Rece Hinds

Organization Prospect Rankings

• 
  Ranked Cincinnati Reds #21 prospect in 2024
  BA Grade: 50/Extreme
  
  Track Record: For a slugger who can hit the ball 450-plus feet, Hinds came into 2023 looking for his first real power binge. Injuries hadn’t helped, but he entered the year with a career high of 12 home runs, a stunning number for a hitter with 80-grade raw power. In the first two months of 2023, he seemed even more lost. He struck out a remarkable 88 times in his first 210 plate appearances (42%) while hitting just five home runs. He went deep seven more times in a six-game span in mid June and hit a home run every 14 plate appearances from then until the end of the season.
  
  Scouting Report: When he was struggling, Hinds tweaked his setup. He got closer to the plate to get better plate coverage and simplified his load. Shortly thereafter, he started clearing fences. Hinds will always strike out, but his second-half improvement, which saw his strikeout rate dip to 26%, raises hopes he can get his contact rate to a playable level. Hinds has taken the move to right field well. He’s still a little raw, but he should be average eventually and his plus-plus arm is a weapon.
  
  The Future: The Reds saw enough improvement from Hinds to add him to the 40-man roster heading into 2024. He still has a lot of work to do to carve out a part-time role in the majors, but he is trending in the right direction.
  
  Scouting Grades Hit: 30 | Power: 60 | Run: 50 | Field: 50 | Arm: 70
• 
  Ranked Cincinnati Reds #8 prospect in 2022
  Track Record: Hinds was viewed as one of the best power hitters in the 2019 draft class, but some teams shied away because of the strikeout issues that came with his power. A knee injury forced Hinds to miss two months from early June until early August. Upon his return to the Low-A Southeast league, he celebrated with four home runs and five consecutive two-hit games in his first five games back. Hinds’ .515 slugging percentage was fourth best among Low-A Southeast hitters with 150 or more plate appearances and his .286 isolated power was the best among all Reds hitters with 100 or more plate appearances.
  
  Scouting Report: Hinds has some of the best raw power and one of the stronger arms in the minors. Other than the Polo Grounds, there may not be a ballpark big enough to contain Hinds when he solidly connects. He has true all-fields power and drives the ball out to center field as often as he yanks it down the line. He has plenty of holes, but so far his hands and adjustability in his swing have proven better than expected, which has allowed him to make enough contact for his power to play. Hinds’ range is limited at third base, but his plus-plus arm can turn anything he gets to into an out. He moves well enough to fit in right field if he doesn’t stick at third base. He’s an average runner now, but is likely to slow down as he matures.
  
  The Future: Hinds’ profile is somewhat reminiscent of J.D. Davis as a minor league third baseman with massive power and a big arm. He has made solid strides as far as making contact, but he’ll have to steadily continue to improve to allow his power to play to its potential.
  
• 
  Ranked Cincinnati Reds #8 prospect in 2021
  Hitting: 40. Power: 70. Running: 50. Fielding: 40. Arm: 70.
  
  TRACK RECORD: Hinds had some of the best power in the 2019 draft but struggled to get to it because he swung and missed so often. The Reds drafted him in the second round, No. 49 overall, and signed him for 1,797,500. Hinds played just three games in 2019 due to a quad injury, but he reported to the alternate training site in 2020 and steadily improved. He built on a successful summer with an excellent instructional league, where he hit five home runs.
  
  SCOUTING REPORT: Hinds’ improvement as a hitter was the most encouraging development of 2020. He showed improved ability to lay off breaking balls and make consistent contact, although it needs to remain a focus. He has plenty of bat speed and his hands work well enough to give his swing some malleability. He has massive, plus-plus raw power when he connects and posted exit velocities as high as 117 mph in instructs. Hinds’ plus-plus arm is an asset at third base, but his footwork has to improve and his range is fringy. Many evaluators believe he eventually will be an above-average right fielder, where his average speed will fit.
  
