Cal Conley Stats & Scouting Report — College Baseball, MLB Draft, Prospects

AB	38
AVG	.211
OBP	.286
SLG	.316
HR	1

Full name Calvin Wayne Conley
Born 07/17/1999 in Orlando, FL
Profile Ht.: 5'8" / Wt.: 185 / Bats: S / Throws: R
School Texas Tech
Drafted in the 4th round (126th overall) by the Atlanta Braves in 2021 (signed for $422,500).

View Draft Report

Conley signed with Miami out of high school and actually was a Hurricane for one semester before transferring to Texas Tech. He was draft-eligible last year as a redshirt freshman, but went unpicked in the abbreviated five-round draft. That won’t happen again this year. He provided consistent offense in the middle of Texas Tech’s lineup while also anchoring the infield defense. He almost single-handedly beat Army in a regional game with three hits and two home runs. As a pro, Conley projects as more of a well-rounded player than one with a lot of clear plus tools. The switch-hitter has pull power from both sides of the plate, and can poke a ball out down the line to the opposite field, but he projects to have fringe-average power with a wood bat. He puts together consistent at-bats and should be an average hitter. Defensively, Conley is athletic and he shows solid range going to his left. It’s when he has to go deep in the hole that his limitations at shortstop become apparent. If his momentum is taking him away from first, he doesn’t have the arm strength to make the play. It sometimes limits his range as well, as he will try to field backhanders to get his feet set for the throw. He has a solid internal clock. He should be able to stay in the dirt because his hands work well, but he probably fits better at second base long term.

Top Rankings

Organization Prospect Rankings

BA Grade/Risk: 45/High

Track Record: The son of former pro player and coach Brian Conley, Cal was signed for $425,000 in the fourth round of the 2021 draft after serving as the sparkplug for Texas Tech. After a modest pro debut in 2021, Conley improved on both sides of the ball in 2022, where he played at both Class A affiliates and showed impressive on-base ability and speed in the Arizona Fall League.

Scouting Report: While Conley remains a prospect who impresses more for his collection of his solid tools, grinder mentality and high baseball IQ, scouts in 2022 saw a player with plus speed and above-average defensive potential at shortstop. Both are improved grades from a year ago, when most evaluators thought he was a better fit for second base. He has solid actions at the position and is one of the more polished and reliable defensive infielders in Atlanta's system. Offensively, he'll have to rely on plate discipline and speed more than power. While his in-game power production was up significantly year-over-year--he slugged .420 in 2022 and .307 in 2021--Conley has modest exit velocity numbers and below-average raw power. Without adding more power, he might have to cut down his chase rate at higher levels to sustain solid offensive production. But he showed impressive baserunning ability and went 36-for-44 (82%) in stolen base attempts--the most in the Braves system.

The Future: The 2022 season was a step forward for Conley, who now has a better chance to provide big league value thanks to his defensive ability. His next test will be proving his bat against upper minors pitching.

Scouting Grades: Hit: 45. Power: 30. Speed: 60. Fielding: 55. Arm: 50.
Track Record: Conley is the son of former professional player and coach Brian Conley and was the sparkplug of Texas Tech’s lineup and the anchor of the team’s defense this spring. The Braves signed him for $422,500 in the fourth round and assigned him to Low-A Augusta, where he struggled with the bat while playing shortstop and second.

Scouting Report: A tough, but smaller switch-hitting infielder, Conley stands out more for a collection of average-ish tools than any individual carrying tool. He’s shown consistent contact ability and some pop from both sides in the past, though in his debut he swung and missed at an average rate and scouts don’t believe his 15-home run power in college will translate to a wood bat. His top end exit velocity numbers this summer don’t suggest average power production, though Conley should stick at a middle infield position where that’s less of an issue. He’s a solid runner with reliable hands and the Braves were happy with how he handled shortstop, though his arm strength and range fit better at second base. He has solid instincts and a good internal clock.

The Future: Conley will need to add more power to profile as anything more than a utility infield-type player who looks stretched as an everyday shortstop.

Draft Prospects

Conley signed with Miami out of high school and actually was a Hurricane for one semester before transferring to Texas Tech. He was draft-eligible last year as a redshirt freshman, but went unpicked in the abbreviated five-round draft. That won’t happen again this year. He provided consistent offense in the middle of Texas Tech’s lineup while also anchoring the infield defense. He almost single-handedly beat Army in a regional game with three hits and two home runs. As a pro, Conley projects as more of a well-rounded player than one with a lot of clear plus tools. The switch-hitter has pull power from both sides of the plate, and can poke a ball out down the line to the opposite field, but he projects to have fringe-average power with a wood bat. He puts together consistent at-bats and should be an average hitter. Defensively, Conley is athletic and he shows solid range going to his left. It’s when he has to go deep in the hole that his limitations at shortstop become apparent. If his momentum is taking him away from first, he doesn’t have the arm strength to make the play. It sometimes limits his range as well, as he will try to field backhanders to get his feet set for the throw. He has a solid internal clock. He should be able to stay in the dirt because his hands work well, but he probably fits better at second base long term.

Scouting Reports

BA Grade/Risk: 45/High

Track Record: The son of former pro player and coach Brian Conley, Cal was signed for $425,000 in the fourth round of the 2021 draft after serving as the sparkplug for Texas Tech. After a modest pro debut in 2021, Conley improved on both sides of the ball in 2022, where he played at both Class A affiliates and showed impressive on-base ability and speed in the Arizona Fall League.

