Hunter Bishop, OF
DOB: 6/25/1998
BATS: L  /  THROWS: R
ACQUIRED: Drafted 2019, 1st Round
LAST LEVEL: High-A
VOLATILITY: Extreme

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GiantFutures 2023 Ranks: #33 Overall, #5 Corner Outfielder

2022 Performance: Hunter Bishop finally had his healthiest season yet, though not a healthy season, but it didn’t turn into the breakout that had been hoped for.  

Bishop finished the season with a batting line of .235/.320/.406 through 85 games in High-A.  Bishop had played only a total of 48 games between 2019 and 2021 before the season, with just 16 played in 2021.  He had 13 home runs, along with 11 doubles and two triples, with 20 steals in 22 attempts.

Defensively, Bishop played most of his games (38) in center field, with another 29 games in right field.  He also had two games in left field, as well as 18 games at designated hitter.

Strengths and Weaknesses: Hunter’s best raw asset is his athleticism, allowing him to play all over the outfield, although his average arm is not ideal for right field.  There were some questions about him playing with full effort in every game, but he has the tools to play in center.  The athleticism also helped him on the basepaths, as he collected 20 steals despite playing in just 85 games at Eugene and not hitting well.

As a hitter, there remain a lot of questions.  Bishop’s power was evident even in a little more than half a season, as he had 26 extra-base hits, with 13 of them being home runs, as he was still recovering from the shoulder problem that cost him all of 2021.  However, his contact hitting remained a question, as it had been back to when he was drafted in 2019.

2023 Outlook: Now 24, the team may want to push Bishop by pushing him up to Richmond to start 2023, but there’s an equal chance he may start his third season at Eugene as he tries to prove himself.

Future Profile: Bishop had all the tools to be a strong outfielder with a low-average, high-power, defense-plus profile that could handle center field, and even right field with a subpar arm, but it’s looking less and less likely he’ll ever make it to his ceiling.  His defense and athleticism could still make him a useful bench player.