Vance Honeycutt Stats & Scouting Report

AB	51
AVG	.176
OBP	.25
SLG	.196
HR	0

Full name Robert Vance Honeycutt
Born 05/17/2003 in Salisbury, NC
Profile Ht.: 6'3" / Wt.: 190 / Bats: R / Throws: R
School North Carolina
Drafted in the 1st round (22nd overall) by the Baltimore Orioles in 2024 (signed for $4,000,000).

View Draft Report

School: North Carolina
Commit/Drafted: Giants ’21 (20)
Age At Draft: 21.2
BA Grade: 55/Extreme
Tools: Hit: 40. Power: 55. Run: 65. Field: 70. Arm: 60.

Honeycutt was a relatively under-the-radar player when he got to campus at North Carolina in 2022, but he quickly made a name for himself after hitting 25 home runs and stealing 29 bases as a freshman. Three years later, Honeycutt stands as UNC’s all-time home run leader with 61 deep flies. In 2024, he became the first Division I player to hit more than 60 homers and steal more than 70 bases in a career. Pair that power-speed combination with Honeycutt’s excellent athleticism and defensive prowess in center field and you have one of the most dynamic and high-upside players in the class. The fact that a 6-foot-3, 205-pound center fielder with his physical tools and production in the Atlantic Coast Conference isn’t viewed at the very top of the class speaks to the questions present in his offensive profile. Honeycutt has oscillated between a highly productive hitter with loads of strikeouts and one who can reign in the whiffs but at the cost of his power output. He hit over .300 for the first time in his career in 2024, though that came with a 28% strikeout rate. He has significant contact questions, particularly against secondary stuff. Honeycutt’s at-bats lead scouts to wonder about his pitch recognition at times, but he’s as capable as anyone of hammering a mistake pitch out of the park to left field or right-center. Honeycutt comes with real risk but should have enough potential to dream on to earn a first-round selection.

Top Rankings

Organization Prospect Rankings

BA Grade/Risk: 55/Extreme.

Track Record: Honeycutt had a decorated college career at North Carolina—he was a two-time Atlantic Coast Conference defensive player of the year and the first Power Five-conference player with at least 60 home runs and 70 steals in his career—helping him become a top name in the 2024 draft. On draft day, he fell to 22nd overall, where Baltimore signed him for an over-slot $4 million deal after he fell because of concerns over his contact ability, which showed up during his brief pro debut after signing. Honeycutt struck out nearly 43% of the time in his 13-game pro debut.

Scouting Report: Honeycutt’s athleticism and raw power are most attractive at this point, given his potential to impact a game in center field with elite defense and on the bases, in addition to his potential above-average power. The Orioles also feel confident about his ability to recognize pitches and control the strike zone. They have been encouraged by his willingness to address some of his movement patterns and swing traits to improve his path to and through the ball to make more consistent contact. If he’s able to better use his lower body and be more consistent with the positions he gets into before he makes contact, he could develop fringe-average bat-to-ball skills, which would allow him to better access his power in games.

The Future: While a full year of pro ball with such swing changes taking place could be a near-term challenge, the upside of an all-star-caliber player who impacts the game in every facet is worth it. That’s Honeycutt’s ceiling, though his ability to reach it rests almost entirely on his ability to make enough contact in the majors. Honeycutt will begin at High-A Aberdeen for his full-season debut in 2025.

Scouting Grades: Hit: 40 | Power: 55 | Run: 65 | Field: 70 | Arm: 60.

Draft Prospects

School: North Carolina Commit/Drafted: Giants ’21 (20)
Age At Draft: 21.2
BA Grade: 55/Extreme
Tools: Hit: 40. Power: 55. Run: 65. Field: 70. Arm: 60.

Honeycutt was a relatively under-the-radar player when he got to campus at North Carolina in 2022, but he quickly made a name for himself after hitting 25 home runs and stealing 29 bases as a freshman. Three years later, Honeycutt stands as UNC’s all-time home run leader with 61 deep flies. In 2024, he became the first Division I player to hit more than 60 homers and steal more than 70 bases in a career. Pair that power-speed combination with Honeycutt’s excellent athleticism and defensive prowess in center field and you have one of the most dynamic and high-upside players in the class. The fact that a 6-foot-3, 205-pound center fielder with his physical tools and production in the Atlantic Coast Conference isn’t viewed at the very top of the class speaks to the questions present in his offensive profile. Honeycutt has oscillated between a highly productive hitter with loads of strikeouts and one who can reign in the whiffs but at the cost of his power output. He hit over .300 for the first time in his career in 2024, though that came with a 28% strikeout rate. He has significant contact questions, particularly against secondary stuff. Honeycutt’s at-bats lead scouts to wonder about his pitch recognition at times, but he’s as capable as anyone of hammering a mistake pitch out of the park to left field or right-center. Honeycutt comes with real risk but should have enough potential to dream on to earn a first-round selection.