Ryan Spikes
Mack's spin -
Spikes may be small in height but he is large in talent.
Excellent hitting skills. May never have the power requirement but very few middle infielders this size do.
Defensively, he sets up as a future second baseman.
SS
1-14-21 - Baseball America
Ryan Spikes
Parkview HS, Lilburn, Ga. SS
Ht: 5-8 | Wt: 185 | B-T: R-R
Commit/Drafted: Tennessee
Age At Draft: 18.3
A shortstop out of Georgia powerhouse Parkview High in Lilburn, Spikes is an undersized shortstop, but packs plenty of tools and some pop into his 5-foot-8, 185-pound frame. A solid hitter with an aggressive righthanded approach, Spikes has solid plate coverage and more pop than you might expect. He has posted some of the better exit velocities at events he’s attended, and scouts think he has a real knack for hitting given his body control and a compact, consistent stroke. He doesn’t project to be a big-time home run hitter, but he should have plenty of gap-to-gap juice. Defensively, Spikes has good actions and quick hands that should allow him to stick up the middle. He has above-average arm strength that could play from shortstop just fine, but his quick transfer on the double play and his size might lead more evaluators to slot him at second base, long term. Spikes has regularly turned in plus running times in the 60-yard dash, giving him a well-rounded toolset that would have him significantly higher in the draft class if he were a bit taller. Questions about his size and power potential could lead to a split industry on Spikes, who is committed to Tennessee.
11-11-20 - Prospects Live Top 300 Prospect List -
67. Ryan Spikes - SS/RHP
Bio:
Height: 5-9
Weight: 180 lbs
Hits/Throws: R-R
Hometown: Lilburn, GA
School: Parkview
Takes a very healthy hack for a guy his sized. Insanely thick and muscled up for his height. Loud contact on most base hits with a high finish. Consistently barreled pitches and continued that into game action. Moves well on the dirt for his size, though he might end up at second base or in a corner. Spikes always seems to show out on the field and will certainly catch team's attention in next July's draft. Spikes' size is his biggest wart, yet he still manages to impact a game in virtually every way possible.
11-8-20 - Joe - @JoeDoyleMiLB
I tell you what, man. Ryan Spikes is going to surge before next July. Kid absolutely rakes. Top 2-Round talent.
10-1-20 - BA -
Ryan Spikes, SS, Georgia (Parkview HS, Lilburn, Ga.)
Ranked No. 60 in the 2021 high school class, Spikes went 2-for-7 with a ground-rule double off Solometo, taking an 0-1 fastball on the outer third for a line drive the opposite way. A righthanded hitter, Spikes keeps things simple with his lower half and has quick hands that he uses well at the plate, with an approach geared for line drives. Spikes has a smaller, compact frame (5-foot-8, 185 pounds), and while he showed some swing and miss at this event, scouts highest on Spikes praise his plate coverage and knack for hitting with sneaky pop for his size. He's a high IQ player with plus speed underway, a good arm and is smooth on the double play turn. He has a chance to stick at shortstop, though some scouts think his range might fit better at second base. Spikes is a Tennessee commit.
PG -
Ryan Spikes, SS, Team Elite/Braves Scout Team
Spikes has always been a consistent PG performer, and he mashed in his final PG tournament to the tune of a 1.255 OPS, including a bomb. Spikes has a solid all-around profile, with athleticism and peripheral tools to go with strong hit tool projection, and despite being undersized, he’s got offensive impact potential with middle-diamond defensive upside as well.
Ryan Spikes, SS - Ryan Spikes came in pretty highly regarded, but by the end of the event I was completely convinced I wasn’t nearly high enough on this kid. Similar to Riggio in the lack of size, high character, and just being a great ball player, Spikes shined in every area. He played a very strong defensive shortstop, made plays with his speed, consistently put his barrel on the ball, and when he got to pitch made quick work of the International team including a pair of strikeouts- however his future is definitely with the bat as a pro, though he would be a two way guy should he decide to go to Tennessee. Spikes is a guy who deserves to be ranked much higher in rankings than where he is typically at now.
After the games I thought a good comparison for him is Ozzie Albies, even though their overall games aren’t completely similar. What I mean is Spikes is a little undersized, listed at 5’9’. Similar to another undersized guy in Albies, Spikes is very strong and there aren’t many as strong as he is pound for pound. Add in the athleticism and feel for hitting with surprising power for their size, and there is some Albies to his game.
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