Scouting Report

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Scouting grades: Hit: 45 | Power: 55 | Run: 65 | Arm: 50 | Field: 50 | Overall: 50

Some intriguing outfielders have been drafted out of Palo Alto High School in northern California over the years, with one -- Joc Pederson -- making it to the big leagues. Bolte has the raw tools to be the next and showed off both his skills and the need for a lot of refinement over the course of the summer. 

In a class deep in high school outfielders like top-of-the-Draft considerations Druw Jones and Elijah Green, Bolte belongs in the conversation in terms of raw tools; they just don’t always show up in games. When he does make contact, there’s serious juice in his bat to all fields. He’s capable of making a ballpark look small with his easily plus raw power and the basepaths look short with his close to elite-level speed. His hit tool is the biggest question mark, as there’s been some swing-and-miss in the zone and a tendency to chase offspeed stuff out of it.

Bolte’s speed is an asset in the outfield as well and his average arm should play at the next level. He has a higher ceiling than just about anyone in his area and compares favorably upside-wise with other high schoolers in the class. Whether a team thinks his swing issues can be addressed will be a big determination in trying to sign him away from his commitment to the University of Texas.

Scouting grades: Hit: 45 | Power: 55 | Run: 65 | Arm: 50 | Field: 50 | Overall: 45

The A’s saw plenty of Bolte as an amateur playing just down the road at Palo Alto High School as he led the entire state of California with 13 homers as a senior. His assortment of raw tools led them to take a chance on him as a second-round pick in the 2022 Draft, going over slot with a $2 million bonus to move him off a commitment to the University of Texas. After the A’s kept him around the Minor League complex a few weeks post-Spring Training to work on his swing-and-miss in the top of the zone, he hit the ground running at Single-A Stockton. He spent his entire first full season there, hitting .257/.356/.421 with 14 homers, 17 doubles and 68 RBIs in 112 games.

The eye-popping raw power Bolte showed during batting practice at the Oakland Coliseum shortly after signing his pro contract has quickly appeared in the Minors. As with most young players, his overall offensive approach is still being refined. There is still some swing-and-miss he needs to cut down on, particularly on offspeed stuff out of the zone, though he did show signs of improvement as his first full year went along.

Bolte’s near-elite speed was on display as he swiped 32 bags. The run tool also helps on defense, which along with a strong arm, makes him a solid defender at all three outfield spots. The five-tool skillset gives him a very high ceiling as he looks to continue advancing levels.

Scouting grades: Hit: 45 | Power: 55 | Run: 65 | Arm: 50 | Field: 50 | Overall: 45

Leading the entire state of California with 13 home runs as a high school senior in addition to swiping 48 bases, Bolte’s raw tools caught the attention of the A’s, who selected the local kid with their second-round pick of the 2022 MLB Draft and went over slot value with a $2 million bonus to move him off a commitment to join the perennial baseball powerhouse at the University of Texas. He got his first taste of pro ball with 11 games in the Arizona Complex League.

The A’s got a good look at the serious raw power Bolte possesses when he suited up for a pregame workout with the team shortly after signing his contract and bashed several home runs at the Oakland Coliseum during batting practice. Aside from the eye-popping power, he does need some development with the bat, as he has a tendency to chase offspeed stuff out of the zone and even shows some swing-and-miss in the zone. 

Bolte’s near-elite speed is an asset both on the basepaths and on defense in the outfield, with an arm strong enough to play at the highest level. With his potential five-tool skillset and 6-foot-3, 195-pound frame drawing lofty comparisons to Blue Jays star George Springer, the A’s will get to work on cleaning up his swing.

Scouting grades: Hit: 45 | Power: 55 | Run: 65 | Arm: 50 | Field: 50 | Overall: 50

The 2022 Draft class was deep with high school outfielders, with Druw Jones and Elijah Green going in the top five of the first round. Bolte belonged in the conversation with both of those prep standouts in terms of his raw tools, one reason why the A’s took him from their own backyard in Northern California in the second round, giving him an over-slot bonus of $2 million to sign him away from his commitment to the University of Texas.

While Bolte can do everything well on the baseball field at times, his tools haven’t always shown up in games. When he does make contact, there’s serious juice to all fields in his bat. He’s capable of making a ballpark look small with his easily plus raw power and the basepaths look short with his close to elite-level speed. His hit tool is the biggest question mark, as there’s been some swing-and-miss in the zone and a tendency to chase offspeed stuff out of it.

Bolte’s speed is an asset in the outfield as well, and his average arm should play at the next level. He has a higher ceiling than just about anyone in his area and compares favorably upside-wise with other high schoolers in the class. The A’s will work with him on his swing issues, with Bolte having the chance to become the second outfielder from Palo Alto High School to reach the big leagues, following Joc Pederson.

Awards

Baseball America High Class A All-Star

Year	Team
2024

MID Post-Season All-Star

Year	Team
2024

MID Player of the Week

Week	Team
06/02/2024
05/19/2024

CAL Player of the Week

Week	Team
05/07/2023

Transactions

Team	Date	Transaction
	09/25/2024	RF Henry Bolte assigned to Mesa Solar Sox.
	07/01/2024	OF Henry Bolte assigned to Midland RockHounds from Lansing Lugnuts.
	03/31/2024	OF Henry Bolte assigned to Lansing Lugnuts from Stockton Ports.
	03/07/2024	Oakland Athletics Prospects activated OF Henry Bolte.
	03/04/2024	OF Henry Bolte assigned to Oakland Athletics.
	04/25/2023	OF Henry Bolte assigned to Stockton Ports from ACL Athletics.
	03/12/2023	OF Henry Bolte roster status changed by Oakland Athletics.
	03/12/2023	OF Henry Bolte roster status changed by Oakland Athletics.
	08/04/2022	ACL Athletics activated OF Henry Bolte.
	08/04/2022	OF Henry Bolte assigned to ACL Athletics.
	07/25/2022	Oakland Athletics signed OF Henry Bolte.
	06/06/2022	OF Henry Bolte assigned to College Workout.
	09/29/2021	Future Stars Series - Blue activated OF Henry Bolte.
	09/23/2021	OF Henry Bolte and assigned to National.