There may not have been more of a helium name in the entire Royals farm system for 2023 than Austin Charles. The 2022 20th-round pick flashed big-time tools in the Arizona Complex League before an early season call-up to Low-A Columbia. He’s a big-bodied 6-4 shortstop with excellent speed. His lengthy arms make his swing a bit awkward at this stage. Sometimes he gets twisted up, creating ample swing-and-miss to his game at the plate.
Season Stats:
2023 (Low-A): .230/.290/.356, 7.4% BB%, 24.7% K%, 82 wRC+
The Royals spent well over slot for Charles in the 20th round of the 2022 MLB Draft. He was ranked much higher as a prospect but many teams felt that he would honor his commitment to UC Santa Barbara. The ceiling is very high as Charles figures to build out his immense frame very well. That large frame creates a lot of optimism for future power potential. He pairs that power potential with good speed as well.
Long-term, Charles could stick at shortstop with improved defense. He needs some work in that aspect of his game, but still made some flashy plays at times in his debut season and improved as the year went on. His frame could move him to third base long-term or even the outfield. He has a strong arm that could handle the hot corner or outfield very well. Inconsistency plagued Charles in his debut season but there was a time when many felt he was making a case as a top-10 prospect in the farm system. The ceiling is there if he can simply continue to develop and find more consistency.
Scouting Grade:
Hit: 30/45
Game Power: 30/50
Raw Power: 35/55
Speed: 55/55
Glove: 40/50
Arm: 50/60
Best Case Scenario
Charles could stick up the middle and provide an excellent power/speed combination up the middle. If not at shortstop, his speed and arm talent could make him a strong fit in center field. Charles doesn’t accelerate quickly but over long distances, his speed really shows itself. Barring serious changes to his swing mechanics, there will likely always be some swing-and-miss concerns. If the power can overcome the lacking hit tool, the sky is the limit here.
Worst Case Scenario
If Charles can’t find ways to develop around his big frame, it may be tough for him to ever get into his power potential. The hit tool could hold him back, especially if strikeouts remain a problem. As the season went on, Charles lost some of his power output. He posted a 0.082 ISO from August 1 through the end of the season. Pairing that low ISO number with a .213 average isn’t a solid combination for success.
