Logan Wyatt, 1B
DOB: November 15, 1997
BATS: L / THROWS: R
ACQUIRED: Drafted 2nd Round (#51), 2019
LAST LEVEL: Low-A
VOLATILITY: Medium
GiantFutures Ranks: #1 First Base
Performance: After getting drafted in 2019, Wyatt didn’t get a lot of opportunities to show what he had, as he moved quickly through the low end of the Giant minor league system. He got seven games in the Arizona League, where he looked a class above, got three weeks at Salem-Keizer where he put up respectable numbers, and then three weeks at Low-A Augusta where he struggled a little.
Throughout it, Wyatt showed his skill of his batting approach, putting up a .368 OBP even as he struggled in Augusta, and having a .388 OBP throughout his first season. He only picked up three home runs in 44 games, but it’s encouraging that they weren’t hit against the kids in the Arizona League. It’s more concerning that he only had six doubles in that time.
Strengths and Weaknesses: The comment you will keep hearing about Wyatt is that he knows the strike zone better than the umpires, and it’s only slightly hyperbole. He ranked third in NCAA Division I baseball in walks for his two seasons as a starter, and nearly had as many walks as strikeouts in the pros. It helps his hitting in that he won’t offer at many bad pitches, though that leads to his biggest weakness.
The knock on Wyatt is his lack of power, despite his 6’4”, 230 lb frame having a ton of power potential. That comes among criticism that his good batting eye has made him a bit passive at the plate, and he isn’t attacking pitches that he could or should hit. He did struggle with ground balls in his debut, particularly in Augusta, and will need to get more balls into the air or as line drives. He may not be a prototypical slugging first baseman, but he should have a lot of doubles in his bat.
His defense at first is solid, as he has soft hands, but has less range than is ideal. Before he was drafted, some scouts thought he could have enough athleticism to play left field
2021 Outlook: Wyatt had been on track to start in Low-A in 2020, and his struggles with power and getting the ball in the air probably means he’ll start in Low-A at San Jose. That could help him get a boost for his power, as the California League is a solid offensive league, even with Lancaster being removed, as opposed to the wet air in the Northwest League. However, the Giants indicated he might be on a fast track with his 2019 movement, and could see a promotion quickly if he looks good at the start of the year.
Future Profile: There might have been that buzzword “versatility” talking about Wyatt playing in left field, but Wyatt’s future with the Giants will more likely be at first base as the successor to Brandon Belt. For now, Wyatt doesn’t have a ton of competition at the spot in terms of other first base prospects, but he might face more competition if Buster Posey moves there for the later years of his career, or if the Giants are serious about platooning top catching prospects Joey Bart and Patrick Bailey at first base.
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