Scouting Report

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Scouting grades: Hit: 55 | Power: 55 | Run: 55 | Arm: 50 | Field: 50 | Overall: 55

A relatively unheralded prospect coming out of the Tennessee high school ranks, Cross served notice he might be a college bat worth tracking when he hit .369 in 16 games during his shortened 2020 freshman season. He jumped onto the must-watch radar with a 1.035 OPS in 2021, landing on the All-ACC First Team in the process, and he was arguably the best hitter in competition with USA Baseball over the summer before continuing to rake for the Hokies this spring.

A left-hander at the plate, Cross does have the chance to be an above-average hitter with above-average power. Some evaluators have some concern about his contact rates and strike zone control, though he’s greatly improved his walk rate and cut down on the strikeouts this season while driving the ball consistently. A tick-above-solid runner, he’s played center field this spring, but is better suited for a corner outfield spot. He’s also seen time at first base and could be an outstanding defender there. 

Cross’ improved approach at the plate has helped Virginia Tech be one of the surprises of the college season. There are several Hokies who have the chance to go in the top five rounds and Cross is almost certain to become the first Virginia Tech hitter to go in the first round since the Dodgers took Franklin Stubbs in 1982.

Scouting grades: Hit: 45 | Power: 55 | Run: 55 | Arm: 55 | Field: 50 | Overall: 45

Cross hit the ground running when he went to Virginia Tech in 2020 and kept producing for the Hokies over his college career. In the summer of 2021, he was a standout on the USA Baseball squad, and the next year, the Royals made him the No. 9 overall pick in '22. Cross did nothing but produce in his first taste of pro ball after the Draft, but the 2023 season was the exact opposite. He slashed .206/.300/.383 at High-A Quad Cities with 12 homers and a 27.8 percent strikeout rate. He was promoted to Double-A in early August but lasted just two games before falling ill, and that illness seemed to zap his strength and ended his season. He returned for instructional league action in the fall and eight games in the Arizona Fall League, but he was slowed by a hamstring injury.

Cross made a name for himself in the ACC because of his command of the strike zone and above-average power to all fields. But his plate discipline vastly diminished in High-A, and he sold out for power too much. When he’s right, he has the tools to hit for average and power, and he made mechanical adjustments in the instructional league, like getting his direction aligned when he’s in his stance to try to get back to his smooth, left-handed swing. That’s allowed him to stay in the middle of the field with loft instead of hooking ground balls. Cross has average speed, but he’s aggressive on the bases and not afraid to swipe a bag. His range and reads help his play in center field, although he has good enough arm strength to move to right.

It’s hard to tell what kind of hitter Cross will be in pro ball after the lost ‘23 season, so this is an important campaign for the 23-year-old. How he bounces back, and if he gets back to his old self, will determine if he remains on track as a future star of the organization.

Scouting grades: Hit: 45 | Power: 55 | Run: 55 | Arm: 55 | Field: 50 | Overall: 45

The son of former Minor Leaguer Adam Cross, Gavin Cross put himself on the scouting map by hitting .369 over 16 games as a Virginia Tech freshman in the shortened 2020 spring. He continued to perform with the Hokies and was arguably the best hitter on the USA Baseball squad in the summer of 2021, leading the Royals to take him ninth overall last July. After signing for full slot at $5,202,900, Cross was too advanced for his late-season assignment to Single-A Columbia, where he hit .293/.423/.596 with seven homers in 26 games.

Batting from the left side, the two-time All-ACC first-teamer has opened up his stance since his high-school days, allowing him to elevate balls better and take advantage of his solid bat control. The result has been above-average power potential. However, his K rate crept up to 25.2 percent in Single-A, and it has stayed high with High-A Quad Cities in his first full season, calling into question his ability to hit for average in the pro ranks.

Cross has slightly above-average speed, and the Royals have hopes that his range will allow him to stay in center field. He began his career on campus in right field and might eventually move back if he finds himself next to a teammate with more wheels to burn. His overall offensive profile should still fit in a corner, though he’ll need to turn things around in the box to make that the case after his slow Midwest League start.

Scouting grades: Hit: 55 | Power: 55 | Run: 55 | Arm: 50 | Field: 50 | Overall: 55

A relatively unheralded prospect coming out of the Tennessee high school ranks, Cross served notice he might be a college bat worth tracking when he hit .369 in 16 games during his shortened 2020 freshman season. He jumped onto the must-watch radar with a 1.035 OPS in 2021, landing on the All-ACC First Team in the process, and he was arguably the best hitter in competition with USA Baseball over the summer before continuing to rake for the Hokies this spring. That was enough for Kansas City to select him ninth overall and sign him for full slot at $5,202,900.

A left-hander at the plate, Cross does have the chance to be an above-average hitter with above-average power. Some evaluators have concerns about his contact rates and strike zone control, though he’s greatly improved his walk rate and cut down on the strikeouts this season while driving the ball consistently. A tick-above-solid runner, he’s played center field this spring, but is better suited for a corner outfield spot. He’s also seen time at first base and could be an outstanding defender there. 

Cross’ improved approach at the plate helped Virginia Tech become one of the surprises of the college season. His broad set of skills should help him plug right into pro ball without too many hiccups, and he could be pushed further by a successful Royals Minor League hitting program.

Awards

Futures Game Selection

Year	Team
2024

MID Player of the Week

Week	Team
05/21/2023

Transactions

Team	Date	Transaction
	09/24/2024	Northwest Arkansas Naturals activated RF Gavin Cross from the 7-day injured list.
	09/02/2024	Northwest Arkansas Naturals placed OF Gavin Cross on the 7-day injured list.
	07/14/2024	American League Futures activated OF Gavin Cross.
	06/11/2024	Northwest Arkansas Naturals activated OF Gavin Cross from the 7-day injured list.
	06/04/2024	Northwest Arkansas Naturals placed OF Gavin Cross on the 7-day injured list.
	03/07/2024	Kansas City Royals Prospects activated OF Gavin Cross.
	02/27/2024	OF Gavin Cross assigned to Kansas City Royals.
	09/22/2023	Surprise Saguaros activated OF Gavin Cross from the 7-day injured list.
	09/18/2023	Northwest Arkansas Naturals activated OF Gavin Cross from the 7-day injured list.
	09/18/2023	Northwest Arkansas Naturals activated OF Gavin Cross from the 7-day injured list.
	08/15/2023	Northwest Arkansas Naturals placed OF Gavin Cross on the 7-day injured list.
	08/08/2023	OF Gavin Cross assigned to Northwest Arkansas Naturals from Quad Cities River Bandits.
	08/08/2023	Northwest Arkansas Naturals activated OF Gavin Cross.
	04/05/2023	OF Gavin Cross assigned to Quad Cities River Bandits from Columbia Fireflies.
	03/04/2023	OF Gavin Cross assigned to Kansas City Royals.
	03/04/2023	OF Gavin Cross roster status changed by Kansas City Royals.
	08/09/2022	OF Gavin Cross assigned to Columbia Fireflies from ACL Royals.
	08/09/2022	Columbia Fireflies activated OF Gavin Cross.
	08/04/2022	OF Gavin Cross assigned to ACL Royals.
	07/23/2022	Kansas City Royals signed OF Gavin Cross.
	06/11/2022	OF Gavin Cross assigned to College Workout.
	04/15/2022	OF Gavin Cross assigned to Virginia Tech Hokies.
	04/15/2022	OF Gavin Cross, and assigned to Virginia Tech Hokies.