Zac Shepherd

Organization Prospect Rankings

• 
  Ranked Detroit Tigers #13 prospect in 2016
  Shepherd was a standout amateur player in Australia. At the 16U World Cup in 2011, Shepherd earned all-star honors at shortstop and was named the tournament's most outstanding defensive player. The 2011 Australian baseball youth player of the year, Shepherd signed with the Tigers one year later for $325,000, the top bonus for an Australian position player that year. Shepherd held his own in the jump to low Class A West Michigan. He has natural feel for hitting with good bat speed, leverage and the ability to hit to all fields, projecting as an average to slightly above-average hitter. He's started to fill out his frame since signing as expected, showing solid-average raw power and loft in batting practice, with scouts projecting him to be a 20-home run hitter. Shepherd did well to walk in 11 percent of his plate appearances, and while his strikeouts weren't excessive, he will have to refine his strike-zone judgment against better pitching. Shepherd grew up playing shortstop, so he's still getting used to third base, but he's athletic for his size, his hands work well in the field and he has an above-average arm, so he should be an average defender. He should move up to high Class A Lakeland next season.
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  Ranked Detroit Tigers #11 prospect in 2015
  Detroit's top two international signings in 2012 were a pair of Dominican shortstops, Willy Adames and Domingo Leyba, and their third-largest bonus went to Shepherd, who signed for $325,000 as a shortstop out of Australia. He is a balanced hitter with a mature plan at the plate and a good blend of hitting, on-base ability and power. As he moves up the ladder, some scouts expect his profile to lean more heavily toward power, which is average now with the ability to leave the yard from his pull side over to the middle of the field, and should increase as he gets stronger. He didn't face much premium velocity in Australia, so he's still adjusting to quality fastballs. After he signed, Shepherd immediately moved to third base, where he has the tools to be a quality defender. He's a below-average runner but he's athletic and moves around well, with good hands and a strong, accurate arm. With third baseman Steven Fuentes one level ahead of him, Shepherd could spend 2015 at short-season Connecticut.