Kaden Polcovich

The son of former Pirates infielder Kevin Polcovich, Kaden hit .305/.426/.473 with Orleans in the Cape Cod League last summer and was just as impressive this spring with Oklahoma State. A transfer from Northwest Florida State JC, he was batting .344/.494/.578 in his first season with the Cowboys when the season ended. A switch-hitter with a solid swing from both sides of the plate, Polcovich shows average raw power in batting practice but is more of a line-drive hitter in games. He’s an aggressive hitter with a short stroke and excellent barrel control and projects as a plus hitter with solid on-base skills. Polcovich's flashes of power give hope he can be a 10-12 home run hitter despite his 5-foot-8, 160-pound frame. Polcovich has no clear defensive home. He’s played second and third base at Oklahoma State and played center field and left field in the Cape. His fringe-average arm limits him in the infield, and while he’s an above-average runner now, there are concerns he’ll slow down as he matures. He shows some feel for tracking balls in center field and is just as aggressive out there as he is at the plate. Polcovich may end up being fringe-average defensively at two infield spots and multiple outfield spots, but his hitting might make up for any defensive shortcomings. He’s likely to outlast some toolsier players in pro ball because of his feel and switch-hitting ability.