Sam Huff

Organization Prospect Rankings

• 
  Ranked Texas Rangers #11 prospect in 2022
  Track Record: Huff was the Rangers’ seventh-round selection in 2016, then broke on the scene with 28 home runs spread across the Class A levels in 2019. He also won that year’s Futures Game MVP award. He reached the big leagues in 2020 and performed well, but dealt with a subluxation in his knee that kept him from catching all season long. The injury flared up again in 2021 and kept him from catching all season long yet again. He was set to make up for lost time in the Arizona Fall League, but left after six games due to precautionary reasons regarding the same injury.
  
  Scouting Report: Huff’s calling card is his truly massive power. Even while he was rehabbing from his injury, he found time to sock a 519-foot home run in the Arizona Complex League. His average (92.3 mph) and maximum (115 mph) exit velocities were both tops in the Texas system. He’s improved his pitch-recognition skills over the course of his career and will likely be a below-average hitter with double-plus power. The biggest question remaining is where he’ll wind up on defense. Come 2022 he’ll get back behind the plate again. He spent time working with Bobby Wilson to get better at the position, but he was fringe-average pre-injury. He’s a very large human but has more athleticism than one would expect from someone his size and has a plus throwing arm to boot. When he did get on the field in 2021, he split his time between first base and DH.
  
  The Future: The Rangers still believe Huff has a shot to catch in the long term, but he had work to do to stick behind the plate even before the injury. He’ll try to get back on track in 2022.
  
• 
  Ranked Texas Rangers #2 prospect in 2021
  Hitting: 40. Power: 70. Running: 40. Fielding: 45. Arm: 60.
  
  TRACK RECORD: An unheralded seventh-round pick in 2016, Huff hit 28 home runs during a breakout 2019 season and won MVP at the Futures Game. The Rangers brought Huff to the alternate training site in 2020 and called him up to the majors for the final three weeks. He didn’t disappoint.
  
  SCOUTING REPORT: Huff struggled with game-calling and too often chased spin at the plate when he first came up, but he adjusted and was one of the Rangers’ best hitters the final 10 games of the season. Huff’s plus-plus power stands out, and his improved approach gives him a chance to get to it. He will likely never hit for a high average, but improved pitch recognition could help produce high-end offensive production at the catcher position. Huff’s arm is the strongest among Rangers catchers, and his catching has improved after working with ex-big league backstop Bobby Wilson, a Rangers coach. Though massive for a catcher, Huff’s athletic ability should allow him to stick there.
  
  THE FUTURE: Huff would benefit from more time in the minor leagues, but the Rangers are open to the idea of him starting the season in the majors. If Huff’s hit tool develops, he could be a star. At minimum, he and Jose Trevino could be the Rangers’ catching tandem for years to come.
• 
  Ranked Texas Rangers #2 prospect in 2020
  TRACK RECORD: Huff raised his profile in 2019, stamped with an MVP trophy from the Futures Game. The Rangers had him return low Class A Hickory to open the year, but he hit 15 home runs in his first 30 games to earn a bump to high Class A Down East, where he continued to show a power stroke.
  
  SCOUTING REPORT: Huff is a tall, physical catcher with two loud tools between his power and arm strength. It's 70 raw power on the 20-80 scale, with Huff having the strength, bat speed and leverage in his swing to drive the ball out to any part of the park. He has the raw power to hit 30-plus homers if everything clicks, but he's susceptible to chasing off the plate and has trouble covering the inner third. As a result, he doesn't walk much and his strikeout rate is high. Where Huff made significant strides in 2019 was behind the plate. At 6-foot-4, 230 pounds, he's a big man for a catcher, but he frames pitches well and improved his footwork and blocking. He did an outstanding job of shutting down the running game with his plus arm, throwing out 48 percent of basestealers.
  
  THE FUTURE: Now that Huff looks like a true catcher, there's less demand on his bat, though he will still need to improve his plate discipline. He heads to Double-A Frisco in 2020.
• 
  Ranked Texas Rangers #30 prospect in 2019
  Track Record: Huff helped his draft stock during his senior season of high school by leading the state of Arizona in home runs. Huff signed with the Rangers for $225,000 as a seventh-round pick in 2016, then showed big power with a crude approach the next year when the Rangers held him back in the Rookie-level Arizona League.
  
