Kevin Bazzell Stats & Scouting Report

AB	44
AVG	.136
OBP	.22
SLG	.159
HR	0

Full name Kevin Chet Bazzell
Born 03/29/2003 in Dallas, TX
Profile Ht.: 6'1" / Wt.: 205 / Bats: R / Throws: R
School Texas Tech
Drafted in the 3rd round (79th overall) by the Washington Nationals in 2024 (signed for $980,300).

View Draft Report

School: Texas Tech
Commit/Drafted: Never Drafted
Age At Draft: 21.3
BA Grade: 45/High
Tools: Hit: 55. Power: 40. Run: 45. Field: 45. Arm: 55.

Bazzell came to Texas Tech by way of Dallas Baptist. After sitting out the 2022 season because of transfer rules, he showed off impressive bat-to-ball skills and an advanced offensive approach in 2023 and 2024. A 6-foot-1, 205-pound catcher and third baseman, Bazzell is a career .330/.431/.530 hitter with a 10.1% strikeout rate and 12.8% walk rate. The righthanded batter has a simple setup in the box with a small load and slight, subtle hand press as he works to launch position. Bazzell’s bat-to-ball skills drive his offensive profile, and in his career he has an 87% overall contact rate and 93% in-zone contact rate. He has walked more than he has struck out and will spray the ball to all fields, though his occasional home run power is almost always to his pull side. Without much physical projection to bank on, Bazzell looks like the sort of hit-over-power player who will succeed by spraying line drives and minimizing his strikeouts. He played third base in 2023 but moved behind the plate in 2024. He has solid athleticism and arm strength but needs real work on his receiving and setup behind the dish. He moves well enough to play third or corner outfield, but his bat will profile much better if he can stick behind the plate.

Top Rankings

Organization Prospect Rankings

BA Grade/Risk: 45/High.

Track Record: Bazzell transferred from Dallas Baptist to Texas Tech after his first semester, forcing him to sit out the 2022 season due to transfer rules. In 2023 and 2024, he impressed scouts with his advanced offensive approach. The Nationals drafted him in the third round in 2024 and signed him for slot value of $980,300. He joined Low-A Fredericksburg in time for its run to the Carolina League championship.

Scouting Report: In the batter’s box, Bazzell has a simple setup with a small load and slight, subtle hand press as he works to launch position. His impressive bat-to-ball skills drive his offensive profile. Bazzell doesn’t project to add a ton of pop, so he will likely be more of a hit-over-power player. He is a solid athlete and really impressed the Nationals with his catching abilities in his short stint in 2024. He caught a postseason game thrown by top pitching prospect Travis Sykora and was able to call pitches with impressive confidence. Bazzell will need to improve his receiving setup behind the dish, but he showed that he has a real chance to stick at this position.

The Future: Bazzell projects to have a higher hit grade than his power grade, which is unusual for a catcher. His long-term outlook is as a catcher who is right in between a fine starter or a backup.

Scouting Grades: Hit: 55 | Power: 40 | Run: 45 | Field: 45 | Arm: 55.

Draft Prospects

School: Texas Tech Commit/Drafted: Never Drafted
Age At Draft: 21.3
BA Grade: 45/High
Tools: Hit: 55. Power: 40. Run: 45. Field: 45. Arm: 55.

Bazzell came to Texas Tech by way of Dallas Baptist. After sitting out the 2022 season because of transfer rules, he showed off impressive bat-to-ball skills and an advanced offensive approach in 2023 and 2024. A 6-foot-1, 205-pound catcher and third baseman, Bazzell is a career .330/.431/.530 hitter with a 10.1% strikeout rate and 12.8% walk rate. The righthanded batter has a simple setup in the box with a small load and slight, subtle hand press as he works to launch position. Bazzell’s bat-to-ball skills drive his offensive profile, and in his career he has an 87% overall contact rate and 93% in-zone contact rate. He has walked more than he has struck out and will spray the ball to all fields, though his occasional home run power is almost always to his pull side. Without much physical projection to bank on, Bazzell looks like the sort of hit-over-power player who will succeed by spraying line drives and minimizing his strikeouts. He played third base in 2023 but moved behind the plate in 2024. He has solid athleticism and arm strength but needs real work on his receiving and setup behind the dish. He moves well enough to play third or corner outfield, but his bat will profile much better if he can stick behind the plate.