Taylor Sparks Stats & Scouting Report — College Baseball, MLB Draft, Prospects

AB	1802
AVG	.219
OBP	.293
SLG	.392
HR	65

Full name Taylor Sparks
Born 04/03/1993 in La Palma, CA
Profile Ht.: 6'4" / Wt.: 200 / Bats: R / Throws: R
School UC Irvine
Drafted in the 2nd round (58th overall) by the Cincinnati Reds in 2014 (signed for $972,800).

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Sparks, whose father Don was a fifth-round pick of the Yankees in 1988 and played nine seasons in pro ball, is a physical specimen at 6-foot-4, 215 pounds. He's also a standout athlete who starred as a football wide receiver in high school; UCI coach Mike Gillespie calls him "a freak" who has the agility of a gymnast at third base, where the coach insists he has big league gold glove potential. Scouts have no problem projecting him as a 55 or 60 defender at the hot corner, with a 60 arm. He's even a 55 runner and flashes 60 speed underway. Sparks also tantalizes with easy plus raw power from the right side, though cavernous Anteater Ballpark stifles home run production. He's a streaky hitter who can be an offensive force when he's locked in, but look completely lost at the plate other times. His strikeout-walk ratio was alarming over his first two seasons (nearly 5-to-1), but he has shown considerably more patience as a junior, though his swing-and-miss tendencies remain a concern. His bat remains a major risk, but his raw tools give him plenty of upside.

Top Rankings

Organization Prospect Rankings

The last time the Reds drafted a college player with Sparks' combination of plus power, plus defense, plus speed and well below-average feel to hit was first-round Texas outfielder Drew Stubbs in 2006. While Stubbs' hit tool never developed, his speed, defense and power allowed him to be a big league regular anyway. The Reds have similar hopes for Sparks. Four of his tools grade as above-average, but his overall profile suffers from a struggle to make consistent contact. He generates excellent power, but his two-piece swing rises through the zone on an uppercut, making it hard to hit all pitch types and leading to a 33 percent strikeout rate at high Class A Daytona in 2015. He struggles to recognize breaking balls, especially against righthanders. Sparks has some of the best power in the organization. His raw power grades as double-plus and could play as average. Sparks has the tools to be a plus defender at third base with outstanding range and agility and an above-average arm. Some evaluators believe Sparks could play shortstop and center field because he has a quick first step and above-average speed--but he has to become more reliable. He led Florida State League third basemen with 36 errors in 2015, with 23 coming via inaccurate throws. If Sparks can hit .240, he could be an everyday regular, but he heads to Double-A Pensacola in 2016 with a lot of work to do.
A 2014 second-rounder who helped UC Irvine reach the College World Series, Sparks is an outstanding athlete who plays a well above-average third base, with excellent range, outstanding body control, a quick first step and a strong arm. He's an above-average runner has plus raw power. If he could develop even an average hit tool, he could end up as an above-average big league regular. Sparks, whose father Don played nine seasons in pro ball, falls short of profiling as even an average hitter because his swing is not conducive to making consistent contact. He struck out 154 times in 2014 between college and pro ball. His other tools will earn him playing time, starting at low Class A Dayton in 2015, to correct his flaw.

Draft Prospects

Sparks, whose father Don was a fifth-round pick of the Yankees in 1988 and played nine seasons in pro ball, is a physical specimen at 6-foot-4, 215 pounds. He's also a standout athlete who starred as a football wide receiver in high school; UCI coach Mike Gillespie calls him "a freak" who has the agility of a gymnast at third base, where the coach insists he has big league gold glove potential. Scouts have no problem projecting him as a 55 or 60 defender at the hot corner, with a 60 arm. He's even a 55 runner and flashes 60 speed underway. Sparks also tantalizes with easy plus raw power from the right side, though cavernous Anteater Ballpark stifles home run production. He's a streaky hitter who can be an offensive force when he's locked in, but look completely lost at the plate other times. His strikeout-walk ratio was alarming over his first two seasons (nearly 5-to-1), but he has shown considerably more patience as a junior, though his swing-and-miss tendencies remain a concern. His bat remains a major risk, but his raw tools give him plenty of upside.

Minor League Top Prospects

Sparks wrapped up his college career by helping UC Irvine to a berth in the 2014 College World Series, then signed with the Reds for $972,800 and earned a ring in his first pro season with Billings. He possesses an interesting mix of power and athleticism, with the potential to be an above-average defender at third base. At various points, Sparks has demonstrated feel for the barrel and plus raw power, but he's also a free-swinger with a two-piece swing who struck out in 35 percent of his plate appearances as a pro after doing so in 28 percent of his at-bats for the Anteaters in the spring. His walk rate jumped in pro ball as well. Sparks has above-average speed for his size and is an instinctive baserunner. He's agile at third base and has at least an average arm. He has to make more contact at higher levels for his tools to play more consistently.