Hylan Hall is one of the top prep prospects in the 2019 MLB draft class. The Florida prep outfielder has progressed throughout his first three years of high school and is looking to make major strides this season after working with Hall of Fame baseball player Ken Griffey Jr. this offseason.
Hall’s neighbor is friends with Griffey and informed him about Hall’s rise as one of the top high school prospects in the country, Hall said. Hall sat down with his childhood idol in October and has hit with him twice since then, he added.
“We hit and talked about baseball,” Hall said. “He told me the amount of work he’s put in and how hard it is, and how I need to stay focused no matter what. He also gave me tips on my swing and improving my game.”
Baseball America ranks Hall as the 20th-best prep prospect in June’s draft class. Hall enjoys the publicity and is trying to embrace the attention brought on by the draft, he said.
He views the contact from professional scouts as reassurance for the hard work he’s put in to improve his craft, Hall explained.
“I am more thankful because the fact that these MLB scouts think of me this way makes me really happy,” he said. “I am excited every time I talk to them because I could be talking to the team I am drafted by.”
Hall, a 6-foot-2, 190-pound outfielder, has five-tool potential with his best trait being his hitting ability. He is an aggressive hitter from the right side of the plate with a quick and loose swing. He barrels up pitches and figures to serve as a middle-of-the-order bat in pro ball.
Baseball America wrote“Hall expands the zone and whiffs at times” in a scouting report detailing the top high school draft prospects. Hall denied that remark, however.
“No disrespect but I don’t believe that’s an accurate representation of me at all,” he said. “If they would’ve watched me the whole summer, they would’ve seen that I hit a lot of balls this summer.
“I rarely struck out. Towards the end, I was in a slump but still rarely struck out. I am really known for making contact.”
Besides his hitting, Hall possess above-average athleticism, speed and arm strength. Those traits have aided him in his transition to the outfield. He played shortstop growing up before moving out of the infield as a sophomore in 2017.
“I am still kind of adjusting and getting better, but I’d love to have better routes and precision in my game,” Hall said.
Hall’s pitching ability flies under the radar due to his potential as a position player. A right-handed hurler, Hall has simple mechanics and hits 90 mph with his fastball. He displays a curveball with depth and has respectable feel for his changeup.
“I feel like I have a more God-given ability to pitch because I just throw strikes all the time,” he said.
Hall is a Miami commit and eager for that opportunity. However, he could likely bypass the college ranks and start a professional career straight out of high school this summer.
Hall plays his high school baseball with The Next Level Academy in Altamonte Springs, Florida. The program plays against NCAA Division II and junior college teams. Joseph Charles, a right-handed prep pitcher, also plays for TNXL Academy and is a well-regarded 2019 draft prospect.
With the season quickly approaching, Hall has his sights set high. He wants to record a batting average of at least .500 and not strikeout a single time, he said.
Hall has confidence in his abilities and believes he will be a special player at the next level, regardless of if that’s in college or pro baseball.
“I believe that once everything is set and done, I believe I will be one of the best players in the MLB,” Hall said. “I have to trust in the process and in what my coaches say and be a great teammate.”
(Photo courtesy of Hylan Hall)
Dan Zielinski III has covered the MLB draft for four years. He’s interviewed 133 of the top draft prospects in that period, including three No. 1 overall picks. Multiple publications, including Baseball America, USA Today, Bleacher Report and MLB Trade Rumors, have quoted his work, while he’s appeared on radio stationsas a “MLB draft expert.”
