Scouting Report

Video scouting report »

Scouting grades: Hit: 55 | Power: 55 | Run: 55 | Arm: 40 | Field: 45 | Overall: 50

Waldschmidt was lightly recruited and scouted as a Florida high schooler because he injured his arm in a home-plate collision as a freshman catcher, could only DH as a sophomore and lost most of his junior season to the pandemic shutdown. He posted a 1.043 OPS in his first college season at the College of Charleston, then dipped to .872 in 2023 after transferring to Kentucky. He was off to a hot start in the Cape Cod League when he stepped in a hole making a throw from the outfield, blew out his left knee and required ACL surgery that limited him to DH duties in the first three weeks of this season. Since getting fully healthy, he has wowed scouts with his tools and performance while dazzling analysts with his metrics, pushing his way into the first round.

Few players in this Draft can match Waldschmidt's ability to make contact, avoid chasing pitches and produce high exit velocities. He has a very patient approach and a quick right-handed stroke that looks less uphill than it did in his first season with the Wildcats. He uses the entire field but also has an affinity for driving balls in the air to his pull side.

As Waldschmidt has gotten healthier, his run times have improved from fringy earlier in the season to solid with flashes of plus. The only real knock on him is that he's a subpar left fielder who looks tentative at times, though some evaluators wonder if his quickness should merit a look in center field at the next level. He played primarily third base at Charleston but his below-average arm doesn't fit at the hot corner.

Scouting grades: Hit: 55 | Power: 55 | Run: 55 | Arm: 40 | Field: 45 | Overall: 50

Waldschmidt was lightly recruited and scouted as a Florida high schooler because he injured his arm in a home-plate collision as a freshman catcher, could only DH as a sophomore and lost most of his junior season to the pandemic shutdown. He posted a 1.043 OPS in his first college season at the College of Charleston, then dipped to .872 in 2023 after transferring to Kentucky. He was off to a hot start in the Cape Cod League when he stepped in a hole making a throw from the outfield, blew out his left knee and required ACL surgery that limited him to DH duties in the first three weeks of this season. After getting fully healthy, he wowed scouts with his tools and performance while dazzling analysts with his metrics. Arizona selected him with the 31st overall pick -- the selection they earned as a reward for Corbin Carroll’s Rookie of the Year win -- and signed him for slot value at $2,904,000.

Few players in this year’s Draft matched Waldschmidt's ability to make contact, avoid chasing pitches and produce high exit velocities. He has a very patient approach and a quick right-handed stroke that looks less uphill than it did in his first season with the Wildcats. He uses the entire field but also has an affinity for driving balls in the air to his pull side.

As Waldschmidt got healthier, his run times improved from fringy earlier in the season to solid with flashes of plus. The only real knock on him is that he's a subpar left fielder who looks tentative at times, though some evaluators wonder if his quickness should merit a look in center field at the next level. Arizona officials said after the Draft they feel comfortable Waldschmidt could play any of the three spots on the grass at the next level.

Transactions

Team	Date	Transaction
	08/29/2024	Visalia Rawhide placed OF Ryan Waldschmidt on the 7-day injured list.
	08/06/2024	OF Ryan Waldschmidt assigned to Visalia Rawhide from ACL D-backs.
	08/05/2024	OF Ryan Waldschmidt assigned to ACL D-backs.
	07/22/2024	Arizona Diamondbacks signed OF Ryan Waldschmidt.
	06/16/2024	College Workout activated OF Ryan Waldschmidt.
	02/22/2024	College Workout activated OF Ryan Waldschmidt.
	02/22/2024	OF Ryan Waldschmidt assigned to College Workout.
	06/08/2023	OF Ryan Waldschmidt assigned to College Workout.