Wil Myers

Organization Prospect Rankings

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  Ranked Tampa Bay Rays #1 prospect in 2013
  As a junior at Wesleyan Christian Academy in High Point, N.C., Myers had more success as a pitcher than a hitter, and he would have been a two-way player had he followed through on his commitment to South Carolina. But after his $2 million asking price dropped him to the third round of the 2009 draft, the Royals met his price. He began his pro career as a catcher, but after splitting time with Salvador Perez at high Class A Wilmington in 2010, Myers agreed to move to the outfield to expedite getting his bat to the majors. In 2012, he made the decision to tweak his stance, setting up more upright and working on backspinning the ball for more carry. It paid off to the tune of 37 homers, the second-most in the minors and 23 more than he had ever hit in a pro season. In the last 50 years, only one 21-year-old has hit more homers in a minor league season (Arlo Engel, with 41 in 1963). Myers joined Tom Gordon as the only Royals to win Baseball America's Minor League Player of the Year award, then became the first recipient to get traded before playing in the majors for his original organization. Kansas City sent Myers and three other prospects (righthander Jake Odorizzi, lefty Mike Montgomery, third baseman Patrick Leonard) to the Rays in December for James Shields, Wade Davis and a player to be named. Myers combines outstanding raw power with an advanced approach at the plate and excellent hand-eye coordination. When he uses the opposite field and doesn't worry about hitting homers, he can post high batting averages and on-base percentages. His decision to try to hit for more power last year meant that he took more aggressive swings in two-strike counts, resulting in a career-high 140 strikeouts. After struggling with chasing balls that were too far in on his hands to hit fair in 2011, he made adjustments to lay off those pitches while showing he could pull fastballs on the inner half for extra bases. Myers has fringy speed but is a heady baserunner. He fits best in right field, where he should become a solid defender. He responded well to the challenge of center field, but his lack of quickness limits him there. The Royals thought he had a chance to become an average center fielder, but scouts on other teams grade him as well below-average there. Though the Rays have an outfield vacancy after losing free agent B.J. Upton to the Braves, it's unclear whether Myers will get the opportunity to fill it immediately. It wouldn't be a surprise to see him start 2013 at Triple-A Durham, which would allow him to work on cutting down his strikeouts while also delaying his arbitration and free-agent eligibility. Regardless, he'll be in the major leagues before long and eventually should bat fourth behind Longoria.
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  Ranked Kansas City Royals #3 prospect in 2012
  A potential first-round talent in 2009, Myers fell to the third round because of his $2 million asking price, which the Royals paid him. He finished 2010 as one of the top catching prospects in baseball. A year later, he has switched positions and added a little tarnish. He missed a month in 2011 with a knee injury that got infected and didn't hit with as much authority as he had in the past. Myers has the quick hands and raw strength to hit 20-25 homers per year, plus the understanding of the strike zone and the hand-eye coordination to hit for average. He's most comfortable hitting pitches on the outer half, but Double-A pitchers busted him inside with fastballs and he struggled to turn on them. Late in the season, he spread out his feet, which opened him up to handle inside heat better. Myers has average speed and a plus arm, but he's a below-average right fielder for now. He takes poor routes to balls and some scouts were turned off by his low-energy approach, especially when it came to working on his defense. Myers looked like his old self while hitting .360/.481/.674 in the Arizona Fall League and profiles as a possible all-star corner outfielder. He'll return to Northwest Arkansas to begin 2012, seemingly better prepared to handle Double-A pitching this time around.
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  Ranked Kansas City Royals #2 prospect in 2011
  The Royals thought about drafting Myers 12th overall in 2009, but gambled successfully that his $2 million price tag would drop him to their next choice in the third round. Now that he has hit .324/.429/.533 in two pro seasons, plenty of teams wish they had met his price. Myers' success at the plate comes in large part from excellent pitch recognition. He often stops loading his swing just as a pitcher releases the ball--because he quickly determines whether it's a pitch he wants to hit. He's a pull hitter who works deep counts and projects to have easy above-average power down the road. The big question is whether he'll be able to catch in the big leagues. Though he threw out 32 percent of basestealers in 2010 and has plus arm strength, he stands too tall and drops his elbow, costing him accuracy. His long arms and legs make it hard for him to receive and block balls. He's more athletic and a better runner than most catchers, and should be able to handle a move to an outfield corner if needed. While the Royals believe Myers can stay behind the plate, they also know they can get him to the majors quicker and get more offensive production out of him if they move him to the outfield. He'll spend 2011 in Double-A, with his position still to be determined.
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  Ranked Kansas City Royals #3 prospect in 2010
  The Royals considered Myers for the 12th pick in the 2009 draft before settling on Aaron Crow. They didn't have a second-round choice, but his $2 million price tag made him available at No. 91 in the third round. After Kansas City met his asking price, he ranked as the No. 1 prospect in the Rookie-level Pioneer League. Capable of turning around a quality fastball with a flick of his wrists, Myers has excellent raw power. His swing isn't textbook and he'll sometime shift his weight to his front foot too early, but he manages to keep his hands back and hit line drives all over the park. He should hit for average as well as power. He has a plus arm and can rip off 1.85-second pop times even when his footwork isn't perfect. He threw out five of the 12 basestealers who tested him in his pro debut. He has average speed and is a better athlete than most catchers. Myers played a variety of positions as an amateur, so he's inexperienced and inconsistent as a catcher. He gets too upright coming out of his crouch and sometimes struggles to block pitches in the dirt. He committed six passed balls in just 10 games. Myers' rangy body draws comparisons to Dale Murphy and Jayson Werth--two tall catchers who ended up moving to the outfield. He has the raw tools to handle the position, but his advanced bat could tempt the Royals to move him. They're committed to trying to develop him as a catcher, however, which is where he'll play in low Class A this year.

