Jace LaViolette Stats & Scouting Report

Full name Jace Michael LaViolette
Born 12/04/2003 in Pensacola, FL
Profile Ht.: 6'6" / Wt.: 230 / Bats: L / Throws: L
School Texas A&M
Drafted in the 1st round (27th overall) by the Cleveland Guardians in 2025 (signed for $4,000,000).

View Draft Report

School: Texas A&M Drafted/Committed: Never Drafted
Age At Draft: 21.6

BA Grade: 55/Extreme

LaViolette entered the 2025 season as a favorite to be the first overall pick. He was fresh off a standout sophomore campaign in which he hit .305/.449/.726 with 48 extra-base hits—including 29 home runs—and 78 RBIs and boasted a special blend of physicality and loud tools. His 2025 season was a struggle. He hit just .258/.427/.576 with 18 home runs and a 25.2% strikeout rate as part of a disappointing Texas A&M team that had College World Series aspirations but missed the NCAA Tournament. LaViolette is tremendously physical with a 6-foot-6, 230-pound frame and tons of strength. He has a stiff—almost robotic—operation in the box that features little to no movement in his setup and load phase, but he generates thunderous raw power that led to 68 home runs in three seasons. He has double-plus raw power that plays to all fields. LaViolette’s biggest question is how much he’ll hit. He has advanced swing decisions and his career 19.3% walk rate that points toward a consistent floor of on-base ability, but his contact ability is below-average—especially for a potential first-round college bat. He owns a 71% contact rate for his career and has struggled with changeups, sliders and left-on-left spin in particular. LaViolette is a great athlete who has turned in plus run times and plays a solid center field with above-average arm strength. He has a unique college profile with obvious impact upside but some clear question marks that should make him a first-round conundrum on draft day.

Scouting Grades: Hit: 45 | Power: 65 | Run:60 | Field: 55 | Arm: 55.

Top Rankings

Organization Prospect Rankings

BA Grade/Risk: 55/High

Adjusted Grade: 40

Track Record: LaViolette entered the 2025 draft cycle as one of the favorites to be selected first overall thanks to his outlier combination of size, speed, power and SEC performance. A down draft year in addition to bat-to-ball questions caused him to slip to the back of the first round, where the Guardians signed him to a $4 million deal as the 27th overall pick. He broke his left hand in college postseason play and didn’t debut in official pro games after signing.

Scouting Report: LaViolette is a towering, physical presence in the lefthanded batter’s box and is listed at 6-foot-6, 230 pounds. That size and strength leads to thunderous, 70-grade raw power that allowed him to boast some of the best overall power in his draft class. LaViolette got to his power often in the SEC and is the all-time home run leader at Texas A&M with 68 in three seasons. He is also the school’s all-time walks leader with 169 and managed a career 19.3% walk rate with strong strike-zone recognition and swing decisions. His contact rate, however, could cap his offensive impact. LaViolette hit just .285 in his college career with a 25.3% strikeout rate and a 71% overall contact rate. He’ll need to find the barrel more frequently against pro pitching—and changeups, sliders and left-on-left spin in particular—and adding a bit more life to his hands in what is currently a stiff operation could help. Despite his size, LaViolette is a real plus runner who moves exceptionally well and pairs his speed with good defensive instincts and routes. He should get every opportunity to stick in center field and would be a plus defender in a corner with an above-average arm if he does need to move.

The Future: LaViolette’s upside and impact potential is undeniable with a scouting card littered with above-average or better tools. His contact ability will determine the sort of player he becomes.

Scouting Grades Hit: 45 | Power: 60 | Run: 60 | Field: 55 | Arm: 55.

Draft Prospects

School: Texas A&M Drafted/Committed: Never Drafted
Age At Draft: 21.6

BA Grade: 55/Extreme

LaViolette entered the 2025 season as a favorite to be the first overall pick. He was fresh off a standout sophomore campaign in which he hit .305/.449/.726 with 48 extra-base hits—including 29 home runs—and 78 RBIs and boasted a special blend of physicality and loud tools. His 2025 season was a struggle. He hit just .258/.427/.576 with 18 home runs and a 25.2% strikeout rate as part of a disappointing Texas A&M team that had College World Series aspirations but missed the NCAA Tournament. LaViolette is tremendously physical with a 6-foot-6, 230-pound frame and tons of strength. He has a stiff—almost robotic—operation in the box that features little to no movement in his setup and load phase, but he generates thunderous raw power that led to 68 home runs in three seasons. He has double-plus raw power that plays to all fields. LaViolette’s biggest question is how much he’ll hit. He has advanced swing decisions and his career 19.3% walk rate that points toward a consistent floor of on-base ability, but his contact ability is below-average—especially for a potential first-round college bat. He owns a 71% contact rate for his career and has struggled with changeups, sliders and left-on-left spin in particular. LaViolette is a great athlete who has turned in plus run times and plays a solid center field with above-average arm strength. He has a unique college profile with obvious impact upside but some clear question marks that should make him a first-round conundrum on draft day.

Scouting Grades: Hit: 45 | Power: 65 | Run:60 | Field: 55 | Arm: 55.
School: Texas A&M Committed/Drafted: Never Drafted
Age At Draft: 21.6

BA Grade/Risk: 55/High

A 6-foot-6 adonis, LaViolette was named a first team All-American in 2023 after hitting .305/.449/.726 with 16 doubles, 29 home runs and 78 RBIs in 68 games. LaViolette stands almost completely upright in the box with a slightly open front side. He has a minimal load and stride and lets his natural strength and bat speed do most of the work. LaViolette does a nice job creating loft in his swing and is able to do damage to all fields. With a 90th percentile exit velocity of 109 mph and a max exit velocity of 116, LaViolette generates impressive impact. He has double-plus raw power to all fields, and he has no issue getting to it in games. LaViolette has an advanced approach and his contact ability took a step forward this spring. He moves surprisingly well for his size and played a quality centerfield in 2024 for the Aggies, but his actions and arm strength are likely best suited for right field.

Scouting Grades Hit: 50 | Power: 70 | Run: 60 | Field: 55 | Arm: 50
School: Tompkins HS, Katy, Texas Committed/Drafted: Texas A&M
Age At Draft: 18.6
The physical 6-foot-5, 220-pound lefthanded hitter has climbed up draft boards this spring. Standing in with a wide base and hands pre-set in the load position, LaViolette sets himself up to administer damage before the pitch is released. Though he possesses a bit of a longer path to the ball with lift, he possesses enough bat speed and natural strength in his hands, wrists and forearms that allows him to succeed against upper-echelon arms. The Texas A&M commit obliterates pitches down in the zone and tracks spin well enough to set himself up to be a dangerous middle-of-the-order bat whether in College Station or in a pro uniform. LaViolette runs well for his size, registering 60-yard times in the 6.50-6.65-second range. He will showcase an above-average arm from the outfield and projects to fit in well in the corners as he continues to mature and grow. The range of opinions vary when speaking with scouts as some feel he would greatly benefit from an SEC college experience while others feel he is ready to begin his journey to the big leagues now.