The Pick is in : Emaarion Boyd - OF - South Panola High School - Mississippi - 18 yrs old
The Scoop : MLB Draft Central
“Boyd is the latest speedy Mississippi high school outfielder in the tradition of Billy Hamilton and 2019 White Sox fourth-rounder James Beard. The track record of Magnolia State prep position players is scary -- Austin Riley is a rare and recent exception -- and he didn’t help his cause by trying to do too much at the plate this spring. Yet his quickness and signability as a Northwest Mississippi CC commit still could land him in the first five rounds. Boyd can flash top-of-the-scale speed and get from the right side of the plate to first base in less than four seconds at times. He has the wheels to become a dynamic basestealer and to cover plenty of ground in center field, though he needs to refine his defensive instincts. He compensates for fringy arm strength by getting to balls quickly. On the showcase circuit last summer, Boyd impressed scouts with his quick, compact right-handed swing and his pitch recognition, displaying the ability to make quality contact against high velocity with wood bats. He got too power-conscious at times as a senior, and that’s definitely not his game though he does have bat speed and some projectable strength. He needs to get back to concentrating on hitting line drives and getting on base to take advantage of his speed.”
