Baseball Prospectus | | Eyewitness Scouting Report


	Jacob Nottingham Born: 04/03/1995 (Age: 20)
	Bats: Right	Throws: Right
	Height: 6' 2"	Weight: 220
	Primary Position: C

Impressive physique, football history evident; strong kid, well-proportioned and filled-out; above-average athleticism, movements can get measured and slow down.

Evaluator	Wilson Karaman
Report Date	07/30/2015
Dates Seen	6 games, July 2015
Affiliate	Stockton Ports (High A, Athletics)

MLB ETA	Risk Factor	OFP	Video
2017	Moderate	60	Yes

Tool	Future Grade	Report
Hit	50	Wide start-up, slight crouch, hands deep off back shoulder; minimal load, mild bat wrap; quiet hands and top half; long stride with aggressive weight transfer; generates well above-average torque and extreme separation, above-average bat speed with leverage; hands stay back, front elbow stays up, keeps inside the ball with predominantly opposite-field approach; plus track with above-average command of the zone, lets the ball travel well; aggressive in-zone, wants to extend, can be beaten by in-out sequencing, inner-third swing-and-miss.
Power	60	60+ raw to all fields; generates top spin with more linear in-game swing to pull side and up the middle; looks to separate and lift in fastball counts; approach to drive it oppo in games with leverage and strength to take balls out to right; ball carries to right-center.
Baserunning/Speed	40	averaged 4.38 from the right side, long finish; fringe-average first gear, likely to play down as he ages and settles into frame.
Glove	50	Wide, low crouch behind the plate, strong lateral agility; inconsistent blocking technique, frequently gets down on just the left knee leaving right side exposed; struggles to get glove down across his body to arm side; average hands and framing, loose receiving in-zone, will bring pitches out of the zone; calls a good game, executes game plan with minimal shakes.
Arm	55	Plus raw arm strength, long release limits utility; 1.98 pop, accurate arm with average tailing action.

Nottingham boasts an impressive blend of physicality and acumen, with an athletic, strong frame and realized skills that have taken a significant step forward this year. On offense he features a leveraged swing with strong bat-to-ball skills and the raw strength and approach to take balls out of the yard to the opposite field. While there's some swing-and-miss in his game he shows strong contact skills and the ability to bring a good majority of his power into games.

The bat will play, and while it still requires ample projection the raw ingredients of an average-or-better defender behind the plate are present. His athleticism is apparent in his lateral movement, and his receiving has taken a step forward this year. The total package of a bat-first profile with average defensive chops can play to a Role 6 ceiling if it all comes together, and there's plenty here to suggest an above-average backstop when all is said and done.