NAME: Tucker Toman
SCHOOL: Hammond High School (S.C.)
POSITION: 3B
HEIGHT/WEIGHT: 6-1; 190 pounds
B/T: S/R
D.O.B.: 11/12/2003
PREVIOUSLY DRAFTED: Not eligible
Scouting Report
Tucker Toman won’t turn 19-years-old until November and his father is Jim Toman; currently the head baseball coach at Middle Tennessee State. The infielder grew up around the game and is one of the most interesting prep position players in this year’s draft class. Toman currently attends Hammond College Preparatory School in Columbia, South Carolina and is committed to Louisiana State University but is unlikely to reach campus at this point.
The switch-hitting infielder had an uneven summer on the showcase circuit. Home run hunting became an issue for him and his play suffered because of it. MLB Pipeline ranked Toman as the #42 overall player in the class and they noted that he “possesses more bat speed from the left-hand side but he’s good with both”. Barrels are a huge part of the 18-year-old’s game but he gets too aggressive and pull oriented at times. There’s hittability, bat speed and strength in his profile and he could develop plus power.
Baseball America lauded Toman’s “power potential from both sides of the plate” but they also reminded of his mixed reviews from the summer. At his best, he barrels balls with regularity and drives them with impact but at his worst, there is lots of swing and miss mostly from poor decision making in the box. He uses an open stance and employs a toe tap to close before firing his hands with an uphill bat path. He’s ranked 40th overall in the class by Carlos Collazo at the publication.
Keith Law of The Athletic recently ranked his top 100 players for the upcoming draft as well and he slotted Tucker Toman in at #35 overall. The veteran draft and prospect writer surmised that the infielder has the potential to hit for average and power from both sides with some risk in regards to contact level. The bat speed is a positive though despite some struggles with breaking stuff at times.
Hammond shortstop Tucker Toman is off to a hot start this spring and he's really been impressing scouts with his on-field leadership too. Most expect him to slide over to third base. He's got suitors at the back-half of day one. 🚀No doubter🚀 from last night. #MLBDraft pic.twitter.com/WbsGXPMXMy
— Joe Doyle (@JoeDoyleMiLB) May 4, 2022
The 6-1, 190-pounder likely plays third base to start his professional career but he has enough arm to play in an outfield corner if necessary. Toman has clocked below average run times however so third base being his ultimate home is probably a best case scenario. He’s been called a “fringy defender” and some teams could try him at second base but a left field future wouldn’t be out of the question. He can really hit though and anyone that drafts him would be doing so based on that being his carrying tool.
A Day in the Life of Tucker Toman
Why would the White Sox Draft Tucker Toman?
The White Sox would draft Tucker Toman to continue adding high upside prep bats to their system. They would likely believe him to be the highest rated high school hitter on their draft board if they were to make the selection at #26 while also taking into account their limited draft bonus pool. Mike Shirley and his staff added Colson Montgomery and Wes Kath in the first two rounds leading off the 2021 draft. It was a deviation for the organization as they’ve been very college heavy in the first round previously.
While Toman is a switch-hitter, adding more left-handed bats to the pipeline is an important organizational goal for the White Sox. The decision makers haven’t been afraid to draft hitters with ultimate defensive homes very much in question and this South Carolina prep would fit that profile once again.
Getting younger seems to be a focus under Shirley’s leadership and prep hitters are as polished as ever. The White Sox would be well suited to add another teenager with significant offensive upside. The organization has sent in significant representation on the personnel side to see Tucker Toman this spring and he’s a realistic option with the #26 overall pick in the first round.
Rick Hahn could ultimately decide on a college pitcher that the franchise can’t pass on and college hitters will be safely accessible in this pick range as well. The White Sox could choose a similar path however and land two prep hitters with significant upside early in the draft. The success of Colson Montgomery should afford Shirley the right to charter a similar path in 2022 and Tucker Toman fits the description.
Interview with Prospect’s Live
Mock Draft Rankings
In the most recent mock drafts at MLB Pipeline, Jonathan Mayo and Jim Callis each projected Tucker Toman to the Tampa Bay Rays with the 29th selection. Callis should have another projection this week but this one was from June 8th. Kiley McDaniel projected the South Carolina prep to the Toronto Blue Jays at #23 overall in his only projection so far.
Keith Law’s latest mock draft for The Athletic and Carlos Collazo’s most recent projection at Baseball America don’t include Tucker Toman in the first round. Joe Doyle of Prospect’s Live projected Toman to the White Sox however in their most recent mock draft attempt. Doyle is noteworthy because he nailed the first rounders for the club the previous two years. He noted that the White Sox have lots of name and should be in a “wait and see situation” on draft night.