  THE FUTURE: Hinds still has a lot of work to do, but his power potential and athleticism give him a high ceiling. He has impressed with his drive and intelligence.
• 
  Ranked Cincinnati Reds #12 prospect in 2020
  TRACK RECORD: Hinds put his elite power on display at the 2018 Under Armor High School Home Run Derby, swatting 25 homers to end up as a finalist at Nationals Park. He impressed in the field as well, reaching 98 mph on the infield at Perfect Game's National Showcase that summer. Intrigued by his power and physicality, the Reds drafted him 49th overall and signed him for an overslot $1,797,500 bonus to keep him from a Louisiana State commitment.
  
  SCOUTING REPORT: Hinds has top-of-the-scale raw power, showing the ability to crush baseballs to all fields due to his sheer strength. He combines those long home runs with gobs of swings and misses, however, projecting as a fringe-average hitter at best. While athletic, Hinds is raw and lacks the ability to track breaking pitches, often times getting into pitchers' counts. His frame will likely outgrow shortstop and fit best at third base or even right field, where his plus-plus should play, though he needs to improve the consistency of his glove work. He isn't a speedster but runs well under way.
  
  THE FUTURE: Hinds has plenty of risk to his profile, but his extreme power fits as a masher in a corner if he can make enough contact.

Draft Prospects

• Ranked #39 prospect in 2019 draft
  If you're looking for the most power potential in the 2019 class, Hinds might be your guy. With a muscular, 6-foot-4, 210-pound frame, Hinds packs a tremendous punch with a mechanically smooth righthanded swing. He easily has 70-grade raw power currently, and you don't have to look far to find scouts who will put 80-grade power on Hinds' bat. Additionally, he has plus-plus arm strength from the left side of the infield and threw 98 mph across the diamond at Perfect Game's National Showcase last summer. If a team is looking for massive tools and upside, Hinds would be a pretty good place to start. While he would not look out of place in a major league uniform right now, Hinds would get exposed against professional pitching quickly. He currently lacks overall polish to his game, and he showed plenty of swing-and-miss throughout the summer showcase circuit and into the spring. While his plus bat speed allows him to time up premium velocity, Hinds regularly gets fooled on even average offspeed offerings and will often chase pitches out of the zone. Defensively, Hinds has played shortstop for IMG Academy, but he already looks too big for the position and should start out at third base at the next level. His arm strength should be an asset at the hot corner, or even in right field if he has to eventually move to an outfield corner. To stay on the infield, he'll need to improve both his hands and his throwing accuracy--particularly when his feet aren't set. Teams will be split on Hinds this June because of his questionable hit tool, but there's no denying the jaw-dropping power he displays in batting practice. Whichever team drafts him will need to be patient as he makes the necessary adjustments and figures out how to stay disciplined at the plate to punish offspeed pitches, but there could be a massive payoff down the road. Hinds is committed to Louisiana State.

• December, 2021 Scouting Report
  Track Record: Hinds was viewed as one of the best power hitters in the 2019 draft class, but some teams shied away because of the strikeout issues that came with his power. A knee injury forced Hinds to miss two months from early June until early August. Upon his return to the Low-A Southeast league, he celebrated with four home runs and five consecutive two-hit games in his first five games back. Hinds’ .515 slugging percentage was fourth best among Low-A Southeast hitters with 150 or more plate appearances and his .286 isolated power was the best among all Reds hitters with 100 or more plate appearances.
  
  Scouting Report: Hinds has some of the best raw power and one of the stronger arms in the minors. Other than the Polo Grounds, there may not be a ballpark big enough to contain Hinds when he solidly connects. He has true all-fields power and drives the ball out to center field as often as he yanks it down the line. He has plenty of holes, but so far his hands and adjustability in his swing have proven better than expected, which has allowed him to make enough contact for his power to play. Hinds’ range is limited at third base, but his plus-plus arm can turn anything he gets to into an out. He moves well enough to fit in right field if he doesn’t stick at third base. He’s an average runner now, but is likely to slow down as he matures.
  
