Werner Blakely

Blakely is a prototypical high-risk, high-reward prospect. He has plenty of athleticism and tools, but also a rawness to his game that raises concerns. A 6-foot-3, 180-pound shortstop, Blakely has some of the best pure defensive actions in the class. He moves fluidly around the field and has a potentially plus arm, but he has battled shoddy glovework at times and hasn’t yet developed a strong internal clock. He makes enough highlight-reel plays to give scouts confidence he can stick at the position with additional repetitions and coaching. Offensively, Blakely has an uphill swing that leaves him little room for error in the strike zone. He’s shown a tendency to get long in his swing with inconsistent plate coverage. Teams are excited about the power he could potentially pack on to his athletic frame, but he needs plenty of at-bats to refine his offensive game. Blakely is a good runner who glides around the field and could turn into a dangerous basestealing threat. It's easy to dream on Blakely becoming a power-speed threat who can play shortstop, but he needs many years of refinenment and development. He is committed to Auburn.