  Scouting Report: Promoted to low Class A Hickory in 2018, Huff showed the biggest raw power of any hitters in the organization, though his plate discipline still has a ways to go. Huff has 70 raw power, generating impact with a combination of leverage in his swing and strength in his 6-foot-4, 230-pound frame. When Huff barrels the ball, he can hit it out to any part of the park, but he has holes inside and gets himself into trouble by chasing a lot of pitches outside the strike zone, leading to a 31 percent strikeout rate with a walk in just five percent of his plate appearances last season. Huff's defensive profile has risk as well. He has a plus arm and frames pitches well, but with his size he's going to have to improve his lateral agility, footwork and blocking to be able to stick behind the plate.
  
  The Future: His overall skill set has similarities to Marlins first baseman Peter O'Brien, a former catcher. High Class A Down East is next for Huff.

Draft Prospects

• Ranked #146 prospect in 2016 draft
  It's a down year for high school talent from Arizona, with Huff projected to be the top Arizona prep player taken in the draft. The Arcadia High catcher, already sizable at 6-foot-4 and 215 pounds, led the state in home runs in a senior year in which he significantly boosted his draft stock. Huff doesn't have great bat speed but shows good raw power, gets good leverage in his swing and has feel for hitting. Behind the plate, Huff frames and blocks well. He has a slow arm action but at least an average arm when he throws, with pop times typically around two seconds. He's a fundamentally sound player. Huff is committed to nearby Grand Canyon University, but is expected to be signable.

Minor League Top Prospects

• 
  Ranked Carolina League #5 prospect in 2019
  Huff was the Futures Game MVP after hitting a game-tying home run in Cleveland. He crushed 15 home runs in 108 at-bats at low Class A Hickory and continued to hit for power in high Class A. "He’s going to be special,” Potomac manager Tripp Keister said. "His catch-and-release times are really good. He has big power. When we first faced him, he had a little bit of a hole in his swing, but he has made adjustments.” Huff handles catching well at 6-foot-4. Even his run tool is decent. "Huff doesn’t get nearly as much credit as he should, in my opinion,” Down East manager Corey Ragsdale said. "Obviously, he has power—and to do it at the position he has and throw the way he can is impressive. He handles the baseball; the baseball doesn’t manipulate him. He has an absolute bazooka.”

Top 100 Rankings

• Ranked Baseball America's #99 prospect in 2020

• April, 2022 Scouting Report
  BA Grade: 40/Medium
  
  Track Record: Huff was the Rangers&#39 seventh-round selection in 2016, then broke on the scene with 28 home runs spread across the Class A levels in 2019. He also won that year&#39s Futures Game MVP award. He reached the big leagues in 2020 and performed well, but dealt with a subluxation in his knee that kept him from catching all season long. The injury flared up again in 2021 and kept him from catching all season long yet again. He was set to make up for lost time in the Arizona Fall League, but left after six games due to precautionary reasons regarding the same injury.
  
  Scouting Report: Huff&#39s calling card is his truly massive power. Even while he was rehabbing from his injury, he found time to sock a 519-foot home run in the Arizona Complex League. His average (92.3 mph) and maximum (115 mph) exit velocities were both tops in the Texas system. He&#39s improved his pitch-recognition skills over the course of his career and will likely be a below-average hitter with double-plus power. The biggest question remaining is where he&#39ll wind up on defense. Come 2022 he&#39ll get back behind the plate again. He spent time working with Bobby Wilson to get better at the position, but he was fringe-average pre-injury. He&#39s a very large human but has more athleticism than one would expect from someone his size and has a plus throwing arm to boot. When he did get on the field in 2021, he split his time between first base and DH.
  
