Zack Short

Organization Prospect Rankings

• 
  Ranked Chicago Cubs #28 prospect in 2020
  TRACK RECORD: At Sacred Heart, Short was part of a talented team that also included fireballing reliever and current Tigers prospect Jason Foley. Since being drafted in 2016, Short has shown a consistent blend of strong defensive skills and sneaky impact at the plate. He missed roughly six weeks in the early portion of 2019 with a broken hand but recovered to make it to Triple-A Iowa, where he scuffled. He also made up for lost time in the Arizona Fall League, then was added to the Cubs' 40-man roster.
  
  SCOUTING REPORT: Short's carrying skills are on defense. He's a rangy, instinctive defender with a plus arm who can make every play at shortstop. Those tools alone will likely get him to the big leagues. If he wants to stay there, he'll have to work to stay within himself and not get caught up with trying to hit for power. He has a short, quick stroke geared toward shooting line drives to all sectors with occasional home run power. Short has the strength to put the ball out of the park, but he gets in trouble when he tries to do it too often.
  
  THE FUTURE: After being added to the 40-man roster, Short should make his big league debut sometime in 2020 after returning to Triple-A Iowa. He fits well as a defense-first backup with a sprinkling of offense.
• 
  Ranked Chicago Cubs #19 prospect in 2019
  Track Record: Short hit just .241/.352/.399 in his final season at Sacred Heart, but the Cubs took a flyer on him in the 17th round. He helped short-season Eugene win a championship in 2016 and saw a power spike in his first full season as a pro. His 13 home runs in 2017 were just two fewer than he'd hit in his three college seasons combined.
  
  Scouting Report: Short's power spike continued in 2018, when he set a new career high with 17 homers over a full season at Double-A Tennessee. Evaluators who saw him believed the uptick was because Short was hunting inside fastballs he could pull over the left-field wall. Indeed, all but one of Short's homers was hit to the pull side. Those same evaluators suggested Short could increase his profile a little bit by toning down the all-or-nothing approach and using more of the whole field. They also noted a tendency to chase pitches. In the field, Short is big league ready. He's sure-handed with a quick first step and solid instincts for shortstop, and his double-plus arm will keep him at the position. Short is a below-average runner.
  
  The Future: Short will move to Triple-A in 2019 and could make a big league cameo by year's end. If his offensive profile doesn't change, he's at least a solid backup infielder with power.

• July, 2021 Scouting Report
  TRACK RECORD: A product of a talented Sacred Heart team, Short was selected by the Cubs in the 17th round in 2016 and signed for $80,000. The same year, Short's college teammate Jason Foley signed with the Tigers as a nondrafted free agent. Short quickly developed a reputation as a defensive wizard and rose to Triple-A in 2019, though his season was interrupted by a broken hand. The Tigers acquired him for Cameron Maybin at the 2020 trade deadline.
  
  SCOUTING REPORT: Short's skill set is led by his defensive abilities. He's a twitchy athlete who can handle shortstop easily, with light footwork and impressive rage. At the plate, Short's undersized frame works against him and leaves little room for any power projection. He is capable of an occasional home run thanks to a quick stroke through the zone, but his swing is more geared for line drives to all fields.
  
  THE FUTURE: Short is on the Tigers' 40-man roster and should make his major league debut in 2021. He should provide valuable infield depth.
• March, 2021 Scouting Report
  TRACK RECORD: A product of a talented Sacred Heart team, Short was selected by the Cubs in the 17th round in 2016 and signed for $80,000. The same year, Short's college teammate Jason Foley signed with the Tigers as a nondrafted free agent. Short quickly developed a reputation as a defensive wizard and rose to Triple-A in 2019, though his season was interrupted by a broken hand. The Tigers acquired him for Cameron Maybin at the 2020 trade deadline.
  
  SCOUTING REPORT: Short's skill set is led by his defensive abilities. He's a twitchy athlete who can handle shortstop easily, with light footwork and impressive rage. At the plate, Short's undersized frame works against him and leaves little room for any power projection. He is capable of an occasional home run thanks to a quick stroke through the zone, but his swing is more geared for line drives to all fields.
  
  THE FUTURE: Short is on the Tigers' 40-man roster and should make his major league debut in 2021. He should provide valuable infield depth.
• February, 2020 Scouting Report
  TRACK RECORD: At Sacred Heart, Short was part of a talented team that also included fireballing reliever and current Tigers prospect Jason Foley. Since being drafted in 2016, Short has shown a consistent blend of strong defensive skills and sneaky impact at the plate. He missed roughly six weeks in the early portion of 2019 with a broken hand but recovered to make it to Triple-A Iowa, where he scuffled. He also made up for lost time in the Arizona Fall League, then was added to the Cubs' 40-man roster.
  
  SCOUTING REPORT: Short's carrying skills are on defense. He's a rangy, instinctive defender with a plus arm who can make every play at shortstop. Those tools alone will likely get him to the big leagues. If he wants to stay there, he'll have to work to stay within himself and not get caught up with trying to hit for power. He has a short, quick stroke geared toward shooting line drives to all sectors with occasional home run power. Short has the strength to put the ball out of the park, but he gets in trouble when he tries to do it too often.
  
  THE FUTURE: After being added to the 40-man roster, Short should make his big league debut sometime in 2020 after returning to Triple-A Iowa. He fits well as a defense-first backup with a sprinkling of offense.