John Rhodes Stats & Scouting Report

AB	316
AVG	.209
OBP	.277
SLG	.332
HR	8

Full name John Robert Rhodes
Born 08/15/2000 in Soddy Daisy, TN
Profile Ht.: 6'0" / Wt.: 200 / Bats: R / Throws: R
School Kentucky
Drafted in the 3rd round (76th overall) by the Baltimore Orioles in 2021 (signed for $1,375,000).

View Draft Report

Rhodes became eligible for the 2021 draft after it was moved from June to July. He turns 21 on Aug. 15, which just gets him inside the Aug. 27 cutoff date. Because of that, Rhodes entered the year as a top-two rounds sort of prospect thanks to an impressive freshman campaign in the shortened 2020 season. Rhodes hit .426/.485/.672 with 10 doubles in 17 games. He didn’t quite live up to the expectations teams had for him offensively this spring, however, struggling to a .252/.397/.508 line, though a 12% walk rate still allowed him to get on base almost 40% of the time. Despite Rhodes’ down year, scouts still like his bat and pure hit tool, with good contact ability, solid balance at the plate and a swing that is more geared for low line drives than home runs at the moment. Outside of his hitting ability, Rhodes’ other tools are average. He’s a solid runner and a fine defender in a corner outfield spot, and evaluators don’t see big power potential with Rhodes barring a swing change that helps him elevate the ball more consistently. Because of that, he has a bit of a tweener profile, though some teams want to try him on the infield. He’s played third base, first base and caught in the past. Rhodes was mainly a catcher throughout his youth, but a broken back transitioned him off of the position. Rhodes could be a tough sign as a draft-eligible sophomore coming off a down year, and he has the option to return to Kentucky to try and rebound for the 2022 class.

Top Rankings

Organization Prospect Rankings

BA Grade: 45/High

Track Record: When MLB moved the 2021 draft from June to July, it made Rhodes an eligible sophomore. He signed with the Orioles for an above-slot $1.38 million as the 76th overall pick that summer. He reached Double-A Bowie in his first full season and took a step forward there in 2023, improving his chase rate and hitting 17 home runs with some improvements in his hard-hit rate.

Scouting Report: Rhodes led all minor leaguers in the increase of his 90th percentile exit velocity, up to 102.9 mph from 98.5 mph, as he added physicality to try to catch up in that department. Still, he will need to continue to add strength and improve the consistency of his contact quality to have anything more than fringe-average power. That’s because his overall slugging production was underwhelming despite his home run total. He can be an average hitter, but that offensive profile will be challenged by the fact that Rhodes is a corner-only outfielder at this point. He is an average runner despite stealing just eight bases in 2023 and he has an average arm.

The Future: Considering he signed as a sophomore, Rhodes spending his entire age-22 season at Double-A and holding his own keeps a second-division regular profile alive. He may end up back in Double-A to master the level in 2024, given the Orioles’ high-minors outfield depth.

Scouting Grades Hit: 50 | Power: 45 | Run: 50 | Field: 45 | Arm: 50
BA Grade/Risk: 40/High

Track Record: Rhodes signed for an above-slot $1.38 million as the 76th overall pick in 2021 after the draft moving from June to July made him eligible as a sophomore. He was more of a projection pick than one based on production after an uneven draft summer, and injuries to his wrist, toe, and knee limited him to 83 games in 2022. He started well when healthy at High-A Aberdeen before struggling to end the year at Double-A Bowie.

Scouting Report: At his best, Rhodes showed advanced control of the strike zone and made a lot of contact in the air. His swing was in a good place earlier in the season, but deteriorated as his health did later in the year. The key to his offensive output, however, will be to maximize his athleticism and impact the baseball more often. Rhodes is plenty physical, but the Orioles believe he can hit like a corner outfielder through improved movements and efficiency to help the ball jump off his bat better. He can still be a fringe-average outfielder with average speed.