Scouting Report: While Conley remains a prospect who impresses more for his collection of his solid tools, grinder mentality and high baseball IQ, scouts in 2022 saw a player with plus speed and above-average defensive potential at shortstop. Both are improved grades from a year ago, when most evaluators thought he was a better fit for second base. He has solid actions at the position and is one of the more polished and reliable defensive infielders in Atlanta's system. Offensively, he'll have to rely on plate discipline and speed more than power. While his in-game power production was up significantly year-over-year--he slugged .420 in 2022 and .307 in 2021--Conley has modest exit velocity numbers and below-average raw power. Without adding more power, he might have to cut down his chase rate at higher levels to sustain solid offensive production. But he showed impressive baserunning ability and went 36-for-44 (82%) in stolen base attempts--the most in the Braves system.

The Future: The 2022 season was a step forward for Conley, who now has a better chance to provide big league value thanks to his defensive ability. His next test will be proving his bat against upper minors pitching.

Scouting Grades: Hit: 45. Power: 30. Speed: 60. Fielding: 55. Arm: 50.
BA Grade/Risk: 45/High

Track Record: The son of former pro player and coach Brian Conley, Cal was signed for $425,000 in the fourth round of the 2021 draft after serving as the sparkplug for Texas Tech. After a modest pro debut in 2021, Conley improved on both sides of the ball in 2022, where he played at both Class A affiliates and showed impressive on-base ability and speed in the Arizona Fall League.

Scouting Report: While Conley remains a prospect who impresses more for his collection of his solid tools, grinder mentality and high baseball IQ, scouts in 2022 saw a player with plus speed and above-average defensive potential at shortstop. Both are improved grades from a year ago, when most evaluators thought he was a better fit for second base. He has solid actions at the position and is one of the more polished and reliable defensive infielders in Atlanta's system. Offensively, he'll have to rely on plate discipline and speed more than power. While his in-game power production was up significantly year-over-year--he slugged .420 in 2022 and .307 in 2021--Conley has modest exit velocity numbers and below-average raw power. Without adding more power, he might have to cut down his chase rate at higher levels to sustain solid offensive production. But he showed impressive baserunning ability and went 36-for-44 (82%) in stolen base attempts--the most in the Braves system.

The Future: The 2022 season was a step forward for Conley, who now has a better chance to provide big league value thanks to his defensive ability. His next test will be proving his bat against upper minors pitching.

Scouting Grades: Hit: 45. Power: 30. Speed: 60. Fielding: 55. Arm: 50.
BA Grade: 40/High

Track Record: Conley is the son of former professional player and coach Brian Conley and was the sparkplug of Texas Tech&#39s lineup and the anchor of the team&#39s defense this spring. The Braves signed him for $422,500 in the fourth round and assigned him to Low-A Augusta, where he struggled with the bat while playing shortstop and second.

Scouting Report: A tough, but smaller switch-hitting infielder, Conley stands out more for a collection of average-ish tools than any individual carrying tool. He&#39s shown consistent contact ability and some pop from both sides in the past, though in his debut he swung and missed at an average rate and scouts don&#39t believe his 15-home run power in college will translate to a wood bat. His top end exit velocity numbers this summer don&#39t suggest average power production, though Conley should stick at a middle infield position where that&#39s less of an issue. He&#39s a solid runner with reliable hands and the Braves were happy with how he handled shortstop, though his arm strength and range fit better at second base. He has solid instincts and a good internal clock.

The Future: Conley will need to add more power to profile as anything more than a utility infield-type player who looks stretched as an everyday shortstop.
Track Record: Conley is the son of former professional player and coach Brian Conley and was the sparkplug of Texas Tech’s lineup and the anchor of the team’s defense this spring. The Braves signed him for $422,500 in the fourth round and assigned him to Low-A Augusta, where he struggled with the bat while playing shortstop and second.

Scouting Report: A tough, but smaller switch-hitting infielder, Conley stands out more for a collection of average-ish tools than any individual carrying tool. He’s shown consistent contact ability and some pop from both sides in the past, though in his debut he swung and missed at an average rate and scouts don’t believe his 15-home run power in college will translate to a wood bat. His top end exit velocity numbers this summer don’t suggest average power production, though Conley should stick at a middle infield position where that’s less of an issue. He’s a solid runner with reliable hands and the Braves were happy with how he handled shortstop, though his arm strength and range fit better at second base. He has solid instincts and a good internal clock.

The Future: Conley will need to add more power to profile as anything more than a utility infield-type player who looks stretched as an everyday shortstop.
Conley signed with Miami out of high school and actually was a Hurricane for one semester before transferring to Texas Tech. He was draft-eligible last year as a redshirt freshman, but went unpicked in the abbreviated five-round draft. That won't happen again this year. He provided consistent offense in the middle of Texas Tech's lineup while also anchoring the infield defense. He almost single-handedly beat Army in a regional game with three hits and two home runs. As a pro, Conley projects as more of a well-rounded player than one with a lot of clear plus tools. The switch-hitter has pull power from both sides of the plate, and can poke a ball out down the line to the opposite field, but he projects to have fringe-average power with a wood bat. He puts together consistent at-bats and should be an average hitter. Defensively, Conley is athletic and he shows solid range going to his left. It's when he has to go deep in the hole that his limitations at shortstop become apparent. If his momentum is taking him away from first, he doesn't have the arm strength to make the play. It sometimes limits his range as well, as he will try to field backhanders to get his feet set for the throw. He has a solid internal clock. He should be able to stay in the dirt because his hands work well, but he probably fits better at second base long term.