  The Future: Hinds’ profile is somewhat reminiscent of J.D. Davis as a minor league third baseman with massive power and a big arm. He has made solid strides as far as making contact, but he’ll have to steadily continue to improve to allow his power to play to its potential.
  
• July, 2021 Scouting Report
  Hitting: 40. Power: 70. Running: 50. Fielding: 40. Arm: 70.
  
  TRACK RECORD: Hinds had some of the best power in the 2019 draft but struggled to get to it because he swung and missed so often. The Reds drafted him in the second round, No. 49 overall, and signed him for 1,797,500. Hinds played just three games in 2019 due to a quad injury, but he reported to the alternate training site in 2020 and steadily improved. He built on a successful summer with an excellent instructional league, where he hit five home runs.
  
  SCOUTING REPORT: Hinds' improvement as a hitter was the most encouraging development of 2020. He showed improved ability to lay off breaking balls and make consistent contact, although it needs to remain a focus. He has plenty of bat speed and his hands work well enough to give his swing some malleability. He has massive, plus-plus raw power when he connects and posted exit velocities as high as 117 mph in instructs. Hinds' plus-plus arm is an asset at third base, but his footwork has to improve and his range is fringy. Many evaluators believe he eventually will be an above-average right fielder, where his average speed will fit.
  
  THE FUTURE: Hinds still has a lot of work to do, but his power potential and athleticism give him a high ceiling. He has impressed with his drive and intelligence.
• March, 2021 Scouting Report
  Hitting: 40. Power: 70. Running: 50. Fielding: 40. Arm: 70.
  
  TRACK RECORD: Hinds had some of the best power in the 2019 draft but struggled to get to it because he swung and missed so often. The Reds drafted him in the second round, No. 49 overall, and signed him for 1,797,500. Hinds played just three games in 2019 due to a quad injury, but he reported to the alternate training site in 2020 and steadily improved. He built on a successful summer with an excellent instructional league, where he hit five home runs.
  
  SCOUTING REPORT: Hinds’ improvement as a hitter was the most encouraging development of 2020. He showed improved ability to lay off breaking balls and make consistent contact, although it needs to remain a focus. He has plenty of bat speed and his hands work well enough to give his swing some malleability. He has massive, plus-plus raw power when he connects and posted exit velocities as high as 117 mph in instructs. Hinds’ plus-plus arm is an asset at third base, but his footwork has to improve and his range is fringy. Many evaluators believe he eventually will be an above-average right fielder, where his average speed will fit.
  
  THE FUTURE: Hinds still has a lot of work to do, but his power potential and athleticism give him a high ceiling. He has impressed with his drive and intelligence.
• December, 2020 Scouting Report
  Hitting: 40. Power: 70. Running: 50. Fielding: 40. Arm: 70.
  
  TRACK RECORD: Hinds had some of the best power in the 2019 draft but struggled to get to it because he swung and missed so often. The Reds drafted him in the second round, No. 49 overall, and signed him for 1,797,500. Hinds played just three games in 2019 due to a quad injury, but he reported to the alternate training site in 2020 and steadily improved. He built on a successful summer with an excellent instructional league, where he hit five home runs.
  
  SCOUTING REPORT: Hinds’ improvement as a hitter was the most encouraging development of 2020. He showed improved ability to lay off breaking balls and make consistent contact, although it needs to remain a focus. He has plenty of bat speed and his hands work well enough to give his swing some malleability. He has massive, plus-plus raw power when he connects and posted exit velocities as high as 117 mph in instructs. Hinds’ plus-plus arm is an asset at third base, but his footwork has to improve and his range is fringy. Many evaluators believe he eventually will be an above-average right fielder, where his average speed will fit.
  