Minor League Top Prospects

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  Ranked International League #2 prospect in 2013
  Acquired in the James Shields deal with the Royals last December, Myers finally settled into a full-time position with Durham this season after seeing time at third base as well as center and right field with Omaha in 2012. The Rays called him up in mid-June to be the big club?s everyday right fielder. After a slow start, Myers left his mark in Durham with his lethal power. His plus bat speed and the ability to turn on inner-half velocity helped him launch 14 homers with the Bulls, including several monster shots off the facing of the building well beyond the left-field wall at Durham Bulls Athletic Park. With his power, however, came an escalating strikeout rate, which climbed to roughly 24 percent in 2013. The Rays believe that once he learns to lay off breaking balls away, Myers could evolve into a steady hitter for average. Durham manager Charlie Montoyo estimates that Myers could have hit 30 homers and 30 doubles if he had remained with the Bulls all season. ?He was fun to watch,? Montoyo said. Myers plays solid defense, throws well and runs the bases well, though he?s not a standout in any of those departments.
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  Ranked Texas League #3 prospect in 2012
  After a disastrous 2011 season in the TL, which prompted managers and scouts to question not only his swing but also his effort, Myers came back to the league with a vengeance. He quickly earned a promotion to Triple-A, finishing the season with 37 homers and Baseball America's Minor League Player of the Year award. Myers shows well above-average power potential, and this season he proved to be a solid hitter to all fields. He focused more on power this season, which elevated his strikeout numbers, but the Royals will take the tradeoff. A catcher in his first two pro seasons, Myers played in right and center field as well as third base this. He profiles best as a corner outfielder because he's a fringy runner with a plus arm.
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  Ranked Pacific Coast League #1 prospect in 2012
  Drafted as a catcher, Myers switched to the outfield in 2011 to expedite getting his bat to the majors. But he didn't hit the ball with as much authority and evaluators were concerned with his lackadaisical approach. His attitude changed and he rebounded in 2012. "He's pretty darn good," Albuquerque manager Lorenzo Bundy said. "He gives himself a chance to succeed by staying within the strike zone. When he got a pitch to hit, he didn't miss. He squared it up and hit it hard somewhere." Myers generates above-average power with tremendous bat speed and strength. His bat stays in the hitting zone long enough that he projects to hit for a good average. Though he was very pull-oriented this season, he's capable of hitting to all fields with authority. Myers profiles well in right field, where he gets good jumps and has a plus arm. He also played 13 games at third base for Omaha, making three errors but showing enough arm and athleticism for the hot corner. He's a fringy runner.
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  Ranked Arizona Fall League #5 prospect in 2011
  Myers was coming off a lackluster regular season at the Double-A level when he was hampered by a knee problem, but he dispelled any doubts about his prospect status with a strong AFL season in which he hit .360/.481/.674. His plate discipline improved in the fall, as he drew 20 walks against 18 strikeouts in 86 at-bats. Scouts noticed a tendency for Myers to turn it up a notch in clutch situations, and he has fast hands that help him generate above-average power. While the converted catcher is still relatively new to the outfield, he projects to be a solid outfielder with enough arm to play right field.
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  Ranked Texas League #13 prospect in 2011
