Gabe Holt

Organization Prospect Rankings

• 
  Ranked Milwaukee Brewers #29 prospect in 2020
  TRACK RECORD: Holt was Texas Tech's leadoff hitter from the day he walked onto campus. Finding a defensive fit was a tougher task. He began his career at second base, then moved to right field late in his freshman season. He played in the outfield as a sophomore with the Red Raiders, but moved back to second base in pro ball. As a draft-eligible sophomore Holt signed for a well-above slot $400,000.
  
  SCOUTING REPORT: Holt's best asset is his plus-plus speed. He forces infielders to stay on their toes–one bobble and he can turn a groundout into a single or an error. Holt sprays the ball around the field thanks to quick hands and a very simple swing with a very modest load. He is unlikely to ever hit for much power, but he can yank the ball enough to get to five-to-eight home runs with the livelier MLB ball. Holt's hands are hard and his actions need to speed up if he's going to stick at second base. He was also below-average in right field thanks to poor routes and reads. His speed might fit better one day in center because the reads are easier. His above-average arm will fit anywhere.
  
  THE FUTURE: Holt's ability to be a table setter and to steal bases gives him a shot at being an MLB regular or useful reserve, but he has a lot of work to do to refine his glove.

Draft Prospects

• Ranked #121 prospect in 2019 draft
  Holt took over as Texas Tech's leadoff hitter from the first game of his freshman season and has been a steady presence as the Red Raiders' table-setter ever since. He's well-suited for the role as his ground-ball and line-drive approach relies on spreading the ball to all fields. Once he makes contact, his plus-plus speed and aggressive baserunning makes him a threat to always take the extra base. He'll even turn grounders through the infield into doubles if the outfielders don't charge aggressively enough. While Holt's speed is easily his best tool, he has a chance to be an above-average hitter thanks to quick hands and a solid understanding of the strike zone. His power and his power potential are quite limited. His swing is not generally geared to driving the ball over the wall, as he has very little load. That's probably smart because the 5-foot-10, 170-pounder doesn't really have the size or strength to hit more than 5-10 home runs a year. Holt is an excellent basestealer who could top 60 steals in his first two seasons at Texas Tech. Defensively, Holt has yet to find a true home. He was Texas Tech's second baseman for much of his freshman season, but he's below-average there and will need to improve his actions and soften his hands to play there in pro ball. He's spent most of the past year and a half in right field, but his routes and reads leave much to be desired. There is some belief among scouts that he could end up being better in center field as the reads of fly balls off the bat are easier. This year, he has spent a little time in center field and has even filled in at shortstop, although he didn't look comfortable there. Holt's profile won't sell every team, as he lacks power and has no clear defensive position, but he can run and get on base.

• February, 2020 Scouting Report
  TRACK RECORD: Holt was Texas Tech's leadoff hitter from the day he walked onto campus. Finding a defensive fit was a tougher task. He began his career at second base, then moved to right field late in his freshman season. He played in the outfield as a sophomore with the Red Raiders, but moved back to second base in pro ball. As a draft-eligible sophomore Holt signed for a well-above slot $400,000.
  
  SCOUTING REPORT: Holt's best asset is his plus-plus speed. He forces infielders to stay on their toes–one bobble and he can turn a groundout into a single or an error. Holt sprays the ball around the field thanks to quick hands and a very simple swing with a very modest load. He is unlikely to ever hit for much power, but he can yank the ball enough to get to five-to-eight home runs with the livelier MLB ball. Holt's hands are hard and his actions need to speed up if he's going to stick at second base. He was also below-average in right field thanks to poor routes and reads. His speed might fit better one day in center because the reads are easier. His above-average arm will fit anywhere.
  
  THE FUTURE: Holt's ability to be a table setter and to steal bases gives him a shot at being an MLB regular or useful reserve, but he has a lot of work to do to refine his glove.
• December, 2018 Scouting Report
  Holt took over as Texas Tech's leadoff hitter from the first game of his freshman season and has been a steady presence as the Red Raiders' table-setter ever since. He's well-suited for the role as his ground-ball and line-drive approach relies on spreading the ball to all fields. Once he makes contact, his plus-plus speed and aggressive baserunning makes him a threat to always take the extra base. He'll even turn grounders through the infield into doubles if the outfielders don't charge aggressively enough. While Holt's speed is easily his best tool, he has a chance to be an above-average hitter thanks to quick hands and a solid understanding of the strike zone. His power and his power potential are quite limited. His swing is not generally geared to driving the ball over the wall, as he has very little load. That's probably smart because the 5-foot-10, 170-pounder doesn't really have the size or strength to hit more than 5-10 home runs a year. Holt is an excellent basestealer who could top 60 steals in his first two seasons at Texas Tech. Defensively, Holt has yet to find a true home. He was Texas Tech's second baseman for much of his freshman season, but he's below-average there and will need to improve his actions and soften his hands to play there in pro ball. He's spent most of the past year and a half in right field, but his routes and reads leave much to be desired. There is some belief among scouts that he could end up being better in center field as the reads of fly balls off the bat are easier. This year, he has spent a little time in center field and has even filled in at shortstop, although he didn't look comfortable there. Holt's profile won't sell every team, as he lacks power and has no clear defensive position, but he can run and get on base.