Vance
Honeycutt

Last week college baseball’s best defensive outfielder became the first player in Tar Heel history to hit 50 home runs and steal 50 bases for his career. He’s also the first in ACC history to hit 50 and steal 60. It’s a dynamic power/speed/defense skill set that is led by his future MLB Gold Glove type ability. Honeycutt covers gap to gap with ease using his 70-grade run speed, elite first step and instinctive routes. In the batter’s box he’s maintained around a .300 batting average all spring. It's an unorthodox swing that is engaged with a hand drop load and then unleashed forward into a grooved swing path. It’s this lack of flexibility that has led to a 28% strikeout rate this season on top of 20.4% last season and 29.7% as a freshman. However, when the right handed hitter does connect, his crazy natural strength allows him to big fly any part of the field. He miss-hits balls 400’. Despite an unmanageable strikeout rate that doesn’t project to hit for much average at the next level, Honeycutt’s package of tools and skills is too great to get past the top 25 picks. He will be selected towards the end of the first round even though history is against his chances of hitting enough for average to become an everyday Major Leaguer. A couple similar college outfield prospects in recent drafts would include Hunter Bishop (Arizona State) and Jud Fabian (Florida). Fabian was a plus defender (albeit not plus-plus like Honeycutt) with similar power and a college career 24% strikeout rate. He batted .176 with a 37.4% strikeout rate last season in Double-A as a 24 year-old.

USA CNT TRIALS: More than held his own as a first year starter for the Tar Heels this spring, mashing 25 taters and getting on base at a .409 clip, and looked at home with the rest of the potential USA Collegiate National Team talents at trials. In addition to being a top-tier power producer, he’s a talented defender and a speedy, heady baserunner, grabbing extra bases when the opportunities arose during the Stars/Stripes series. Honeycutt needs to tighten his approach some and cut down on empty swings, but is already showing impact potential and should have an inside track for selection on next year’s National Team.

Positional Profile: SS/2B. Lots of projection left.  Bat should play early at the next level.
Body: 6’2”, 180 pounds. Long, athletic frame.
Defense:  Smooth actions playing with rhythm. Soft hands with quick exhcanges.
Arm: R. INF - 78 mph. Short arm action with feel for different angles.
Hit: RHH. Athletic setup. Small hand load with a short stride. Short stroke with quick hands. Line drive approach to all fields with barrel snap throuh the zone.
Power: 89 mph exit velocity from the tee.  Lots of barrel feel with above average bat speed.
Run: 3.73 runner in the 30. 

6 foot, 160-pound build.  Hits from the right side using a balanced setup.  Small hand load with a short stride.  Fluid swing with a short barrel path to the ball.  Works gap to gap with a line drive approach.  Some quickness to the hands with a level bat path through the zone.  Average bat speed with his exit velocity recorded at 86 mph.  Plays comfortable on the infield with rhythm to his feet and hands.  Above average hands with clean exchanges, and short arm action, throwing from a high ¾ slot.  Accurate arm with carry that peaked at 81 mph.  Recorded a 3.91 in the 30-yard dash and 4.49 in the 5-10-5.