D.J. Artis

A third-team BA All-American in 2017, Artis has been a steady three-year starter for Liberty with a strong college track record of hitting. A 40th-round draftee of the Red Sox out of high school, Artis is a no-doubt center fielder with plus speed, albeit fringy lefthanded arm strength. Scouts are more divided on Artis' offensive approach. The small-framed, 5-foot-11, 195-pound lefthanded hitter crouches unusually low at the plate, shrinking his strike zone. He pairs the stance with a noticeably passive approach, which has been effective at the college level. He led the country with a program-record 62 walks last season and placed second nationally with a .532 on-base percentage. This spring, he's slashed .305/.464/.489 through 190 at-bats. Despite his statistical track record, some evaluators are skeptical his approach will play at the next level. Artis has several moving parts in his swing, and his hit tool ranks over his mostly gap power. He has bat speed, but he could require some tweaking to fully unlock his offensive potential. However, with his speed and defensive ability, as well as his advanced plate discipline, Artis profiles as a speedy leadoff type with a fourth-outfielder floor.