  After Myers hit .324/.429/.533 in his first year and a half in pro ball, his move to Double-A wasn't as impressive. He injured his knee in a freak accident at the end of April, falling down at his apartment complex while trying to escape a rainstorm. The wound later got infected, and all told he missed about a month. Myers has strong hands and doesn't wear batting gloves, and he makes consistent hard contact. He should be a .300 hitter, but scouts and managers are divided on how much power he'll have. He hits a lot of line drives and looks to pull the ball, but his power only shows up consistently in batting practice right now. Myers is athletic but unrefined in the outfield, where he saw action at all three spots for the Naturals. He signed as a catcher before the Royals moved him in order to speed his path through the big leagues, but he remains indifferent on defense. He has a strong arm and fringe-average speed.
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  Ranked Carolina League #4 prospect in 2010
  Myers had no problems handling the pitcher-friendly Midwest League at age 19, batting .289/.408/.500, and he was even more devastating after arriving in Wilmington in July. He controls the strike zone well and has above-average bat speed and hand-eye coordination. He uses the whole field and should hit for both average and power. Because he has little catching experience, he's still raw as a receiver. He has plus arm strength but produces it with a long windup, and he threw out 26 percent of basestealers in the CL. He does a nice job of handling pitchers. If Myers can stay behind the plate, he looks like a near-certain all-star. If not, he has enough bat and athleticism to be a productive right fielder.
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  Ranked Midwest League #3 prospect in 2010
  Myers and lefthander John Lamb gave Burlington the best battery in the MWL, and Lamb would have ranked right behind Myers on this list had he not departed in late May before qualifying. Myers also earned a swift promotion, leaving at the end of June for high Class A, where he hit .346/.453/.512. He's a more advanced hitter than fellow Royals megaprospects Mike Moustakas and Eric Hosmer were with the Bees. Employing an open stance, Myers works counts well before punishing pitchers with his plus bat speed and power. He has plenty of bat and enough athleticism to carry him if he has to move from catcher to right field. MWL managers believe Myers will work hard enough to turn himself into a catcher, but scouts aren't as convinced that he can pull it off. He has a strong arm but a long release, and he has a long ways to go as a receiver. He threw out 34 percent of basestealers but committed 17 passed balls in 47 games for Burlington.
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  Ranked Pioneer League #1 prospect in 2009
  One of the steadiest high school bats available in this year's draft, Myers got $2 million as a third-round pick, pulling down a higher bonus than 16 of the 30 first-rounders who signed. Despite a late start, he made a huge impression by ripping 12 extra-base hits in 18 games and throwing out five of the 11 basestealers who tested him. Myers' offense is ahead of his defense at this point. He uses no batting gloves or finger tape, trusting his quick hands and strong wrists to hit with authority. One manager said Myers seemingly could flick at the ball and hit it hard. Even mid-90s velocity didn't seem to bother him as a pro, as he showed plus bat speed in driving the ball to all fields. Myers' strong, projectable frame and leverage should lead to well above-average power down the line. His athleticism and smooth, repeatable swing suggest he'll also hit for average. Also a third baseman and pitcher in high school, Myers isn't always fluid behind the plate but has easy arm strength and the potential to be an average receiver. With time, his blocking and pitch framing should improve because his baseball instincts are strong.

