Jonathan India was extremely regarded when our 2019 Cincinnati Reds High Prospects listing was printed in December 2018. Drafted fifth total out of the College of Florida earlier that summer season, India was ranked fourth within the system, with Eric Longenhagen and Kiley McDaniel assigning him a 50 FV. Two months later, the reigning SEC Participant of the 12 months got here in at no. 75 in our High 100.
He’s gone on to have a strong profession. India made his main league debut on Opening Day 2021, proceeded to win Rookie of the 12 months honors, and he has since been a lineup mainstay in each Cincinnati and Kansas Metropolis. This previous November, the Reds traded India to the Royals, together with Joey Wiemer, in alternate for Brady Singer. Assuming extra of a super-utility position along with his new crew, India’s efficiency has taken a substantial step again. After placing up 2.9 WAR final 12 months, he’s batting .237/.324/.352 with eight house runs, an 89 wRC+, and -0.3 WAR, although he’s been a lot better for the reason that begin of August (113 wRC+). Over four-plus large league seasons, India has 71 house run, a 104 wRC+, and seven.9 WAR.
What did his December 2018 FanGraphs scouting report seem like? Furthermore, what does he give it some thought all these years later? Wanting to search out out, I shared a few of what our former prospect-analyst duo wrote and requested India to reply to it.
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“India was a widely known prep prospect in South Florida, however the mixture of a strong, however not spectacular, instrument set and seven-figure asking worth despatched him to Florida.”
“That may have been 2015, 10 years in the past,” replied India, who spent his prep years at American Heritage College in Delray Seaside. “I wasn’t mentally prepared, I assume. I wished to go to varsity, discover ways to be alone, discover ways to be a person. So, it was actually about private growth. There was no baseball concerned. It was extra that I wished to develop up and luxuriate in school. Stay life.”
“His first two years had been about as anticipated; India bought common at-bats however didn’t have any performative breakthroughs. In his draft 12 months, India misplaced unhealthy weight and added some energy, made some offensive changes, and exploded, torching the most effective convention within the nation.”
“I used to be simply rising up, man,” the 5-foot-11, 200-pound Royal recalled. “It’s known as maturing — my physique was maturing. So far as [exploding in his draft year], I used to be simply having fun with the sport. All the pieces was going my method that 12 months. Simply basically, protection and offense, I used to be enjoying effectively. Changes… I overlook, man. That was seven years in the past. It was totally different. It was simply totally different.”
“It wasn’t till mid-way via the season that he appeared like a positive first spherical choose. He ultimately regarded like a consensus high 10 choose within the weeks main as much as the draft.”
“Once more, I simply had a extremely good 12 months,” he stated. “I wasn’t taking note of [draft rumors]. I didn’t actually care about that. I truly didn’t even know that the Reds had been on me. If I bear in mind accurately, I used to be picked one choose earlier than I believed I used to be going to get picked. I believed I used to be going to go sixth to the Mets. I’d met with the Mets. I imply, I met with principally each crew, however I used to be shocked by the Reds.”
“India has 55 uncooked energy — 60 for some scouts — and is a 55 defender with a 55 arm at third base… He performed some shortstop at Florida and may very well be a limited-range fill-in there, with an opportunity to suit at second base if wanted for longer stretches.”
“I performed third and quick at Florida; I by no means performed second till the large leagues,” he defined. “My expectations had been in all probability third. I performed third within the minor leagues, though I solely performed one full 12 months within the minors [in part because the pandemic cancelled the 2020 minor league season]. It went rapidly.”
“We see India persevering with to faucet into his energy, with one thing like a 50 hit instrument and 55 energy, with barely extra strikeouts than league common, however has the power to be a hit-over-power sort of participant if he and the Reds select that sort of strategy.”
“Have been they saying that I used to be an influence hitter in school?” requested India. “I don’t learn about that one. I do know that I’ve by no means tried to be an influence hitter. I’m not large enough. I simply attempt to be a hitter.”
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Earlier “Outdated Scouting Studies Revisited” interviews will be discovered via these hyperlinks: Shane Baz, Cody Bellinger, Matthew Boyd, Dylan Stop, Matt Chapman, Erick Fedde, Kyle Freeland, Max Fried, Lucas Giolito, Tyler Glasgow, Randal Grichuk, Ian Happ, Jordan Hicks, Jeff Hoffman, Tanner Houck, Matthew Liberatore, Tyler Mahle, Sean Newcomb, Bailey Ober, Matt Olson, Austin Riley, Joe Ryan, Max Scherzer, Marcus Semien.