The Future: Those physical gains, however, will be the difference between Rhodes being an everyday outfielder and more of a bench player. A healthy 2023 back at Bowie with a productive offseason behind him could be the recipe for Rhodes bringing his ceiling into play.

Scouting Grades: Hit: 50. Power: 45. Speed: 50. Fielding: 45. Arm: 50.
Track Record: Rhodes became a draft-eligible sophomore when the draft was moved from June to July, and though he underperformed in 2021 compared to how he stood out before the shutdown in 2020, the Orioles signed him for an above-slot $1.38 million.

Scouting Report: Kentucky never found a defensive home for Rhodes, who played at the corners in the infield and outfield, but that was more down to his versatility and its desire to keep his bat in its lineup. Rhodes has good bat speed and showed increasingly powerful top-end exit velocities as well as an average hit tool. The challenge for Rhodes will be adding loft to his swing and getting his best swings off consistently without sacrificing his ability to put the ball in play or his impressive on-base numbers. The Orioles will keep him in the outfield, where he has work to do and can be average with experience.

The Future: Rhodes can be an average regular, perhaps on a second-division club, with the outside potential for more should he grow into the consistent game power a corner outfielder requires.

Draft Prospects

Rhodes became eligible for the 2021 draft after it was moved from June to July. He turns 21 on Aug. 15, which just gets him inside the Aug. 27 cutoff date. Because of that, Rhodes entered the year as a top-two rounds sort of prospect thanks to an impressive freshman campaign in the shortened 2020 season. Rhodes hit .426/.485/.672 with 10 doubles in 17 games. He didn’t quite live up to the expectations teams had for him offensively this spring, however, struggling to a .252/.397/.508 line, though a 12% walk rate still allowed him to get on base almost 40% of the time. Despite Rhodes’ down year, scouts still like his bat and pure hit tool, with good contact ability, solid balance at the plate and a swing that is more geared for low line drives than home runs at the moment. Outside of his hitting ability, Rhodes’ other tools are average. He’s a solid runner and a fine defender in a corner outfield spot, and evaluators don’t see big power potential with Rhodes barring a swing change that helps him elevate the ball more consistently. Because of that, he has a bit of a tweener profile, though some teams want to try him on the infield. He’s played third base, first base and caught in the past. Rhodes was mainly a catcher throughout his youth, but a broken back transitioned him off of the position. Rhodes could be a tough sign as a draft-eligible sophomore coming off a down year, and he has the option to return to Kentucky to try and rebound for the 2022 class.

Scouting Reports

BA Grade/Risk: 40/High

Track Record: Rhodes signed for an above-slot $1.38 million as the 76th overall pick in 2021 after the draft moving from June to July made him eligible as a sophomore. He was more of a projection pick than one based on production after an uneven draft summer, and injuries to his wrist, toe, and knee limited him to 83 games in 2022. He started well when healthy at High-A Aberdeen before struggling to end the year at Double-A Bowie.

Scouting Report: At his best, Rhodes showed advanced control of the strike zone and made a lot of contact in the air. His swing was in a good place earlier in the season, but deteriorated as his health did later in the year. The key to his offensive output, however, will be to maximize his athleticism and impact the baseball more often. Rhodes is plenty physical, but the Orioles believe he can hit like a corner outfielder through improved movements and efficiency to help the ball jump off his bat better. He can still be a fringe-average outfielder with average speed.

The Future: Those physical gains, however, will be the difference between Rhodes being an everyday outfielder and more of a bench player. A healthy 2023 back at Bowie with a productive offseason behind him could be the recipe for Rhodes bringing his ceiling into play.

Scouting Grades: Hit: 50. Power: 45. Speed: 50. Fielding: 45. Arm: 50.
BA Grade/Risk: 40/High

Track Record: Rhodes signed for an above-slot $1.38 million as the 76th overall pick in 2021 after the draft moving from June to July made him eligible as a sophomore. He was more of a projection pick than one based on production after an uneven draft summer, and injuries to his wrist, toe, and knee limited him to 83 games in 2022. He started well when healthy at High-A Aberdeen before struggling to end the year at Double-A Bowie.

