Can Victor Scott

[Talkin' Baseball]

Can Victor Scott become a league average hitter? It seems like for the first two months of the season he was a much more dynamic offensive player than what we saw the last four months. So, yes or no question number one- do you think he can make adjustments and become a league average hitter. Yes on no question number two- if he does become a league average hitter is that enough for you to plug him into CF and stop looking for a center fielder? If he doesn't become a league average hitter, what then?

[rockondlouie]

IF he can just get to a .330+ OB%, then he's going to be a huge asset w/his defense and base stealing.

But he's got a ways to go getting there.

Let's hope C. Bloom and his staff can get him to bunt more and hit down on the ball utilizing his speed to garner a couple dozen more hits a year.

[russellhammond]

1. No
2. The answer to question 1 obviates the need to answer question 2.

[NYCardsFan]

Can Victor Scott become a league average hitter? It seems like for the first two months of the season he was a much more dynamic offensive player than what we saw the last four months. So, yes or no question number one- do you think he can make adjustments and become a league average hitter. Yes on no question number two- if he does become a league average hitter is that enough for you to plug him into CF and stop looking for a center fielder? If he doesn't become a league average hitter, what then?

Following your requested format, I'm gonna go:

1. Yes (with the recipe being a higher BB%, more bunts (for hits), and a GB% closer to 50% (rather than 38%), which should work wonders for his BABIP)
2. Yes (for at least the near-term--a 100 wRC+ combined with further improvement in his defense would result in something like a >= 3 WAR player)
3. Continue looking for other options.

[TheFantasyStud]

I believe that the cardinals fastest way to success is to develop Scott and Walker. This is the Key. If they give up on them and trade them or ruin their development then we are toast. Some other team will unleash it and we will have a couple more Randy Arozorenas come and go.
Scott has such elite defense and speed that if the Cardinals can develop him as a hitter life he was in spring training and the first month of the season we will have centerfield locked down for years. Same goes for Walker, if Walker can hit 20-25 bombs and .250 next year as a 24 year old and then grow from there, RF will be locked down. Again, if the team can’t develop these two players it’s going to be a long time back to consistent relevance.

[Ozziesfan41]

Yes he can become a league average hitter and will and they will no longer need to look for another center fielder

[Talkin' Baseball]

I hope you all are right. I am rooting for him.

[NYCardsFan]

I hope you all are right. I am rooting for him.

I wouldn't say I'm highly confident in those answers. The other thing I neglected to mention: the 24% K% is too high for what he is. More balls in play, and a higher % on the ground, would make an outsized difference given his elite speed.

[Cusecards]

Obviously Scott needs to greatly improve his plate discipline:
*Stop chasing awful pitches out of the zone.
*Hit the ball on the ground!!! His great speed is of no help when you constantly pop the ball up!

I know....easier said than done and the previous comparisons to Willie Mays Hayes are spot on!
He could get a ton of IF hits.

[Talkin' Baseball]

I hope you all are right. I am rooting for him.

I wouldn't say I'm highly confident in those answers. The other thing I neglected to mention: the 24% K% is too high for what he is. More balls in play, and a higher % on the ground, would make an outsized difference given his elite speed.

Agreed. Those seem like very doable adjustments, and as you say, the difference would be outsized.

[alw80]

1. No
2. The answer to question 1 obviates the need to answer question 2.

this

[blackinkbiz]

Can Victor Scott become a league average hitter? It seems like for the first two months of the season he was a much more dynamic offensive player than what we saw the last four months. So, yes or no question number one- do you think he can make adjustments and become a league average hitter. Yes on no question number two- if he does become a league average hitter is that enough for you to plug him into CF and stop looking for a center fielder? If he doesn't become a league average hitter, what then?

All he has to do is learn how to lay down a decent bunt and he'd be a league-average CF for the next 5-8 years.

Also, just realized he had a baseballref 2.2WAR for 2025. Haha! Tied for 3rd best on the team. lol

[ramfandan]

Unsure .. the Cardinals drafted a 2nd rounder a couple years ago named Masyn Winn. He rose quickly and now is one of the best players on this roster.
A year ago the Cardinals drafted Ryan Mitchell in Round 2 ... Thought not a HS infielder , the Cardinals quickly announced him as CF.
Maybe he can become the long term future in the OF. He already is ranked as the No. 10 prospect in our system at just 18 yrs. old

https://www.mlb.com/milb/prospects/card ... ell-815829

[Hoosier59]

To me he has to want to be that type of hitter who just gets on base. He hasn’t shown that as of yet. He swings hard at everything and tries to pull the ball almost all the time. Ground balls to the 1st and 2nd basemen is not utilizing his speed.
It could be that he just needs to fail at the way he wants to do it in order for him to accept the way that is best for him! So far he's succeeding at that! If you watch him bunt, his technique is not very good. For the most part, to me, he’s just showing it, and not really serious about actually doing it for a hit.
So, for Victor, he has to want to increase his OB% by any means possible, otherwise, I think he’ll continue to fail.

[Talkin' Baseball]

To me he has to want to be that type of hitter who just gets on base. He hasn’t shown that as of yet. He swings hard at everything and tries to pull the ball almost all the time. Ground balls to the 1st and 2nd basemen is not utilizing his speed.
It could be that he just needs to fail at the way he wants to do it in order for him to accept the way that is best for him! So far he's succeeding at that! If you watch him bunt, his technique is not very good. For the most part, to me, he’s just showing it, and not really serious about actually doing it for a hit.
So, for Victor, he has to want to increase his OB% by any means possible, otherwise, I think he’ll continue to fail.

Agree. We'll see what the skills are, but the approach definitely needs improvement.

[dugoutrex]

will he ever hit as good as Bader ?