JUPITER, - MARCH 15: Victor Scott II #32 of the St. Louis Cardinals poses for a photo after the ... [+]
St. Louis Cardinals fans are getting an unexpected opportunity to witness the blazing speed of outfielder Victor Scott II.
If he can get on base, that is.
Victor Scott, still only 23, has replaced injured Cardinals outfielder, Dylan Carlson, who was injured in an outfield collision with his teammate, Jordan Walker.
Carlson and Walker collided going after a ball in right/center in a March 25 spring game.
Carlson suffered a sprained AC joint in his shoulder. He is sidelined to start the season.
Given the fact outfielders Tommy Edman (arthroscopic wrist surgery) and Lars Nootbaar (non-displaced rib fracture) are also disabled to start the season, the Cardinals turned to Scott II, their highly regarded top outfield prospect to fill the outfield vacancy.
West Virginia's Victor Scott II #6 in action against Youngstown St. during an NCAA baseball game on ... [+]
About Victor Scott II:
Victor Scott II was a 5th round selection of the Cardinals in the 2022 Major League Baseball draft.
Selected out of West Virginia University, Scott II received a signing bonus of $350,400 from the Cardinals, which was the exact amount MLB suggested for his draft slot.
Scott has blazing speed. That speed, and his ability to play outstanding defense are his two most advanced, consistent, and reliable tools.
Scott inherited speed from his parents, who both ran track in their pasts.
JUPITER, FLORIDA - FEBRUARY 27: Victor Scott II #91 of the St. Louis Cardinals at bat against the ... [+]
Scouting Victor Scott II:
This old scout had a chance to observe and evaluate Scott in the 2023 Arizona Fall League, where Scott played for the Scottsdale Scorpions.
Scott had 99 Fall League plate appearances in 23 games. He hit .286/.388/.417/.805 with two doubles, no triples, three home runs, eight RBIs, and 18 stolen bases in 21 attempts.
CBSsports.com has reported Scott II ran 31.3 feet per second in the Arizona Fall League.
CBSsports.com also noted that in 2023, the five fastest times recorded were:
Elly De La Cruz-30.5 feet per second
Bobby Witt Jr.-30.5 feet per second
Dairon Blanco-30.3 feet per second
Trea Turner-30.3 feet per second
Bubba Thompson-30.2 fee per second
Scott walked 12 times in the Fall League, and only had eight strikeouts.
This observer also saw Scott in the 2023 MLB All Star Futures Game in Seattle.
In that game, Scott singled and stole two bases.
In 2023, playing for Peoria in Class-A Advanced, and Springfield at Double-A in the Cardinals organization, Scott stole an amazing 94 bases in 108 attempts.
Scott’s time was spent equally at both classifications. He played 66 games for each team.
Scott had a tremendous offensive season at the plate. He hit a combined .303 with 20 doubles, 10 triples, and nine home runs in 618 plate appearances, covering 132 games played.. He scored 95 runs, and drove in 63.
Scott isn’t only capable of using blazing speed on both sides of the ball, he has also a very capable minor league hitter, and an outstanding defensive outfielder.
Offense:
The left-handed hitting Scott has flashed excellent bat control, with the ability to barrel the ball with solid, well developed swing mechanics.
While he isn’t overly aggressive at the plate, he has the ability to see the ball out of the hand of the pitcher, and use excellent eye-hand coordination in his selective approach.
His swing is very measured, and his quick hands through the ball help generate the type of gap power that allows him to be off to the races as soon as the bat hits the ball.
When he reaches first base, there is an excellent chance he will try to steal second. And maybe third.
Scott’s speed rattles pitchers. And catchers. And opposing managers.
ST. LOUIS - 1986: Vince Coleman of the St. Louis Cardinals runs the bases during an MLB game at ... [+]
MLB.com stressed the fact that Scott and Cardinals base stealing icon Vince Coleman, have a great dea; h in common, and have already created a close bond.
Making good contact, Scott is quiet at the plate, rarely being caught lunging for a ball, or hitting off-balance.
If he tries to bunt, he will likely be able to beat the throw to first.
While this scout doesn’t view Scott as a home run threat at this stage of his career, he does have enough pop in his bat to hit some balls out of the park. However, home runs are not the focal point of Scott’s offensive game.
Defense:
Scott is a good defensive center fielder.
Using his blazing speed in the outfield, Scott can get to balls hit anywhere near him. If the ball is in his area code, he’ll get after it and haul it in.
Scott tracks the ball off the bat very well, and he takes efficient, effective routes. If, however, he does lose sight of the flight of the ball, his speed can cover that brief hiccup.
Scott is a plus-plus defensive center fielder.
Baseball: Closeup of St Louis Cardinals team logo on jersey during national anthem before game vs ... [+]
Summary and Scouting Grade:
It remains to be seen how long Victor Scott will remain with the Cardinals parent club.
Much will depend on the team’s regular outfielders returning.
If Victor Scott II performs anywhere close to what this scout has observed in Scott’s development, the Cardinals will be hard pressed to return him to minor league development. His potential is outstanding.
So far, however, the talented Scott is struggling against big league pitching. He is hitting only .111 with three hits in 18 at-bats, with one stolen base so far this season.
Scouting Grade: 55-A better than average regular contributor on a competitive MLB team. A player with several high quality skills and tools.