Top 100 Rankings

• Ranked Baseball America's #4 prospect in 2013
• Ranked Baseball America's #28 prospect in 2012
• Ranked Baseball America's #10 prospect in 2011

• December, 2012 Scouting Report
  Background: For much of his career, Wil Myers' eventual position has been unclear. His destiny as an impact big leaguer has been much more certain. In high school, he had more success as a pitcher than as a hitter as a junior, and he would have been a two-way player had he followed through on his commitment to South Carolina. But after his $2 million asking price dropped him to the third round of the 2009 draft, the Royals met his price. Myers began his pro career as a catcher, but after splitting time with Salvador Perez at high Class A Wilmington in 2010, he agreed to move to right field. He added center field to his list of positions in 2012 and also dabbled with third base for 15 games. Myers made the decision to tweak his stance, setting up more upright and working on backspinning the ball for more carry. It paid off to the tune of 37 home runs, second most in the minors and 23 more than he had ever hit in a pro season. In the last 50 years, only one 21-year-old has hit more homers in a minor league season (Arlo Engel, with 41 in 1963). Myers joined Tom Gordon as the only Royals to win Baseball America's Minor League Player of the Year award. Scouting Report: Myers' outstanding raw power has been clear since he put on a show at Kauffman Stadium in a predraft workout. What makes him stand out is that he pairs his pop with an advanced approach at the plate and excellent hand-eye coordination. When he uses the opposite field and doesn't worry about hitting homers, he can post high batting averages and on-base percentages. His decision to try to hit for more power in 2012 meant that Myers took more aggressive swings in two-strike counts, resulting in a career-high 140 strikeouts. After struggling with chasing balls that were too far in on his hands to hit fair in 2011, he made adjustments to lay off those pitches while showing he could pull fastballs on the inner half for extra bases. Myers has fringy speed but is a heady baserunner. He fits best in right field, where he should become a solid defender. He responded well to the challenge of center field, but his lack of quickness limits him there. The Royals see him as an average center fielder in the short term, but scouts on other teams grade him as well below average. Though he's much more raw at third base, his plus arm and soft hands would allow him to stick there if the need arose. He possibly could develop into an average third baseman in time if he was allowed to work on the positon full-time. The Future: Myers was ready to stay in Kansas City when he arrived for the midseason Futures Game. Since he wasn't yet on the 40-man roster and didn't need to be added to it this offseason, the Royals kept him in Triple-A for the full season. If the Royals end the offseason with Jeff Francoeur still on the roster, it won't be a surprise to see Myers start 2013 at Triple-A Omaha. That would allow him to work on cutting down his strikeouts and could help delay his arbitration and free-agent eligibility. Regardless, he'll be in the major leagues before long. He projects as an eventual No. 3 hitter in the lineup because of his batting eye and power potential.
• December, 2011 Scouting Report
  Background: A potential first-round talent in 2009, Myers fell to the third round because of his $2 million asking price, which the Royals met. He finished 2010 as one of the top catching prospects in baseball. A year later, he had switched positions and added a little tarnish. Myers missed a month in 2011 with a knee injury that got infected, and he didn't hit with as much authority as he had in the past. Scouting Report: Myers has the quick hands and raw strength to hit 20-25 homers per year, plus the understanding of the strike zone and the hand-eye coordination to hit for average. He's most comfortable hitting pitches on the outer half, but Double-A pitchers busted him inside with fastballs and he struggled to turn on them. Late in the season, he spread out his feet, which opened him up to handle inside heat better. Myers has average speed and a plus arm, but he's a below-average right fielder for now. He takes poor routes to balls and some scouts were turned off by his low-energy approach, especially when it came to working on his defense. The Future: Myers looked like his old self while hitting .360/.481/.674 in the Arizona Fall League and profiles as a possible all-star corner outfielder. He'll return to Northwest Arkansas to begin 2012, seemingly better prepared to handle Double-A pitchers this time around.
• August, 2011 Scouting Report
  Myers was coming off a lackluster regular season at the Double-A level when he was hampered by a knee problem, but he dispelled any doubts about his prospect status with a strong AFL season in which he hit .360/.481/.674. His plate discipline improved in the fall, as he drew 20 walks against 18 strikeouts in 86 at-bats. Scouts noticed a tendency for Myers to turn it up a notch in clutch situations, and he has fast hands that help him generate above-average power. While the converted catcher is still relatively new to the outfield, he projects to be a solid outfielder with enough arm to play right field.