Logan Wyatt grew up in Louisville, Kentucky and always hoped he’d play for the University of Louisville. He received that chance and joined the program as a freshman in 2017.
He played sparingly his first season, as he sat behind and learned from Brendan McKay, the 2017 Golden Spikes Award winner and fourth overall pick by the Tampa Bay Rays in the 2017 MLB draft.
It was a valuable experience for Wyatt, he said. It allowed him to observe McKay’s preparation and daily routine. McKay was one of six draft picks Wyatt played with his first freshman season.
Playing for a program that consistently produces high-end draft prospects has helped Wyatt, he said. It’s exposed him to professional scouts and how to handle the pressure and time commitment brought on by the draft process.
This spring, Wyatt is experiencing everything he’s witnessed the last two years. MLB.com ranks the first baseman as the 45th-best prospect in June’s draft.
“Just focusing on my teammates and playing for them will be the biggest thing to keeping my mind off the other things,” Wyatt said. “If I can play for them and the game, I don’t think I will have any issues worrying about the draft.”
After playing in 18 games as a freshman, Wyatt blossomed into one of the top players in the country last year. He posted a .339 batting average with six home runs, 69 RBIs and 22 doubles while drawing 63 walks and striking out 37 times in 230 at-bats.
The 6-foot-4, 230-pound left-handed swinger continued his success in the Cape Cod League last summer. He led the league with 29 walks and ranked second in on-base percentage.
His ability to make consistent, hard contact and plate discipline are his two biggest strengths.
“Just having an approach and a plan and not going up there free-swinging is key to my plate discipline,” Wyatt said. “If you just go up there with a basic approach you can let the ball come to you.”
Defensively, Wyatt is athletic but currently possesses at best average speed. He also has average arm strength and soft hands.
He spent time in the offseason improving his footwork. Displaying more side-to-side agility at first base is one area Wyatt hopes to improve this season.
“My defense is the area I need to take the next step,” Wyatt said. “My defense has gotten a lot better over the last couple years. I’d like to continue to improve on that and get as good as I can at first base.”
Through three games this season, Wyatt is hitting .556 with one home run and two RBIs in nine at-bats. He’s drawn six walks while striking out once.
Wyatt hopes to play a key role in leading Louisville to a deep postseason run this season. Although he’s a team-oriented player, he also wants to refine his skills and build off his sophomore campaign.
“I just want to stay consistent every day,” Wyatt said. “Come out every day and keeping the same routine and keeping up with myself mentally to be consistent.”
(Photo of Logan Wyatt courtesy of Jeff Reinking/Louisville athletics)
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 and The Arizona Republic, have quoted his work, while he’s appeared on radio stations as a “MLB draft expert.”
