Coming out of the 2019 first-year player draft Brett Baty was labeled as one of the best pure hitters across the board. The 19-year-old from Austin, Texas, declined his offer to play at the collegiate level after being taken off the draft board day number one by the New York Mets. Scouts knew that the 12th overall draft pick had the hitting tools but often questioned his age and fielding abilities.

“Originally, most scouts believed that Baty was destined for a transition to first base in pro ball because of his below-average footwork, suspect hands, and a plus throwing arm that had strength but was erratic with a slow exchange.” – Baseball America.

Baty’s first year as a Met showed promise, playing at three different levels of professional ball. At the time, the 20-year-old slashed .234/.367/.452 with an OPS of .821. While the numbers aren’t eye-popping, Baty was still able to manage 25 extra-base hits, 33 RBI’s, 35 walks, and 37 runs in the matter of 51 games played. What concerned scouts and fans the most, though, was his 65 strikeouts.

Baty ended his 2019 season with New York Penn League champion Brooklyn Cyclones, knowing he needed to do some work. With COVID-19 throwing a wrench into the MiLB season, Baty was given more time to better his approach and fill out his 6’3” frame. This added time and extra work at the alternate site with high velo level arms gave him that competitive advantage he desperately needed going into 2021.

Baty returned to the Cyclones this year as a High-A player after the realignment of the MiLB system. Scouts and coaches were highly impressed with the amount of muscle he gained along with improvement to his footwork and defense. Fans knew he had the power, but the real question was could he put more balls in play this year at a higher level of baseball?

Wasting no time, he came out of the gate blasting baseballs to all fields, looking like a transformed hitter. His approach was simplified, and he learned the strike zone at an elite level, allowing him to get the pitches he wanted to hit. In May, Baty slashed an impressive .317/.429/.397 with an OPS of .825 and only 19 strikeouts. A very drastic improvement since fans had last seen him. Baty credited his massive improvement to his patience at the plate and ability to stay on his back leg and drive the baseball.

While Baty was fantastic in his first month of High-A, his month of June is coming together even better. In the first four games against the Blue Claws, Baty is making a serious case for a promotion to Binghamton. In his 15 at-bats during the series, Brett hit 9-for-15 with two doubles, three home runs, nine RBI’s, and only two strikeouts. In addition, Baty showed his incredible power to all fields by driving two of his homers to the opposite field and one to the pull side, all going well over 350 feet apiece.

Since being drafted, scouts have questioned Baty’s abilities to perform at higher-level play. However, as we watch him in 2021, that is clearly not the case. Brett has undoubtedly proved that he has the capability to be an impact hitter at the MLB level one day. In High-A, Baty currently sits first in AVG (.372), first in OBP (.468), second in OPS (1.045) and second in RBI’s (26). He certainly has more work to do at the minor league level, but a well-earned promotion is coming sooner rather than later. It won’t be long till fans see Baty in Queens if he keeps going at this rate.