Javier Vaz

Organization Prospect Rankings

• 
  Ranked Kansas City Royals #14 prospect in 2025
  BA Grade/Risk: 45/High.
  
  Track Record: Vaz has turned himself into one of the more consistent hitters in the minor leagues in 2024, with outstanding bat-to-ball skills and plate discipline. With Double-A Northwest Arkansas, he hit .263/.376/.379 with 73 walks and 60 strikeouts. The son of a minor league hitting coach, Vaz first popped onto the radar late in his first season at Vanderbilt when he earned a starting role on the team that went to the College World Series. He was drafted by the Royals in the 15th round in 2022 and signed for $125,000.
  
  Scouting Report: Vaz’s setup and swing mechanics are efficient, and he’s an elite decision maker who consistently finds the barrel. He got to more power later in the season as he took more risks and didn’t just settle for making contact, resulting in driving more balls to the gaps. A plus runner, Vaz stole 16 bases in 19 attempts. His versatility in the field will help him get to the big leagues in a utility role, as he’s an above-average defender at second base and fringe-average in the outfield. He can also handle shortstop in a reserve role, although his below-average arm limits him. Vaz consistently plays above his tools as a gamer with instincts and is an outstanding teammate both on and off the field.
  
  The Future: Players like Vaz who can hit and play multiple positions seem to find a role in the major leagues. He’ll head to Triple-A in 2025.
  
  Scouting Grades: Hit: 60 | Power: 30 | Run: 60 | Field: 50 | Arm: 40.
• 
  Ranked Kansas City Royals #16 prospect in 2024
  BA Grade: 45/High
  
  Track Record: Vaz began his career at Louisiana State-Eunice JC before transferring to Vanderbilt, where he didn’t earn regular playing time until his second season with the Commodores. The Royals signed him to a $125,000 bonus in the 15th round of the 2022 draft, and he quickly turned into one of the best pure hitters in their system. The son of Roberto Vaz, a former minor leaguer and current hitting coach in the Cubs system, Javier hit .279 and walked 64 times compared to 50 strikeouts across two levels in 2023 and ended the year with Double-A northwest Arkansas.
  
  Scouting Report: Vaz has advanced bat-to-ball skills and defensive versatility. His setup and swing mechanics are efficient, he makes elite swing decisions and consistently finds the barrel. He uses small ball to his advantage, and his 3.3% swinging-strike rate was the third-lowest rate among minor leaguers with at least 400 plate appearances. He has well below-average power but can drive balls to the gaps, and he turned on enough pitches to hit a career-high eight homers in 2023. A plus runner, Vaz is an efficient basestealer who swiped 30 bags on 33 attempts in 2023. A fringe-average defender with a below-average arm, Vaz adds value by playing multiple positions both in the middle infield and outfield.
  
  The Future: A gamer and fierce competitor, Vaz’s advanced contact ability, speed and defensive versatility make him an intriguing prospect in a super utility role. He should reach Triple-A Omaha in 2024, and a late-season callup to Kansas City is not out of the question.
  
  Scouting Grades Hit: 60 | Power: 30 | Run: 60 | Field: 45 | Arm: 40