2021 Draft Preview: Jud Fabian (OF)

Name: Jud Fabian
School: University of Florida
Position: OF
Height/Weight: 6’1″, 180-lbs
B/T: R/L
D.O.B.: 09/27/2000
Previously Drafted: N/A.

Scouting Report

Jud Fabian didn’t have your typical high school career as a baseball player. At Trinity Catholic High School, Fabian was named the Ocala Star-Banner 2018 Player of the Year and was named to the All-State team that same year. He hit 11 home runs that year, giving him a tie for the most in a single-season at Trinity Catholic. He also hit .453 which was the best average among all high school hitters in Marion County.

After a very impressive junior season at Trinity, Fabian took a different route and decided to skip his senior season so he could enroll early at the University of Florida. It wouldn’t take long for Fabian to find a role at Florida, as he immediately stepped in and started 54 games in center field as a true freshman. In 56 total games in 2019, Fabian slashed .232/.353/.411 with 9 doubles, seven home runs, 26 RBI, 28 walks, and 45 strikeouts.

In a shortened 2020 season, Fabian continued to improve, showing more development of power. In 17 games he slashed .294/.407/.603 with 20 hits, six doubles, five home runs, 13 RBI, 13 walks, and 18 strikeouts. Heading into the 2021 season, Fabian’s stock ended up being as high as it ever would be. He looked to be locked in to a top ten pick. However, a disappointing performance for most of 2021 and swings and misses being an evident part of his game early on, Fabian’s stock dropped a bit this year.

In 59 games in 2021, Jud Fabian slashed .249/.364/.560 with 10 doubles, 20 home runs, 46 RBI, 40 walks, and 79 strikeouts. Fabian struggled for the early parts of the 2021 season and it got to a point where some publications had him falling out of the first round. However, as conference play began, Fabian’s bat started to heat up and he saw himself back in the mix of the first round.

Jud Fabian also spent two summers playing in the Cape Cod League and the Florida Collegiate Summer League where he got to showcase what he can do with a wood bat. Collectively, Fabian slashed .294/.393/.506 with 12 doubles, eight home runs, 27 RBI, 26 walks, and 50 strikeouts in 54 games.

Scouting Grades

These grades are according to MLB Pipeline. Fabian’s grades likely vary across other publications.

Hit: 45
Power: 60
Run: 55
Field: 50
Arm: 50
Overall: 50

Prospect Overview and Future Outlook

Jud Fabian has a unique profile where he hits right-handed and throws left-handed. He doesn’t have elite speed, but he has enough and the athleticism to where scouts believe he will stick in center field long term. Offensively, the development of power throughout his college career was key for Fabian and he possesses great bat speed.

The power is something that Jud Fabian should carry with him to the next level. However, he will need to make consistent contact and work on pitch recognition in order to reach his ceiling. He has all around good tools and has the chance to be a productive bat near the top of the order if he’s able to improve his contact skills at the next level.

Mock Drafts

In the latest mock draft from Jonathan Mayo at MLB.com, the prospect writer said that Fabian’s name “keeps coming up with both Chicago teams” and he projected the Florida outfielder to the White Sox at #22. Last week, Jim Callis sent Fabian to the crosstown Cubs with the 21st pick in the draft. Keith Law left Jud Fabian out of the first round in his latest for The Athletic and Carlos Collazo at Baseball America did the same. Kiley McDaniel projected the athletic outfielder to the Cubs over at ESPN. In mock draft 3.0 here at FutureSox, James Fox sent Fabian to the Milwaukee Brewers at #15 overall.

Potential Fit with White Sox

The White Sox have recently invested international money into the outfield with guys like Yoelqui Cespedes and Oscar Colas (unofficially). Also, they have Luis Robert manning center field for the foreseeable future, so Jud Fabian wouldn’t exactly be an obvious fit. He does have a lot of intriguing tools however, and he could slide over to a corner spot. We’ve seen the lack of outfield depth first hand in Chicago though and the organization hasn’t successfully drafted and developed an outfielder in quite some time. The White Sox have been linked to multiple prep bats and college pitchers throughout the process but Fabian seems to be an option as we creep closer to July 11th. The organization has gone away from players with this type of strikeout rates but the rest of the tools fit exactly what this amateur staff is targeting.

Photo Credit: University of Florida Athletics

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