  The Future: The Rangers still believe Huff has a shot to catch in the long term, but he had work to do to stick behind the plate even before the injury. He&#39ll try to get back on track in 2022.
• December, 2021 Scouting Report
  Track Record: Huff was the Rangers’ seventh-round selection in 2016, then broke on the scene with 28 home runs spread across the Class A levels in 2019. He also won that year’s Futures Game MVP award. He reached the big leagues in 2020 and performed well, but dealt with a subluxation in his knee that kept him from catching all season long. The injury flared up again in 2021 and kept him from catching all season long yet again. He was set to make up for lost time in the Arizona Fall League, but left after six games due to precautionary reasons regarding the same injury.
  
  Scouting Report: Huff’s calling card is his truly massive power. Even while he was rehabbing from his injury, he found time to sock a 519-foot home run in the Arizona Complex League. His average (92.3 mph) and maximum (115 mph) exit velocities were both tops in the Texas system. He’s improved his pitch-recognition skills over the course of his career and will likely be a below-average hitter with double-plus power. The biggest question remaining is where he’ll wind up on defense. Come 2022 he’ll get back behind the plate again. He spent time working with Bobby Wilson to get better at the position, but he was fringe-average pre-injury. He’s a very large human but has more athleticism than one would expect from someone his size and has a plus throwing arm to boot. When he did get on the field in 2021, he split his time between first base and DH.
  
  The Future: The Rangers still believe Huff has a shot to catch in the long term, but he had work to do to stick behind the plate even before the injury. He’ll try to get back on track in 2022.
  
• July, 2021 Scouting Report
  Hitting: 40. Power: 70. Running: 40. Fielding: 45. Arm: 60.
  
  TRACK RECORD: An unheralded seventh-round pick in 2016, Huff hit 28 home runs during a breakout 2019 season and won MVP at the Futures Game. The Rangers brought Huff to the alternate training site in 2020 and called him up to the majors for the final three weeks. He didn't disappoint.
  
  SCOUTING REPORT: Huff struggled with game-calling and too often chased spin at the plate when he first came up, but he adjusted and was one of the Rangers' best hitters the final 10 games of the season. Huff's plus-plus power stands out, and his improved approach gives him a chance to get to it. He will likely never hit for a high average, but improved pitch recognition could help produce high-end offensive production at the catcher position. Huff's arm is the strongest among Rangers catchers, and his catching has improved after working with ex-big league backstop Bobby Wilson, a Rangers coach. Though massive for a catcher, Huff's athletic ability should allow him to stick there.
  
  THE FUTURE: Huff would benefit from more time in the minor leagues, but the Rangers are open to the idea of him starting the season in the majors. If Huff's hit tool develops, he could be a star. At minimum, he and Jose Trevino could be the Rangers' catching tandem for years to come.
• March, 2021 Scouting Report
  Hitting: 40. Power: 70. Running: 40. Fielding: 45. Arm: 60.
  
  TRACK RECORD: An unheralded seventh-round pick in 2016, Huff hit 28 home runs during a breakout 2019 season and won MVP at the Futures Game. The Rangers brought Huff to the alternate training site in 2020 and called him up to the majors for the final three weeks. He didn’t disappoint.
  
  SCOUTING REPORT: Huff struggled with game-calling and too often chased spin at the plate when he first came up, but he adjusted and was one of the Rangers’ best hitters the final 10 games of the season. Huff’s plus-plus power stands out, and his improved approach gives him a chance to get to it. He will likely never hit for a high average, but improved pitch recognition could help produce high-end offensive production at the catcher position. Huff’s arm is the strongest among Rangers catchers, and his catching has improved after working with ex-big league backstop Bobby Wilson, a Rangers coach. Though massive for a catcher, Huff’s athletic ability should allow him to stick there.
  
  THE FUTURE: Huff would benefit from more time in the minor leagues, but the Rangers are open to the idea of him starting the season in the majors. If Huff’s hit tool develops, he could be a star. At minimum, he and Jose Trevino could be the Rangers’ catching tandem for years to come.
• December, 2020 Scouting Report
  Hitting: 40. Power: 70. Running: 40. Fielding: 45. Arm: 60.
  
  TRACK RECORD: An unheralded seventh-round pick in 2016, Huff hit 28 home runs during a breakout 2019 season and won MVP at the Futures Game. The Rangers brought Huff to the alternate training site in 2020 and called him up to the majors for the final three weeks. He didn’t disappoint.
  
