Tyler Locklear Stats & Scouting Report — College Baseball, MLB Draft, Prospects

AB	43
AVG	.302
OBP	.388
SLG	.581
HR	3

Full name Tyler Evan Locklear
Born 11/24/2000 in Baltimore, MD
Profile Ht.: 6'1" / Wt.: 210 / Bats: R / Throws: R
School Virginia Commonwealth
Drafted in the 2nd round (58th overall) by the Seattle Mariners in 2022 (signed for $1,276,500).

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A large and physical, 6-foot-3, 210-pound corner infielder, Locklear comes from an athletic family. His father, Todd, played college baseball. His cousin, Gavin, played football at North Carolina State and his uncle, Jeff, was a lefthanded pitcher who played five minor league seasons. Locklear stands out foremost for his plus-plus raw power. He won the 2021 Atlantic 10 Conference Player of the Year award after hitting 16 home runs and was one of the most productive college hitters in the country in 2022. He hit .402/.542/.799 with 20 home runs, 25 doubles and 47 walks to just 25 strikeouts. Locklear controls the strike the zone well and consistently crushes balls to post top-end exit velocities. He has some stiffness to his swing and may struggle to get to his power against more advanced pitching, but he managed to hit for power in the Cape Cod League last summer, albeit while hitting for a low average. Locklear played more third base than first base in college, but he is a below-average runner and projects to be a first baseman only in pro ball. Locklear will be heavily reliant on his righthanded bat and power as a professional. He's done nothing but mash the last two seasons and may be able to make it work.

Top Rankings

Organization Prospect Rankings

BA Grade: 50/High

Track Record: A star tight end in high school, Locklear blossomed into one of college baseball’s top power hitters at Virginia Commonwealth and set a school record with 20 home runs his junior season. The Mariners drafted him in the second round in 2022 and signed him for $1,276,500. Locklear played his first full season in 2023 and missed two months after he was hit by a pitch that broke a bone in his right hand, but he starred when he was on the field. He hit .288/.405/.502 with 13 home runs and 52 RBIs in 85 games and advanced from High-A Everett to Double-A Arkansas even with his injury. His .907 OPS led all Mariners prospects with at least 325 plate appearances.

Scouting Report: Locklear is a chiseled, physical righthanded hitter with borderline plus-plus power. He is one of the strongest players in the Mariners organization, with muscular legs and huge forearms, and punishes balls on contact. Locklear has an unconventional setup with a bat waggle over the plate, but he’s a patient hitter who works long at-bats and turns around fastballs at any velocity. He hits towering home runs to all fields and gets to his power with little effort. Locklear can be a bit stiff and struggles to hit righthanded breaking balls, but he knows the strike zone and makes enough contact to be a fringy hitter who accesses his power in games. A third baseman when he was drafted, Lockear moved to first base full time in 2023. He’s a below-average runner but moves well for his size and has the potential to be an average defender at first base. He has average arm strength.

The Future: Locklear projects to be an everyday first baseman and middle-of-the-order slugger. He’ll begin 2024 back at Double-A.

Scouting Grades Hit: 45 | Power: 65 | Run: 40 | Field: 45 | Arm: 50
BA Grade/Risk: 50/High

Track Record: A former tight end who was recruited to play college football, Locklear emerged as one of the country's top power hitters at Virginia Commonwealth. His father Todd pitched collegiately and his uncle Jeff professionally, while his cousin Gavin played college football. Tyler tied for the Cape Cod League lead with nine home runs in 2021 after his sophomore year. He followed by setting VCU's single-season record with 20 home runs as a junior and finished his career with 37, which tied for the program's all-time record. The Mariners drafted him in the second round in 2022 and signed him for $1,276,500. Locklear quickly moved to Low-A Modesto after signing and caught fire late, bashing seven home runs in his final 16 games.

Scouting Report: Locklear stands an imposing, muscular 6-foot-3 and is one of the strongest players his age. He crushes balls to all fields with plus-plus raw power--including home runs the opposite way off of right-field scoreboards--and posts elite top-end exit velocities. Locklear has some stiffness to his swing and his bat moves in and out of the zone quickly, but he controls the strike zone and swings at the right pitches to do damage. His pitch selection gives him a chance to be a fringy hitter with plus power if he can make swing adjustments against higher-level pitchers. Locklear is a decent athlete for his size and has good hands at third base, but his footwork and actions need to be softened and his arm is a tick below-average. He will likely move to first base and could potentially end up in left field. He has below-average speed but makes up for it with a quick first step and good instincts on the bases.

The Future: Locklear has a chance to emerge as a power-hitting, everyday first baseman if he makes the necessary swing adjustments. He'll open at High-A Everett in 2023.

