BA GRADE
45
Risk: Extreme
Born: Sept. 30, 1998. B-T: R-R. Ht.: 6-2. Wt.: 185. Drafted: HS—Huntington Beach, Calif., 2017 (2nd round). Signed by: Joey Aversa.
Danner played in the 2011 Little League World Series and went on to play for Huntington Beach High, one of the top high school programs in the country. He pitched for USA Baseball’s 18U National Team twice and developed into a two-way prospect whom many scouts preferred on the mound, where he reached 95 mph and flashed a swing-and-miss curveball with tight spin.
The Blue Jays, though, signed Danner as a catcher for $1.5 million with their second-round pick. His pro debut was rocky, as Danner struggled in the Rookie-level Gulf Coast League. Danner has a high baseball IQ that helps him behind the plate. He may have been run down in the GCL, as he looked like he needed to improve his blocking and receiving skills and threw out just 21 percent of runners despite having a plus arm. Danner has solid-average raw power but will need time to develop as a hitter. His swing is built more around strength than bat speed, with an extreme pull approach that he will have to adjust to better handle pitches on the outer third.
Focusing full-time on catching should help Danner, though pitching could always be a fallback option down the road.
Year |
Club (League) |
Class |
AVG |
G |
AB |
R |
H |
2017 |
Blue Jays (GCL) |
R |
.160 |
34 |
125 |
10 |
20 |
Minor League Totals |
.160 |
34 |
125 |
10 |
20 |
||
Year |
Club (League) |
2B |
3B |
HR |
RBI |
BB |
2017 |
Blue Jays (GCL) |
5 |
0 |
2 |
20 |
5 |
Minor League Totals |
5 |
0 |
2 |
20 |
5 |
|
Year |
Club (League) |
SO |
SB |
CS |
OBP |
SLG |
2017 |
Blue Jays (GCL) |
36 |
3 |
1 |
.207 |
.248 |
Minor League Totals |
36 |
3 |
1 |
.207 |
.248 |
|