Scouting Report

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

Lakeland Christian High School in Florida is a national power this year, ranked on a number of Top 25 lists around the country. A big reason for the school's success is Fox, a middle infielder who stood out this spring among Florida prep prospects mostly for his bat, giving him the chance to be the second player ever drafted from his school.

Fox can barrel up the baseball with the best of them from the left side of the plate. He has a solid approach and fast hands that generate bat speed using a quick, whip-like swing. There’s some good extra-base authority already with the chance to have some pop in the future. 

While Fox runs well and shows off good hands, decent instincts and a solid arm, some think he’s destined to move to second base. The good news is he could profile well as an offensive-minded second baseman, reminding some in the area of Colby Halter, currently having a solid freshman year with the Florida Gators -- the school Fox will head to should the Draft not work out.

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

Fox's father Blane reached Double-A as an outfielder and coached his son and Lakeland Christian HS to Florida's state 3-A championship in 2019. The Guardians selected Jake in the third round of the 2021 Draft and signed him away from a Florida commitment for an over-slot $850,000. He started slowly while dealing with an elbow injury in High-A last season but rallied to bat .288/.355/.443 in the final two-plus months.

With his whippy left-handed stroke and fine hand-eye coordination, Fox has the tools to hit for average. He projects as more of a tablesetter than a middle-of-the-order masher, though he didn't control the strike zone as well in 2023 as he had in the past. While he has added strength and bat speed since turning pro and has learned to turn on pitches and lift them in the air, he still hasn't developed much power and may top out at 12-15 homers per season.

Fox combines plus speed with constant energy, though he was less aggressive on the bases last year and still is figuring out the nuances of basestealing. A prep shortstop who spent most of his first two pro seasons at second base, he became a full-time outfielder in 2023. His high baseball IQ helped him make the transition easily, and he displays solid range with average arm strength in center field.

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

Many evaluators inside and outside the organization tab Fox as their pick to click among Cleveland prospects in 2023. His father, Blane, reached Double-A as an outfielder and coached him to Florida's state 3-A championship at Lakeland Christian HS in 2019. A third-rounder in the 2021 Draft who signed for an over-slot $850,000, Fox ranked sixth in the Single-A Carolina League with a .381 on-base percentage at age 19 in his full-season debut and also impressed by taking quickly to playing center field. 

Fox has a whippy left-handed swing and the hand-eye coordination to barrel balls on a regular basis. He recognizes pitches well and controls the strike zone, and he could be an on-base machine who fits near the top of the lineup. He has improved his strength and bat speed since turning pro, surprised the Guardians with his exit velocities in 2022 and could hit 12-15 homers per season with more added muscle.  

A plus runner with a nonstop motor, Fox stole bases at a 90 percent success rate in his first two seasons. A shortstop in high school, he has spent the majority of his pro career at second base, where he's a surehanded defender with an average arm. Cleveland's stockpile of infield prospects at the lower levels necessitated trying him in center field last year, and his high baseball IQ helped him look so natural there that center will be his primary position going forward. 

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

Fox's father Blane got to Double-A as an outfielder and coached his son Jake to a 2019 Florida state 3-A championship at Lakeland Christian High. Two years later, the Guardians drafted Jake in the third round and signed him away from a Florida commitment for an over-slot $850,000. He batted .405 with seven steals in 13 games in the Rookie-level Arizona Complex League and continued to impress in instructional league.

Though Fox has a hitch in his left-handed stroke, it's a whippy swing with bat speed and his hand-eye coordination allows him to barrel balls consistently. His feel for hitting exceeds his power potential, though he did add some strength during the offseason. If he improves at turning on pitches and launching balls in the air, he could deliver 12-15 homers per season. 

With solid speed and a high baseball IQ, Fox can make things happen on the bases. A shortstop in high school, he divided his time between second base, short and third base in his brief debut. With his first-step quickness and average arm strength, he probably fits best at second base, and some scouts think he could wind up in center field after seeing extensive action there in 2022.

Transactions

Team	Date	Transaction
	03/07/2024	Cleveland Guardians Prospects activated OF Jake Fox.
	03/03/2024	OF Jake Fox assigned to Cleveland Guardians.
	04/05/2023	SS Jake Fox assigned to Lake County Captains from Lynchburg Hillcats.
	04/05/2023	Lake County Captains activated OF Jake Fox.
	04/05/2023	Lake County Captains activated SS Jake Fox.
	08/09/2022	Lynchburg Hillcats activated SS Jake Fox from the 7-day injured list.
	07/30/2022	Lynchburg Hillcats placed SS Jake Fox on the 7-day injured list.
	04/07/2022	SS Jake Fox assigned to Lynchburg Hillcats from ACL Indians.
	03/21/2022	SS Jake Fox and assigned to Cleveland Guardians.
	08/24/2021	SS Jake Fox assigned to ACL Indians.
	07/24/2021	Cleveland Indians signed SS Jake Fox.
	06/11/2021	College Workout activated SS Jake Fox.
	06/11/2021	SS Jake Fox assigned to College Workout.
	06/04/2021	High School Workout activated SS Jake Fox.
	05/16/2021	SS Jake Fox assigned to Osborn HS Knights.
	06/19/2020	2B Jake Fox assigned to PG National 5 - Green.