Scouting Grades: Hitting: 45. Power: 60. Speed: 40. Fielding: 40. Arm: 50

Draft Prospects

School: Virginia Commonwealth Committed/Drafted: Never Drafted
Age At Draft: 21.7
BA Grade: 45/High
Scouting Grades: Hit: 45 | Power: 60 | Run: 30 | Field: 40 | Arm: 50
A large and physical, 6-foot-3, 210-pound corner infielder, Locklear comes from an athletic family. His father, Todd, played college baseball, his cousin, Gavin, played football at North Carolina State and his uncle, Jeff, was a lefthanded pitcher who played five minor league seasons. Locklear stands out for his 65-grade raw power and after hitting 16 home runs and being named the 2021 Atlantic 10 Player of the Year, Locklear was one of the most productive college hitters in the country in 2022. He hit .402/.542/.799 with 20 home runs, 25 doubles and 47 walks (15.9 BB%) to just 25 strikeouts (8.5 K%). Locklear has controlled the zone well with VCU and should be a TrackMan darling with loud average and top-end exit velocities. Scouts wonder how much power he’ll get to against better pitching and more consistent velocity at the next level—and question the overall stiffness of his swing—and in the Cape Cod League in 2021, he hit .256/.333/.504 with 32 strikeouts (22.7 K%) and just six walks (4.3 BB%). Locklear has played more third base than first base with VCU but is likely a first base-only type at the next level, with well below-average speed. Locklear’s value is heavily reliant on his righthanded bat and power, but he’s done nothing but mash over his last two seasons.

Top 100 Rankings

Scouting Reports

BA Grade/Risk: 50/High

Track Record: A former tight end who was recruited to play college football, Locklear emerged as one of the country's top power hitters at Virginia Commonwealth. His father Todd pitched collegiately and his uncle Jeff professionally, while his cousin Gavin played college football. Tyler tied for the Cape Cod League lead with nine home runs in 2021 after his sophomore year. He followed by setting VCU's single-season record with 20 home runs as a junior and finished his career with 37, which tied for the program's all-time record. The Mariners drafted him in the second round in 2022 and signed him for $1,276,500. Locklear quickly moved to Low-A Modesto after signing and caught fire late, bashing seven home runs in his final 16 games.

Scouting Report: Locklear stands an imposing, muscular 6-foot-3 and is one of the strongest players his age. He crushes balls to all fields with plus-plus raw power--including home runs the opposite way off of right-field scoreboards--and posts elite top-end exit velocities. Locklear has some stiffness to his swing and his bat moves in and out of the zone quickly, but he controls the strike zone and swings at the right pitches to do damage. His pitch selection gives him a chance to be a fringy hitter with plus power if he can make swing adjustments against higher-level pitchers. Locklear is a decent athlete for his size and has good hands at third base, but his footwork and actions need to be softened and his arm is a tick below-average. He will likely move to first base and could potentially end up in left field. He has below-average speed but makes up for it with a quick first step and good instincts on the bases.

The Future: Locklear has a chance to emerge as a power-hitting, everyday first baseman if he makes the necessary swing adjustments. He'll open at High-A Everett in 2023.

Scouting Grades: Hitting: 45. Power: 60. Speed: 40. Fielding: 40. Arm: 50
BA Grade/Risk: 50/High

Track Record: A former tight end who was recruited to play college football, Locklear emerged as one of the country's top power hitters at Virginia Commonwealth. His father Todd pitched collegiately and his uncle Jeff professionally, while his cousin Gavin played college football. Tyler tied for the Cape Cod League lead with nine home runs in 2021 after his sophomore year. He followed by setting VCU's single-season record with 20 home runs as a junior and finished his career with 37, which tied for the program's all-time record. The Mariners drafted him in the second round in 2022 and signed him for $1,276,500. Locklear quickly moved to Low-A Modesto after signing and caught fire late, bashing seven home runs in his final 16 games.

Scouting Report: Locklear stands an imposing, muscular 6-foot-3 and is one of the strongest players his age. He crushes balls to all fields with plus-plus raw power--including home runs the opposite way off of right-field scoreboards--and posts elite top-end exit velocities. Locklear has some stiffness to his swing and his bat moves in and out of the zone quickly, but he controls the strike zone and swings at the right pitches to do damage. His pitch selection gives him a chance to be a fringy hitter with plus power if he can make swing adjustments against higher-level pitchers. Locklear is a decent athlete for his size and has good hands at third base, but his footwork and actions need to be softened and his arm is a tick below-average. He will likely move to first base and could potentially end up in left field. He has below-average speed but makes up for it with a quick first step and good instincts on the bases.

The Future: Locklear has a chance to emerge as a power-hitting, everyday first baseman if he makes the necessary swing adjustments. He'll open at High-A Everett in 2023.

Scouting Grades: Hitting: 45. Power: 60. Speed: 40. Fielding: 40. Arm: 50
BA Grade: 45/High

August Update: A large and physical, 6-foot-3, 210-pound corner infielder, Locklear comes from an athletic family. His father, Todd, played college baseball, his cousin, Gavin, played football at North Carolina State and his uncle, Jeff, was a lefthanded pitcher who played five minor league seasons. Locklear stands out for his 65-grade raw power and after hitting 16 home runs and being named the 2021 Atlantic 10 Player of the Year, Locklear was one of the most productive college hitters in the country in 2022. He hit .402/.542/.799 with 20 home runs, 25 doubles and 47 walks (15.9 BB%) to just 25 strikeouts (8.5 K%). Locklear has controlled the zone well with VCU and should be a TrackMan darling with loud average and top-end exit velocities. Scouts wonder how much power he&#39ll get to against better pitching and more consistent velocity at the next level—and question the overall stiffness of his swing—and in the Cape Cod League in 2021, he hit .256/.333/.504 with 32 strikeouts (22.7 K%) and just six walks (4.3 BB%). Locklear has played more third base than first base with VCU but is likely a first base-only type at the next level, with well below-average speed. Locklear&#39s value is heavily reliant on his righthanded bat and power, but he&#39s done nothing but mash over his last two seasons.