Malakhi Knight
Mack's spin -
It is going to be hard to find someone with a higher projection than this prep star.
Excellent skills in center, pure power potential, and blazing speed.
I might have him low here.
OF 6-3 185 Marysville Getchell HS (WV)
2-15-21 - CBS - Top 50 -
45. Malakhi Knight, OF, Marysville-Getchell HS (WA)
Knight, an Oregon State commit, has a dynamic ceiling. He can really run, and he has the kind of angular frame that leaves scouts frothing. Knight already has quiet hands and a swing capable of producing high exit velocities. He needs to make more consistent contact in order to reach his ceiling, but there's first-round potential here -- even if he requires a few years on campus to fully tap into it.
2-2-21 - Joe @JoeDoyleMiLB
Every time I go see '21 OF Malakhi Knight (Marysville, WA), it gets better. Up to 200lbs, 10lbs stronger than June. Immensely projectable frame. Broad shoulders, lean strength. Big, strong forearms. More good weight coming. Love the swing/bat path.
1-20-21 - prospect live -
#34
Cincinnati Reds
Malakhi Knight
OF, Marysville-Getchel (HS)
There are few players who did more for themselves during the 2020 summer showcase circuit than Knight. The Marysville, Washington prep showed the ability to really consistently impact the baseball all year. His body is moving in the direction of a guy that can stick in centerfield long term. He's a plus runner with a strong arm and great range and route running ability in the grass. In the box, Knight has a swing not too dissimilar from Ryan Braun or Mookie Betts. He does a great job keeping the barrel in the zone and produces natural, easy loft. He finishes with an athletic, high follow-through and produces loud exit velocities to all fields. Knight checks all the boxes of a high-upside prep and supplements that with the type of data the Reds have become famous for seeking in new player acquisitions.
1-14-21 - Baseball America
Malakhi Knight OF Marysville-Getchell HS (WA)
Ht: 6-3 | Wt: 187 | B-T: R-R
Commit/Drafted: UCLA
Age At Draft: 18.8
The top-ranked hitter in the Northwest in the 2021 prep class, Knight brings loud tools and athleticism to the table, with a lean and muscular 6-foot-3, 187-pound frame. Also a standout basketball player, Knight can play center field on the diamond, with plus running ability—he ran a 6.64-second 60-yard dash at Perfect Game’s National showcase—and raw power potential. Scouts aren’t sure about the overall quality of his hit tool at this point, as he’s shown some swing-and-miss tendencies against both fastball velocity and offspeed offerings. Knight sets up with a coiled stance in the batter’s box, with his front shoulder tucked in and his hands tight and into his chest, which has allowed him to keep his hands inside the ball when he’s synced up. If he can figure out a consistent offensive approach and cut down on the whiffs, Knight has plenty of bat speed and natural strength—with more coming in the future—that should give him at least above-average raw power to work with. Those tools from a player who can stick in center field are exciting, but teams will need to be convinced about the hit tool to try and sign him out of his Oregon State commitment.
12-30-20 - BPR -
Malakhi Knight is a right-handed hitter has an upright stance and uses a quick and compact swing to drive the ball with authority. His path bat slightly resembles Milwaukee Brewers outfielder Ryan Braun.
His athleticism and speed are his top traits, as he recorded a 6.64-second 60-yard dash last summer. That speed allows him to make an impact on the base pads and defensively in center field. He has the speed and arm strength to stick at the position in the future.
12-3-20 - Perfect Game combined their picks for the first two rounds in this mock draft -
5. Baltimore Orioles | Jack Leiter, RHP, Vanderbilt
34. Malakhi Knight, OF, Archbishop Murphy (Wash.)
Like they did this past summer, the Orioles go with a college player with their top pick in this mock in choosing right-hander Jack Leiter who had an impressive start to a freshman campaign for the Commodores. Showing low to mid-90s on a quality fastball alongside three secondary offerings that have a chance to be above average or better at the next level, Leiter shows one of the cleanest operations of any arm in the class. Malakhi Knight in the second gives them a well-rounded prep athlete with tremendous upside on both sides of the ball. He’s a 6.6 runner and it plays into his abilities in the outfield to go with the big power potential/hit tool combo in the bat. -Tyler Russo
Sakowski's Take: As things sit right now, Leiter at 1:5 would be a value match, and the Orioles under Mike Elias have established that they will take more analytic-heavy arms, which Leiter certainly is. Slated to pitch behind Kumar Rocker in the Vandy rotation, Leiter will definitely have the chance to prove he’s a top 5 talent this spring. Knight represents more of a long-term bet as a prep bat, but he performed all summer and has middle-order tools along with a non-zero chance to play center long term.
