Drew Ellis

Organization Prospect Rankings

• 
  Ranked Arizona Diamondbacks #21 prospect in 2019
  Track Record: After enjoying a strong junior year at the plate for Louisville and being selected with the 44th overall pick in 2017, Ellis left college with more questions about his defense than his offense. The opposite appears true after his first full year as a pro. Ellis had just a so-so season at the plate in the California League, collecting 50 extra-base hits and posting a solid 10.4 percent walk rate.
  
  Scouting Report: Ellis hit for a low average and exhibited various red flags for scouts, including what some believed was a long swing with mediocre bat speed and a penchant for chasing offspeed stuff. Ellis went to the Arizona Fall League to work on driving the ball more consistently to all fields. Reports on his defense at third base were largely positive, with scouts putting plus grades on his hands and arm strength and saying his average range plays up thanks to good instincts and anticipation. He's not a good runner, grading out as below-average.
  
  The Future: Rival scouts were hesitant to project Ellis as an everyday player, with many seeing him as a bench bat or the righthanded half of a platoon in the mold of a late-career David Freese.
• 
  Ranked Arizona Diamondbacks #9 prospect in 2018
  Starting at third base on the same team as No. 4 overall pick Brendan McKay, Ellis led Louisville in batting average (.355), slugging percentage (.701) and home runs (20) in 2017 and was drafted 44th overall by the D-backs. He signed for just over $1.5 million. Ellis' pro debut at short-season Hillsboro started well, but he tailed off as he wore down following a long college season. Ellis generates plus power out of his athletic frame, but some scouts have questions about his balance and weight transfer, which leads to him getting out on his front foot and lunging too often. He often had a solid approach and managed at-bats well in college, but some of that backed up as he struggled in his pro debut. Viewed as a questionable third baseman defensively coming out of the draft, Ellis put some of those doubts to rest in pro ball. He lacks a certain amount of range and quickness but makes up for it with good hands, solid footwork, an above-average arm and a steady heartbeat that helps him slow the game down. Ellis struggled with wood bats in college summer leagues and did so again in his pro debut. He will seek a strong year from start to finish in 2018, perhaps at high Class A Visalia.

Draft Prospects

• Ranked #66 prospect in 2017 draft
  While Brendan McKay understandably was drawing the majority of attention for Louisville, as a hitter Ellis was matching McKay hit for hit and home run for home run. Ellis redshirted in his first year at Louisville as he wasn't going to crack the lineup. It took him a while in his redshirt freshman season to earn a starting job, but once he did, he made an immediate offensive impact as he showed bat speed and plus raw power, although from a very pull-heavy approach. Ellis struggled to hit for average last summer in the Northwoods League but did show power (11 home runs). In 2017, Ellis has learned to hit to the center field gaps more often, letting him continue to get to his power while improving his ability to hit for average. Scouts have raised concerns about Ellis' ability to recognize offspeed offerings and his power-oriented approach does involve a significant weight transfer/load, but he's shown the ability to time pitches and get into a good rhythm with his swing. Defensively, Ellis has bounced between first and third base for Louisville this year-he generally slid to third when McKay played first. He's stretched at third base due to limited range and a lack of first-step quickness, but he has an above-average arm and runs enough to have played left field at times the last two seasons. It's Ellis' bat and power that teams are drafting, potentially in the second round.

Minor League Top Prospects

• 
  Ranked Northwest League #7 prospect in 2017
  Ellis has spent much of his life in the baseball limelight, playing in the Little League World Series in 2008 and--most recently--playing in the College World Series with Louisville in June. Ellis surged up draft boards this spring after redshirting his freshman season and playing mostly off the bench in 2016. Building off of an 11-homer summer in the Northwoods League, Ellis seized Louisville's starting third-base job in 2017 and hit 20 home runs before the Diamondbacks Drafted him in the second round. Ellis' offensive numbers with Hillsboro didn't match his spring production, and fatigue may have played a part. Still, Ellis' plus raw power has always graded above his hit tool. His pull-oriented approach could preclude him from hitting for a high average long-term, but his power should play well at an infield corner. He has middle-of-the-order ceiling. Some evaluators have questioned Ellis' ability to stick at third base, but he showed well in the NWL. Hillsboro manager Shawn Roof said Ellis exhibits a "slow heartbeat" at third. He has enough of an arm for the position, and though he's not a quick-twitch athlete, he takes smart angles to the ball and rarely panics.

• July, 2021 Scouting Report
  A second-round pick in 2017, Ellis got into better shape this year, played a better third base and hit consistently at Triple-A Reno.
• July, 2018 Scouting Report
  Ellis is having a solid if unspectacular first full season, exhibiting a patient approach while routinely getting to his power in games. Still, scouts wonder about his bat, believing he could stand to be more aggressive and wondering if he’ll struggle against more advanced pitching. The organization is higher on his defense than most rival scouts, but the consensus is he’ll be at least a passable defender.