Scouting Report

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

Casey Saucke Sr. spent two years playing in the O's organization as a utility player. His son, who was the New York Gatorade Player of the Year in 2021 in Rochester, N.Y., before heading to the University of Virginia, has the chance to be better player than he was. He jumped on the stage when he posted an OPS north of 1.000 as a freshman, but he scuffled through his sophomore season, struggles which continued when he hit just .185 in the Cape Cod League. To his credit, he’s looked much more like the freshman version of himself this spring, reinvigorating his Draft stock.

There are those who feel Saucke is the best position player on a talented Hoos roster currently. The 6-foot-3 right-handed hitter has good bat speed with the chance to drive the ball to all fields. He’s cut down both his miss and chase rates compared to his time on the Cape, and his ability to do damage in hitter’s counts has helped him tap into his extra-base authority. There could be more power to come as he matures.

An infielder in high school, Saucke has made right field his home at Virginia, with a strong arm that fits well there. A solid runner, there are some who feel he could handle center field, which could raise his profile. Virginia hitters often find more pop once they get into pro ball and a team that thinks there’s more in the offensive tank for Saucke will consider him in the first few rounds.

Scouting grades: Hit: 45 | Power: 50 | Run: 55 | Arm: 60 | Field: 50 | Overall: 40

Gatorade's New York state Player of the Year in 2021 as part of a loaded Empire State class that included nine eventual top-five-rounds picks, Saucke hit safely in his first 21 college games at Virginia. After starring as a freshman, he slumped as a sophomore before rebounding to bat .344 with 14 homers this spring, including a 483-foot blast against Kansas State in the NCAA super regionals. He signed for an over-slot $847,500 as a fourth-round choice.

Saucke's quick right-handed stroke produces power to all fields, though he did struggle with wood bats in the Cape Cod League in the summer of 2023. To maximize his pop, he'll have to tone down his propensity to chase all types of pitching out of the strike zone, which leads to suboptimal contact and few walks. While he's aggressive, he doesn't strike out excessively and does damage against fastballs, breaking pitches and changeups alike.

A high school shortstop, Saucke played mostly right field for the Cavaliers and has the plus arm strength desired at the position. He has solid speed and may get the opportunity to show what he can do in center field as a pro. He shows some basestealing aptitude but isn't particularly daring. 

Transactions

Team	Date	Transaction
	08/09/2024	OF Casey Saucke assigned to Winston-Salem Dash from ACL White Sox.
	08/05/2024	OF Casey Saucke assigned to ACL White Sox.
	07/23/2024	Chicago White Sox signed OF Casey Saucke.
	06/16/2024	College Workout activated OF Casey Saucke.
	03/20/2024	OF Casey Saucke II assigned to Virginia Cavaliers.
	05/24/2023	College Workout activated 3B Casey Saucke II.
	05/24/2023	College Workout activated 3B Casey Saucke II.
	05/20/2023	3B Casey Saucke II assigned to Virginia Cavaliers.
	05/04/2022	3B Casey Saucke II and assigned to Virginia Cavaliers.
	06/15/2020	SS Casey Saucke II assigned to PG National 1 - Black.
	06/15/2020	SS Casey Saucke II assigned to PG National 1 - Black.