East Forysth High School in Kernersville, NC is no stranger to the MLB Draft. Connor Norby, now in the Orioles’ organization, was Baltimore’s second round selection last season. Now, the Tampa Bay Rays have selected Xavier Isaac in the first round, which probably shocked him just as much as anyone watching.
Isaac was the 113th overall ranked prospect heading into the MLB Draft, which slots him as a probable 4th or 5th round selection. Scouts believed that his batting abilities could land him in the top rounds, little did they know he’d be a first rounder. They also claim Isaac is a sub-standard defender with average arm strength.
Xavier was previously committed to the University of Florida before the draft, and I expect him to forgo college due to his surprisingly high pick in the draft. He was graded a 10 on Perfect Game, and ranked as the #1 First Basemen in the country, and the #4 Prospect in North Carolina.
It’s tough to get a read on Isaac because he missed his junior season as well as travel ball opportunities due to a foot injury. After Isaac was drafted, analysts on MLB Network pointed out that MLB Scouts like him because he has incredible raw power, and his low ranking on MLB.com could be the result of his absence from junior year.
When speaking about Isaac Xavier, Rays Scout Rob Metzler said, “Someone who we think has the bat speed to get good fastballs and the balance and adjustability to compete against off-speed … Really like the offensive potential.”