Scouting Report: At his best, Rhodes showed advanced control of the strike zone and made a lot of contact in the air. His swing was in a good place earlier in the season, but deteriorated as his health did later in the year. The key to his offensive output, however, will be to maximize his athleticism and impact the baseball more often. Rhodes is plenty physical, but the Orioles believe he can hit like a corner outfielder through improved movements and efficiency to help the ball jump off his bat better. He can still be a fringe-average outfielder with average speed.

The Future: Those physical gains, however, will be the difference between Rhodes being an everyday outfielder and more of a bench player. A healthy 2023 back at Bowie with a productive offseason behind him could be the recipe for Rhodes bringing his ceiling into play.

Scouting Grades: Hit: 50. Power: 45. Speed: 50. Fielding: 45. Arm: 50.
BA Grade: 45/High

Track Record: Rhodes became a draft-eligible sophomore when the draft was moved from June to July, and though he underperformed in 2021 compared to how he stood out before the shutdown in 2020, the Orioles signed him for an above-slot $1.38 million.

Scouting Report: Kentucky never found a defensive home for Rhodes, who played at the corners in the infield and outfield, but that was more down to his versatility and its desire to keep his bat in its lineup. Rhodes has good bat speed and showed increasingly powerful top-end exit velocities as well as an average hit tool. The challenge for Rhodes will be adding loft to his swing and getting his best swings off consistently without sacrificing his ability to put the ball in play or his impressive on-base numbers. The Orioles will keep him in the outfield, where he has work to do and can be average with experience.

The Future: Rhodes can be an average regular, perhaps on a second-division club, with the outside potential for more should he grow into the consistent game power a corner outfielder requires.
Track Record: Rhodes became a draft-eligible sophomore when the draft was moved from June to July, and though he underperformed in 2021 compared to how he stood out before the shutdown in 2020, the Orioles signed him for an above-slot $1.38 million.

Scouting Report: Kentucky never found a defensive home for Rhodes, who played at the corners in the infield and outfield, but that was more down to his versatility and its desire to keep his bat in its lineup. Rhodes has good bat speed and showed increasingly powerful top-end exit velocities as well as an average hit tool. The challenge for Rhodes will be adding loft to his swing and getting his best swings off consistently without sacrificing his ability to put the ball in play or his impressive on-base numbers. The Orioles will keep him in the outfield, where he has work to do and can be average with experience.

The Future: Rhodes can be an average regular, perhaps on a second-division club, with the outside potential for more should he grow into the consistent game power a corner outfielder requires.
Rhodes became eligible for the 2021 draft after it was moved from June to July. He turns 21 on Aug. 15, which just gets him inside the Aug. 27 cutoff date. Because of that, Rhodes entered the year as a top-two rounds sort of prospect thanks to an impressive freshman campaign in the shortened 2020 season. Rhodes hit .426/.485/.672 with 10 doubles in 17 games. He didn't quite live up to the expectations teams had for him offensively this spring, however, struggling to a .252/.397/.508 line, though a 12% walk rate still allowed him to get on base almost 40% of the time. Despite Rhodes' down year, scouts still like his bat and pure hit tool, with good contact ability, solid balance at the plate and a swing that is more geared for low line drives than home runs at the moment. Outside of his hitting ability, Rhodes' other tools are average. He's a solid runner and a fine defender in a corner outfield spot, and evaluators don't see big power potential with Rhodes barring a swing change that helps him elevate the ball more consistently. Because of that, he has a bit of a tweener profile, though some teams want to try him on the infield. He's played third base, first base and caught in the past. Rhodes was mainly a catcher throughout his youth, but a broken back transitioned him off of the position.