​Some players possess such exceptional talent on both the mound and at the plate that they could realistically be drafted as either a pitcher or a position player. In the past, scouts toyed with the notion of Bret Saberhagen or Zack Greinke moonlighting at shortstop, with Greinke even expressing a potential desire to be a two-way player at one point. Yet, ultimately, those careers found their path on the mound. In recent years, questions have lingered about where Royals draftees like Khalil Lee, Trevor Werner, and Jac Caglianone would fit on the diamond, but all three ended up in the batter’s box.
California prep standout Jared Grindlinger is widely regarded as the top two-way talent in this draft, with scouts divided on his eventual primary position. He stands out as a genuine first-round candidate both as a left-handed pitcher and as a hitter, offering alluring upside in either role. Grindlinger hails from Huntington Beach High School (CA), bats left, and throws left. His draft rankings reflect his broad hype: The Athletic places him at No. 12, Baseball America at No. 18, ESPN at No. 11, MLB Pipeline at No. 18, and Perfect Game at No. 16.
Grindlinger is among the youngest players in consideration, having reclassified from the 2027 class earlier this year. He won’t turn 18 until well after the draft, making him younger than nearly every other prospect in the class. That youth translates into significant projectability. At 6’3” and 185 pounds, Grindlinger is still filling out his frame, and most evaluators believe there is substantial strength and power yet to come. That perception helps explain why teams are willing to pursue his long-term upside even though his timeline is accelerated.
Keith Law ultimately believes the bat is where Grindlinger’s future lies. He praises Grindlinger’s “outstanding bat-to-ball skills” while acknowledging that his bat speed could still improve. Nevertheless, the ball already travels well off his bat, and as he adds strength, many scouts anticipate a notable uptick in power. Baseball America shares that assessment, emphasizing Grindlinger’s elite contact ability. Despite a naturally large strike zone and long levers, he “almost never swung and missed” during last summer’s showcase circuit. Given that he projects as a first baseman or corner outfielder, developing more over-the-fence power will be crucial for his upside. He is currently a below-average runner and is unlikely to be a defensive standout in the outfield.
The appeal of Grindlinger’s bat is a major reason many clubs prefer him as a position player, but his value is amplified by legitimate upside on the mound as well. As a left-handed pitcher, Grindlinger has already reached 96 mph with his fastball, though he typically sits in the 90-94 mph range. His pitching repertoire also features a promising pair of offspeed offerings: a slider around 80 mph that he can shape into different configurations, and a low-80s changeup delivered with excellent arm speed. MLB Pipeline notes that some scouts believe his loose throwing motion and his physical projection could eventually yield a plus fastball as he matures.
In short, Grindlinger represents the rare two-way prospect who could realistically become a force on the mound or at the plate. His combination of early-year age, physical projection, and advanced hitting ability makes him a compelling pick for teams weighing the long-term upside of a potential two-way contributor versus a specialized position-player path. As the draft nears, evaluators will continue to scrutinize how Grindlinger’s skill set translates across both disciplines, with many envisioning a future in which he converges on one primary role while retaining the inherent value of his two-way potential.