Scouting Report

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

In 2022, Virginia Tech rode one of the better collegiate offenses in the game to a Super Regional appearance, and that lineup had five players taken in the top five rounds of last year’s Draft, led by first-rounder Gavin Cross. Hurley was one of the best performers on the team as a sophomore, finishing with a 1.116 OPS and reaching double digits in home runs and stolen bases. He played briefly in the Cape Cod League and was a member of the U.S. Collegiate National Team over the summer.

A left-handed hitting outfielder, Hurley has the chance to be a true five-tool player at the next level. He has excellent bat-to-ball skills and started tapping into his considerable raw power in 2022, with the chance to be an above-average hitter with above-average power in the future. 

Hurley played left field in deference to Cross last year, but his plus speed and strong defensive instincts enabled him to play center field in 2023 and should let him stay there, with more than enough arm to slide to right field should the need arise. He plays with a ton of energy, reminding some of Tennessee product Drew Gilbert, who was taken by the Astros at the end of the first round of the 2022 Draft.

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

Hurley was a three-year starter for Virginia Tech and followed up a breakout sophomore season in 2022 with stints in the Cape Cod League and with the U.S. Collegiate National Team. Upon his return to Blacksburg, the outfielder slashed .320/.414/.714 with 17 homers over 45 games for the Hokies in 2023, trailing only Brock Wilken (.807) and Nick Kurtz (.784) in ACC slugging percentage. The D-backs selected Hurley in the third round and signed him for exact slot at $887,000. He climbed three levels in his first taste of the Minors, topping out at High-A Hillsboro.

The left-handed hitter starts from an open stance, kicks his leg high and lands in an attempt to generate kinetic energy and momentum at the dish. It’s certainly helped his power play with promising exit velocities and in-game results; 34 of his 57 hits went for extra bases in his final season on campus. It also leads to some swing-and-miss concerns. Hurley was often late when he saw decent velocity in school last year with no hits and a 41 percent whiff rate on pitches above 94 mph, and a 29.9 percent K rate in his 33-game pro sample raised some eyebrows.

There’s still five-tool potential here, though. Hurley is a high-energy plus runner, and once Gavin Cross was out of his way at Virginia Tech, he moved back to center field, where he got the majority of his looks on the pro side. Hurley has the arm for right, if needed, too. Turning down the noise on the swing could set him on a quick road to Phoenix.

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

In 2022, Virginia Tech rode one of the better collegiate offenses in the game to a super-regional appearance, and that lineup had five players taken in the top five rounds of last year’s Draft, led by first-rounder Gavin Cross. Hurley was one of the best performers on the team as a sophomore, finishing with a 1.116 OPS and reaching double digits in home runs and stolen bases. He played briefly in the Cape Cod League and was a member of the U.S. Collegiate National Team over the summer. The D-backs selected him in the third round and signed him for exactly slot ($887,000).

A left-handed-hitting outfielder, Hurley has the chance to be a true five-tool player at the pro level. He has excellent bat-to-ball skills and started tapping into his considerable raw power in 2022, with the chance to be an above-average hitter with above-average power in the future. 

Hurley played left field in deference to Cross last year, but his plus speed and strong defensive instincts enabled him to play center in 2023 and should let him stay there, with more than enough arm to slide to right should the need arise. He plays with a ton of energy, reminding some of Tennessee product Drew Gilbert, who was taken by the Astros at the end of the 2022 Draft's first round.

Awards

NWL Player of the Month

Month	Team
09/2023

Transactions

Team	Date	Transaction
	03/07/2024	Arizona D-backs Prospects activated OF Jack Hurley.
	02/29/2024	OF Jack Hurley assigned to Arizona Diamondbacks.
	08/15/2023	OF Jack Hurley assigned to Hillsboro Hops from Visalia Rawhide.
	08/01/2023	OF Jack Hurley assigned to Visalia Rawhide from ACL D-backs Red.
	07/26/2023	OF Jack Hurley assigned to ACL D-backs Red.
	07/17/2023	Arizona Diamondbacks signed OF Jack Hurley.
	05/24/2023	College Workout activated OF Jack Hurley.
	04/05/2023	OF Jack Hurley assigned to Virginia Tech Hokies.
	04/05/2023	Virginia Tech Hokies activated OF Jack Hurley.
	07/02/2022	USAB Stars Team activated OF Jack Hurley.
	07/01/2022	OF Jack Hurley and assigned to College Workout.
	04/15/2022	OF Jack Hurley, , and assigned to Virginia Tech Hokies.