  SCOUTING REPORT: Huff struggled with game-calling and too often chased spin at the plate when he first came up, but he adjusted and was one of the Rangers’ best hitters the final 10 games of the season. Huff’s plus-plus power stands out, and his improved approach gives him a chance to get to it. He will likely never hit for a high average, but improved pitch recognition could help produce high-end offensive production at the catcher position. Huff’s arm is the strongest among Rangers catchers, and his catching has improved after working with ex-big league backstop Bobby Wilson, a Rangers coach. Though massive for a catcher, Huff’s athletic ability should allow him to stick there.
  
  THE FUTURE: Huff would benefit from more time in the minor leagues, but the Rangers are open to the idea of him starting the season in the majors. If Huff’s hit tool develops, he could be a star. At minimum, he and Jose Trevino could be the Rangers’ catching tandem for years to come.
• July, 2020 Scouting Report
  TRACK RECORD: Huff raised his profile in 2019, stamped with an MVP trophy from the Futures Game. The Rangers had him return low Class A Hickory to open the year, but he hit 15 home runs in his first 30 games to earn a bump to high Class A Down East, where he continued to show a power stroke.
  
  SCOUTING REPORT: Huff is a tall, physical catcher with two loud tools between his power and arm strength. It’s 70 raw power on the 20-80 scale, with Huff having the strength, bat speed and leverage in his swing to drive the ball out to any part of the park. He has the raw power to hit 30-plus homers if everything clicks, but he’s susceptible to chasing off the plate and has trouble covering the inner third. As a result, he doesn’t walk much and his strikeout rate is high. Where Huff made significant strides in 2019 was behind the plate. At 6-foot-4, 230 pounds, he’s a big man for a catcher, but he frames pitches well and improved his footwork and blocking. He did an outstanding job of shutting down the running game with his plus arm, throwing out 48 percent of basestealers.
  
  THE FUTURE: Now that Huff looks like a true catcher, there’s less demand on his bat, though he will still need to improve his plate discipline. He heads to Double-A Frisco in 2020.
• February, 2020 Scouting Report
  TRACK RECORD: Huff raised his profile in 2019, stamped with an MVP trophy from the Futures Game. The Rangers had him return low Class A Hickory to open the year, but he hit 15 home runs in his first 30 games to earn a bump to high Class A Down East, where he continued to show a power stroke.
  
  SCOUTING REPORT: Huff is a tall, physical catcher with two loud tools between his power and arm strength. It's 70 raw power on the 20-80 scale, with Huff having the strength, bat speed and leverage in his swing to drive the ball out to any part of the park. He has the raw power to hit 30-plus homers if everything clicks, but he's susceptible to chasing off the plate and has trouble covering the inner third. As a result, he doesn't walk much and his strikeout rate is high. Where Huff made significant strides in 2019 was behind the plate. At 6-foot-4, 230 pounds, he's a big man for a catcher, but he frames pitches well and improved his footwork and blocking. He did an outstanding job of shutting down the running game with his plus arm, throwing out 48 percent of basestealers.
  
  THE FUTURE: Now that Huff looks like a true catcher, there's less demand on his bat, though he will still need to improve his plate discipline. He heads to Double-A Frisco in 2020.
• December, 2018 Scouting Report
  Huff was the Futures Game MVP after hitting a game-tying home run in Cleveland. He crushed 15 home runs in 108 at-bats at low Class A Hickory and continued to hit for power in high Class A. "He’s going to be special,” Potomac manager Tripp Keister said. "His catch-and-release times are really good. He has big power. When we first faced him, he had a little bit of a hole in his swing, but he has made adjustments.” Huff handles catching well at 6-foot-4. Even his run tool is decent. "Huff doesn’t get nearly as much credit as he should, in my opinion,” Down East manager Corey Ragsdale said. "Obviously, he has power—and to do it at the position he has and throw the way he can is impressive. He handles the baseball; the baseball doesn’t manipulate him. He has an absolute bazooka.”