  THE FUTURE: Hinds still has a lot of work to do, but his power potential and athleticism give him a high ceiling. He has impressed with his drive and intelligence.
• July, 2020 Scouting Report
  TRACK RECORD: Hinds put his elite power on display at the 2018 Under Armor High School Home Run Derby, swatting 25 homers to end up as a finalist at Nationals Park. He impressed in the field as well, reaching 98 mph on the infield at Perfect Game’s National Showcase that summer. Intrigued by his power and physicality, the Reds drafted him 49th overall and signed him for an overslot $1,797,500 bonus to keep him from a Louisiana State commitment.
  
  SCOUTING REPORT: Hinds has top-of-the-scale raw power, showing the ability to crush baseballs to all fields due to his sheer strength. He combines those long home runs with gobs of swings and misses, however, projecting as a fringe-average hitter at best. While athletic, Hinds is raw and lacks the ability to track breaking pitches, often times getting into pitchers’ counts. His frame will likely outgrow shortstop and fit best at third base or even right field, where his plus-plus should play, though he needs to improve the consistency of his glove work. He isn’t a speedster but runs well under way.
  
  THE FUTURE: Hinds has plenty of risk to his profile, but his extreme power fits as a masher in a corner if he can make enough contact.
• February, 2020 Scouting Report
  TRACK RECORD: Hinds put his elite power on display at the 2018 Under Armor High School Home Run Derby, swatting 25 homers to end up as a finalist at Nationals Park. He impressed in the field as well, reaching 98 mph on the infield at Perfect Game's National Showcase that summer. Intrigued by his power and physicality, the Reds drafted him 49th overall and signed him for an overslot $1,797,500 bonus to keep him from a Louisiana State commitment.
  
  SCOUTING REPORT: Hinds has top-of-the-scale raw power, showing the ability to crush baseballs to all fields due to his sheer strength. He combines those long home runs with gobs of swings and misses, however, projecting as a fringe-average hitter at best. While athletic, Hinds is raw and lacks the ability to track breaking pitches, often times getting into pitchers' counts. His frame will likely outgrow shortstop and fit best at third base or even right field, where his plus-plus should play, though he needs to improve the consistency of his glove work. He isn't a speedster but runs well under way.
  
  THE FUTURE: Hinds has plenty of risk to his profile, but his extreme power fits as a masher in a corner if he can make enough contact.
• December, 2018 Scouting Report
  If you're looking for the most power potential in the 2019 class, Hinds might be your guy. With a muscular, 6-foot-4, 210-pound frame, Hinds packs a tremendous punch with a mechanically smooth righthanded swing. He easily has 70-grade raw power currently, and you don't have to look far to find scouts who will put 80-grade power on Hinds' bat. Additionally, he has plus-plus arm strength from the left side of the infield and threw 98 mph across the diamond at Perfect Game's National Showcase last summer. If a team is looking for massive tools and upside, Hinds would be a pretty good place to start. While he would not look out of place in a major league uniform right now, Hinds would get exposed against professional pitching quickly. He currently lacks overall polish to his game, and he showed plenty of swing-and-miss throughout the summer showcase circuit and into the spring. While his plus bat speed allows him to time up premium velocity, Hinds regularly gets fooled on even average offspeed offerings and will often chase pitches out of the zone. Defensively, Hinds has played shortstop for IMG Academy, but he already looks too big for the position and should start out at third base at the next level. His arm strength should be an asset at the hot corner, or even in right field if he has to eventually move to an outfield corner. To stay on the infield, he'll need to improve both his hands and his throwing accuracy--particularly when his feet aren't set. Teams will be split on Hinds this June because of his questionable hit tool, but there's no denying the jaw-dropping power he displays in batting practice. Whichever team drafts him will need to be patient as he makes the necessary adjustments and figures out how to stay disciplined at the plate to punish offspeed pitches, but there could be a massive payoff down the road. Hinds is committed to Louisiana State.