Kyle Holder

Organization Prospect Rankings

• 
  Ranked New York Yankees #27 prospect in 2016
  The Yankees selected Holder with their second first-round selection (compensation for the departure of free agent David Robertson) and signed him for $1.8 million on the strength of his well above-average, major league-ready defense. A fine athlete with premium body control and an average-to-plus arm, Holder has explosive first-step quickness, easy range and fluid actions. All agree that he's got the glove for the highest level, with several scouts comparing him to former Yankees utility infielder Brendan Ryan. The question is whether Holder will hit. The Yankees want him to lower his leg kick to improve his timing and tap into the line-drive ability they believe is in his bat. They also want him to stay within himself and not try to swing for the fences by adjusting his swing path that tends to get uphill. Others see below-average bat speed that will hinder his offensive development. Holder will move as quickly as his bat will take him, but his glove will buy him time to develop.

Draft Prospects

• Ranked #38 prospect in 2015 draft
  A San Diego prep product, Holder intended to play baseball and basketball at local Grossmont JC before realizing as a freshman that his future lay in baseball. That spring was the first time he ever focused just on baseball, and he began to emerge as a prospect. He had a strong summer in the Cape Cod League last year for Cotuit, then was San Diego's leading hitter for most of this spring, further increasing his draft stock. The athletic 6-foot-1, 185-pounder doesn't run better than average and has an uphill lefthanded swing path, which one scout compared to a cricket swing. However, Holder has shown a knack for the barrel this spring and makes consistent contact. He's unlikely to make an impact offensively but should defensively, where scouts give him grades ranging from 55 to 70. He has an average-to-plus arm to go with excellent, instinctive actions and footwork. Holder has short-area quickness makes playing shortstop look easy and smooth. He's earned comparisons to glove-first American shortstops of recent vintage from Walt Weiss and Gary DiSarcina to Brendan Ryan.

Minor League Top Prospects

• 
  Ranked New York-Penn League #18 prospect in 2015
  One of the more divisive prospects heading into the 2015 draft, Holder continues to be divisive after his first summer in pro ball. Most scouts and evaluators agree that Holder is a plus defender, with some going so far to say that he is the best defensive college shortstop they've ever seen. Holder brings athleticism and leadership to the infield. While he has average speed, he exhibits excellent body control and lateral movement, and he has the hands, instincts and average-to-plus arm necessary to thrive at shortstop. Holder's bat triggers the divisiveness. Few project him to be an impact offensive player because of his uphill swing, lack of power and substandard bat speed. One scout who was particularly down on Holder said he thought he had bottom-of-the-scale bat speed. Others are a little more optimistic, including Holder's manager this summer. "I think he's just going to be a late bloomer offensively," Patrick Osborn said. "If he stays within himself and doesn't try to be greedy, he's going to be a line-drive hitter. He's going to hit some doubles . . . I think he's going to end up hitting."

• December, 2014 Scouting Report
  A San Diego prep product, Holder intended to play baseball and basketball at local Grossmont JC before realizing as a freshman that his future lay in baseball. That spring was the first time he ever focused just on baseball, and he began to emerge as a prospect. He had a strong summer in the Cape Cod League last year for Cotuit, then was San Diego's leading hitter for most of this spring, further increasing his draft stock. The athletic 6-foot-1, 185-pounder doesn't run better than average and has an uphill lefthanded swing path, which one scout compared to a cricket swing. However, Holder has shown a knack for the barrel this spring and makes consistent contact. He's unlikely to make an impact offensively but should defensively, where scouts give him grades ranging from 55 to 70. He has an average-to-plus arm to go with excellent, instinctive actions and footwork. Holder has short-area quickness makes playing shortstop look easy and smooth. He's earned comparisons to glove-first American shortstops of recent vintage from Walt Weiss and Gary DiSarcina to Brendan Ryan.