Robert Hassell

Hassell is at the top of the list when it comes to the best hitters in the high school class. He was voted the top pure hitter in the class by scouting directors and has few holes in a loose, lefthanded swing. He was the most consistent hitter for USA Baseball’s 18U National Team last summer, leading the Americans in 10 offensive categories while posting a .514/.548/.886 slash line. For his efforts, he was named the World Baseball Softball Confederation’s 2019 International Player of the Year. Hassell has a lean frame with an exceptionally handsy swing that reminds scouts of players like Jarred Kelenic and Riley Greene. He brings a sound approach to the plate and understands the strike zone. He rarely swings and misses, uses the entire field and shows an advanced ability to make adjustments. With his swing, discipline and approach, he projects as a consensus plus hitter who could hit .300 in his best years. Hassell has a fairly lean frame at 6-foot-2 and 190 pounds, and scouts are mixed on his future power potential. Some wonder how much bigger he’ll get, while others are more optimistic he'll develop average or above-average power. Defensively, Hassell has a chance to stick in center field. He’s an above-average runner with above-average arm strength, but he lacks the elite footspeed most major league center fielders possess. It’s more likely he winds up in a corner, where he could be a good defender, though that will put more pressure on him to grow into more power. It’s rare for the top prep hitter in the class to fall out of the top half of the first round, but teams didn’t see Hassell much this spring and he’ll be competing against a strong group of prep outfielders. He is committed to Vanderbilt.