11-11-20 - Prospects Live Top 300 Prospect List -
45. Malakhi Knight - OF
Bio:
Height: 6-3
Weight: 187 lbs
Hits/Throws: R-R
Hometown: Marysville, WA
School: Archbishop Murphy
Good bat-to-ball skills. Track record lacks power, but showed increased strength and impact at the plate all summer. Some Ryan Braun/Mookie Betts in his bat path now, pummeling some long home runs on big arms this circuit. Narrow swing with consistent loading and triggers. Knight was flying up draft boards before his hit tool slowed a bit as the summer came to a close. Still, stock took an enormous jump. Good defender who could potentially stick in centerfield if he doesn't out-grow position. Body/bat could force him into corner OF. Plus runner right now.
PG -
Malakhi Knight, OF, Canes National/Mets Scout Team
A favorite of the PG scouting staff throughout the summer circuit, Knight had another strong performance in Fort Myers as he continues to round into form as a true center fielder with outstanding power projection. He will be perhaps the premier name out of the Pacific Northwest area in the spring, and a name to monitor closely, as he’s established himself in the upper echelons of prep bats.
Malakhi Knight - Knight is a guy who’s arguably gone from a top-five round talent to a potential Top 50 pick next July. The bat has really popped this summer and it showed out well again Friday night. He’d get his first plate appearance in the second inning against Chase Burns. After a long battle, Knight smoked a ground ball to the third baseman for a groundout. It was by no means routine, showing off another big exit velo batted-ball-event for the Marysville, Washington native.
The bottom of the second inning allowed Knight to show off his wheels in the outfield. Braden Montgomery smoked a ball deep into the right-centerfield gap that Knight was able to chase down at full-speed. It was awfully impressive. Knight’s second plate appearance was another well-struck ball deep to right field that was caught. He’d strike out in his third at-bat against righty Pierce Coppola. It wasn’t the best night results-wise, but as a whole, Knight showed well for his stock.
Malakhi Knight – OF: Another big riser in recent events, Malakhi caught my eye at the PG National when he was showing off easy plus defense in the OF at multiple positions. The Power (55) projection paired with the defensive ability (60) Grade and Athleticism is an exciting toolset he brings to the table. Has some chase tendency, and will need to work on his plate discipline a bit moving forward, which I think he will be able to work into his approach. He has true CF capabilities, and with his potential offensive ceiling, there is room for Knight to climb even higher then he has in recent months.
PG - Malakhi Knight is a 2021 OF with a 6-3 187 lb. frame from Marysville, WA who attends Marysville Getchell. Outstanding athletic body with length and tons of physical projection. 6.64 runner, graceful athlete in the outfield, showed range and the ability to make the difficult play. compact arm action with some carry to his throws, can continue to improve his lower half mechanics throwing. Right handed hitter, hits from an upright stance with a short and quick swing, pretty short swing for his size, creates good carry with back spin, can improve his hand timing for more consistency. High level athlete who will keep improving with repetitions and physical maturity. Elite level basketball player when not playing baseball
Gatorade - The 6-foot-3, 190-pound junior outfielder was named the Most Outstanding Player at the 2019 Underclass Area Code Games in August. Knight reached base in all nine plate appearances at the Games with three hits, including a home run, and six walks. A Second Team All-WESCO North Division selection as a freshman, Knight missed all but four games his sophomore year with an injury. He is ranked as the nation’s No. 20 prospect in the Class of 2021 by Baseball America.
2 comments:
Malakhi Knight sounds a lot like Pete Crow talent-wise.
Yes he does. Similar skills and projection.
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