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Kyle Hubbuch Scouting Report, University of North Alabama — February, 2018


Full Name: Kyle Edward Hubbuch
DOB: January 4, 1996 (22)
Birthplace: Mount Juliet, TN
School: Wilson Central HS
Height, Weight: 6’1”, 225 lbs.
Position: 1B, 3B
Bats/Throws: L/R
Dates Observed: 2018 — February 2
Affiliate(s): University of North Alabama (NCAA Division II, Gulf South Conference)
Previous Coverage: None


Tool (PV/FV)
Notes & Comments
Hit (35/40)
Lots of pull-side power with natural orientation there to kill the ball, but also shows an encouraging feel for going the other way on occasion. Quick hands; quicker hands than you’d expect for a guy his size; ability to catch up to most anything hard over the plate with good pitch tracking and decent strike zone recognition. Will sell out for power and it ultimately limits his hit tool, increases strikeouts, etc., but that’s fine — power will be his carrying tool at the next level. Good patience keeps himself from getting too aggressive early in counts; will work deep and battle late with two strikes with little fear or need to press. Mature hitter, but far more of a power hitter than he is looking to make contact; will sell out to pull side power and sometimes get out of mature approach, hook balls, etc.

Power (50/55)
Puts on an exceptional power show in batting practice — to all fields, but particularly and consistently to his pull side. Great bat speed with lots of leverage in a very physical and large frame; quick twitch muscles with strong hands and wrists; ideal physicality for power with some clear ability to actualize it in batting practice and game situations. Ball jumps off his bat. Profiles well as a corner infield power hitter who could put up serious numbers if he adjusts well to the pro game. At the very least, one hell of a show to watch in BP if nothing else manifests.

Glove (40/45)
Listed primarily as a first baseman, but played third base in my looks; talented kid at third, and made for a nice surprise to see work there. Surprisingly good and agile defender on the infield; strong arm, very quick release with good internal clock tracking where runners are, etc.. Moves well laterally to the ball despite being a bigger, stronger, bulkier guy; nimble and quick on his feet with good reactions even if the raw foot speed isn’t there. Comes alive at third base, and could play it at least part-time as a pro.

Arm (40/45)
Strong, quick arm from third base; good internal clock with quick release to get the ball across the diamond quickly. Good velocity and carry on throws; short arm action with quick infielder arm swing in the back. Defensively, profiles well as a utility/platoon corner guy who can split some time between first base and third base, but undoubtedly has the arm for third (or the outfield if that ever becomes a possibility).

Speed (30/35)
Timed 4.41 from home to first in my look. Lacks foot speed and won’t steal bases, but he’s surprisingly nimble in the field and shows good clean footwork and great reactions on defense. Moves well laterally and a has a solid first step at third base. Will have to fight his body in the future as he ages; some work to do here to ensure footwork remains good and he keeps weight down with age as he’s naturally going to bulk up quite a bit. Underneath all that, there’s a very good athlete here.

Notes
Beast of a kid; a sloppy body type and he’ll have to work hard and fight not to put on some bad weight in a few years, but very powerful kid who can produce leverage and serious pop from the left side. Thick lower half — and yet surprisingly athletic and nimble in his footwork through it. Aggressive and intense; aggressive hitter who wants to hack and kill the ball; intense leader who is a gamer, competitor. Very positive clubhouse presence; former teammates rave about him as a a leader and one-of-a-kind teammate to play around.

MLB Draft
Really have to believe he’s an MLB Draft candidate for 2018; far and away the best and most projectable player for the University of North Alabama in my looks — middle of the order threat, decent speed with athleticism and agility even for a bigger dude with tree trunk legs. Has put together a nice career in college and should transition well into the program with a shot to jump from short-season to High-A in year two considering how advanced he is in his approach offensively.

OFP (45 FV)
Probably not enough with the glove or bat to earn a starting job in the big leagues one day, but power as a carrying tool could well push him into a utility/platoon role in the right scenario. Reminds me a bit of Colorado Rockies outfield prospect Daniel Jipping in that regard — power has a chance to be so good that it may well carry him tot he big leagues one day. Will be a stretch to get there, but power can’t be ignored, and he’s a far better athlete under the surface than you might give him credit for considering his size, body type, and history. Will be a nice small-school, late-round under-the-radar MLB Draft find for somebody this June. MLB ETA: 2021.

Kyle Hubbuch Scouting Report, University of North Alabama — Game Video

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Bobby DeMuro

Bobby DeMuro is the founder of Baseball Census, the author of We Is Blaze, (obviously) a fan of minor league baseball, and an unlikely expert on the animated classic TV show King Of The Hill. For more on Bobby and the personal, human side of this site, follow him on Twitter and Facebook: @BobbyDeMuro.

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