Jack Hurley is Another High Upside Outfielder in D-backs System

The Diamondbacks No. 12 prospect is another toolsy outfielder who could play in center field, but has questions about the bat.

This article is part of a series counting down the Diamondbacks' Top 30 prospects entering the 2024 season. These rankings are determined by Michael McDermott, in conjunction with the Inside the Diamondbacks staff.

Summary: Jack Hurley was supposed to be one of the top college-aged prospects in the 2023 draft, but slipped due to the deep class. The D-backs swooped him up in the third round, signing him for full slot value with the 80th overall pick. A toolsy center fielder, with a well-built frame, he has the potential to develop a solid enough hit and power tool to be a major league outfielder.

Rank: 12

Age: 22

Height/Weight: 6'0" 185 lbs.

Bats/Throws: Left/Right

Tools: Hit 50, Power 45, Defense 55, Run 60, Arm 50, Overall 45

ETA: 2027

What the D-backs are saying about him?

"Really fortunate to get him where we got him, we love the player. He's got a way to impact the game on both sides of the ball. Super athletic, can really run, really play defense, we think he's got impact power. Getting a player like that in the third round, we're really thrilled about it." - Scouting director Ian Rebhan, July 2023

2023 Recap: Hurley entered the 2023 season as one of the top college prospects for the draft. Despite an impressive junior season at Virginia Tech, in which he slashed .320/.414/.714 with 17 home runs, he fell to the 80th overall pick in one of the deepest draft classes in recent history. The D-backs selected him with the 80th overall pick and signed him for the full slot value. In his first 33 professional games, he hit .276 with two home runs but also struck out 44 times in 147 plate appearances. 

2024 Expectations: Hurley will begin 2024 where he ended 2023, with High-A Hillsboro. The strikeout rate was the biggest red flag in his profile, with 25 strikeouts vs. five walks in 88 PA at that level. A player with plus speed and power to all fields, the biggest area of improvement is with the amount and quality of contact with the bat. The two key areas to watch will be strikeout rate and ground ball rate

Projection: Hurley's profile is very similar to D-backs center fielder Alek Thomas, both offensively and defensively. Despite above-average raw power, the combination of swing-and-miss plus ground-ball tendencies limits his in-game power. The bat will be the difference between an everyday option in the outfield vs. a fourth outfielder who could still get 400 PA due to being left-handed. While Arizona features plenty of left-handed hitting outfielders on their current 40-man roster, Hurley has more future upside than all except Corbin Carroll and Alek Thomas. 

Top 30 Diamondbacks Prospects Entering the 2024 Season