Draft Prospects You Should Know: Kyren Paris

When you have the No. 3 overall pick, it’s never too soon to take a quick peek into this year’s MLB draft. This year’s draft class is loaded with excellent hitting prospects, but is relatively weak on the pitching side.

Draft Prospects You Should Know is a new series that features prospects who the White Sox could pursue in this year’s draft. As the June draft nears, we’ll return to many of these athletes and provide updates on whether their stocks are rising (or falling).

Age listed as of Day One of the Draft (June 3).

Kyren Paris

Freedom (Calif.) H.S.
Shortstop
Age 17
Bats Right
Throws Right

Rankings

Baseball America 73
MLB 75
FanGraphs 44

Kyren Paris will be one of the smallest prospects in this year’s draft, at 5´11´´, 165 pounds. According to PerfectGame, he runs the 60-yard-dash at an impressive 6.82 seconds. He’s got quick feet and has lots of range to both sides, and he puts himself in good throwing position with active footwork and good angles to the baseball. Scouts are presently split as to whether or not Paris will stick at short because of his average arm. These are his offensive stats through May 2, 2019:

16 G, 63 PA, 51 AB, .333/.429/.470, 3 2B, 2 3B, 0 HR, 8 BB, 12 K, 10 SB

Paris doesn’t have much power in his smaller frame, but has a quick, level bat with fast hands, a solid eye at the plate, and solid bat-to-bat skills. He is given a 55 grade for arm, run and fielding; lesser marks are given for hit (50) and power (40) by MLB Pipeline. He is verbally committed to the University of California.

Due to his strengths and other characteristics (defense, contact abilities, size, speed, native of California, commitment to Pac-12 school) and weaknesses (minimal power), his closest White Sox comp is Nick Madrigal. With that said, Madrigal was more polished at this age than Paris. The three major prospect sites listed above all have Paris ranked before the White Sox make their third-round selection at No. 81. Would the White Sox select him with their second pick (No. 45)? Perhaps, but doubtful considering he’s a prep prospect. However, even with that, the White Sox may take another look at him with their third pick if he’s still available, due to his athletic and fielding abilities.

Here’s a video of Paris in last year’s Perfect Game National Showcase in Tampa, courtesy of 2080 Baseball:

Previously, on Draft Prospects You Should Know

C.J. Abrams, Blessed Trinity (Ga.) H.S. SS
Hunter Bishop, Arizona State University OF
Cameron Cannon, University of Arizona 2B/3B
Matt Cronin, University of Arkansas LHRP
Tyler Dyson, University of Florida RHSP
Daniel Espino, Georgia Premier Academy RHSP
Dominic Fletcher, University of Arkansas OF
Jonathan French, Parkview (Ga.) H.S. C
Ethan Hearn, Mobile Christian (Ala.) H.S. C
Rece Hinds, IMG Baseball Academy (Fla.) 3B
Jason Hodges, Marist (Ill.) H.S. OF-1B
Will Holland, Auburn University SS
Seth Johnson, University of Oregon RHSP
Jack Leiter, Delbarton (N.J.) H.S. RHSP
Erik Miller, Stanford University LHSP
Chris Newell, Malvern (Pa.) Prep H.S. OF
Quinn Priester, Cary-Grove (Ill.) H.S. RHSP
Adley Rutschman, Oregon State University C
Landon Sims, South Forsyth (Ga.) H.S., RHSP
Andrew Vaughn, University of California, 1B
Matt Wallner, Southern Miss University OF
Kenyon Yovan, University of Oregon RHSP
Ryan Zeferjahn, University of Kansas RHSP