take coaching and learn quickly.

I question whether he can make enough contact to consistently provide value as a starter, but Heim has all the tools to at least be a backup at the highest level. He needs to be taken along slowly, but the tools are all evident.