Justin Dirden

Organization Prospect Rankings

• 
  Ranked Houston Astros #30 prospect in 2024
  BA Grade: 40/High
  
  Track Record: Dirden spent five seasons in college before signing as an undrafted free agent following the five-round 2020 draft. Dirden turned heads in his first two professional seasons, hitting .274/.397/.537 in 2022 and .302/.384/.558 in 2023. Dirden returned to Triple-A Sugar Land to start 2023, hitting .276/.345/.489 with 24 extra-base hits over his 58 games until a hamstring injury sent him to the injured list on June 23. Dirden returned on July 16, but hit just .126/.243/.179 over 26 games before returning to the IL on Aug. 30. He was left unprotected for the 2023 Rule 5 draft and went unselected.
  
  Scouting Report: In 2023, Dirden’s contact skills were exposed by Triple-A pitching. It’s difficult to know how much of the downturn was because of nagging injuries, but Dirden’s contact skills went from fringe-average to well below-average. Dirden chased too often and was consistently fooled by spin. His average power stayed intact, as did his ability to backspin his best contact. When healthy, Dirden is an above-average runner with the ability to play an average outfield corner. His above-average arm plays in all three outfield positions.
  
  The Future: Major questions around Dirden’s ability to hit will likely limit him to a part-time role.
  
  Scouting Grades Hit: 30 | Power: 50 | Run: 55 | Field: 50 | Arm: 55
• 
  Ranked Houston Astros #9 prospect in 2023
  BA Grade/Risk: 45/High
  
  Track Record: Dirden followed an unusual path to pro ball after spending five seasons in college. He began at East Carolina in 2016 but missed the 2017 campaign after he transferred to Southeastern Missouri State. After Dirden went unselected in the five-round 2020 draft, he signed as a nondrafted free agent with the Astros. He made his pro debut with Low-A Fayetteville out of camp in 2021 and hit his way to High-A Asheville. In 2022, Dirden was assigned to Double-A Corpus Christi and hit .324/.411/.616 with 20 home runs in 92 games. He struggled for 32 games with Triple-A Sugar Land following a late-season promotion.
  
  Scouting Report: The Astros believe not even Dirden knew how athletic he was when he entered the organization. As the lefthanded-hitter began to believe more in the player he could become, the Astros began to see signs of a potential everyday regular. His offensive game is centered around his ability to consistently hit the ball hard in the air. He shows average bat-to-ball skills with an average idea, though he is prone to expanding his zone and getting out of his approach. Dirden's ability to hit the ball hard consistently plays into his slightly aggressive tendencies. He lets his plus raw power drive the ball deep to all parts of the park. An above-average runner, Dirden's speed plays less in the form of basestealing and more in his ability to get out of the box and stretch singles to doubles. His running ability allows him to play center field at an average level, but he's best in an outfield corner where his above-average arm will be an asset.
  
  The Future: Dirden is a late-bloomer--he turns 26 late in the 2023 season--with an unusual background who has developed into a potential everyday regular.
  
  Scouting Grades: Hitting: 45. Power: 55. Speed: 55. Fielding: 50. Arm: 55

• February, 2023 Scouting Report
  BA Grade/Risk: 45/High
  
  Track Record: Dirden followed an unusual path to pro ball after spending five seasons in college. He began at East Carolina in 2016 but missed the 2017 campaign after he transferred to Southeastern Missouri State. After Dirden went unselected in the five-round 2020 draft, he signed as a nondrafted free agent with the Astros. He made his pro debut with Low-A Fayetteville out of camp in 2021 and hit his way to High-A Asheville. In 2022, Dirden was assigned to Double-A Corpus Christi and hit .324/.411/.616 with 20 home runs in 92 games. He struggled for 32 games with Triple-A Sugar Land following a late-season promotion.
  
  Scouting Report: The Astros believe not even Dirden knew how athletic he was when he entered the organization. As the lefthanded-hitter began to believe more in the player he could become, the Astros began to see signs of a potential everyday regular. His offensive game is centered around his ability to consistently hit the ball hard in the air. He shows average bat-to-ball skills with an average idea, though he is prone to expanding his zone and getting out of his approach. Dirden's ability to hit the ball hard consistently plays into his slightly aggressive tendencies. He lets his plus raw power drive the ball deep to all parts of the park. An above-average runner, Dirden's speed plays less in the form of basestealing and more in his ability to get out of the box and stretch singles to doubles. His running ability allows him to play center field at an average level, but he's best in an outfield corner where his above-average arm will be an asset.
  
  The Future: Dirden is a late-bloomer--he turns 26 late in the 2023 season--with an unusual background who has developed into a potential everyday regular.
  
  Scouting Grades: Hitting: 45. Power: 55. Speed: 55. Fielding: 50. Arm: 55
• December, 2022 Scouting Report
  BA Grade/Risk: 45/High
  
  Track Record: Dirden followed an unusual path to pro ball after spending five seasons in college. He began at East Carolina in 2016 but missed the 2017 campaign after he transferred to Southeastern Missouri State. After Dirden went unselected in the five-round 2020 draft, he signed as a nondrafted free agent with the Astros. He made his pro debut with Low-A Fayetteville out of camp in 2021 and hit his way to High-A Asheville. In 2022, Dirden was assigned to Double-A Corpus Christi and hit .324/.411/.616 with 20 home runs in 92 games. He struggled for 32 games with Triple-A Sugar Land following a late-season promotion.
  
  Scouting Report: The Astros believe not even Dirden knew how athletic he was when he entered the organization. As the lefthanded-hitter began to believe more in the player he could become, the Astros began to see signs of a potential everyday regular. His offensive game is centered around his ability to consistently hit the ball hard in the air. He shows average bat-to-ball skills with an average idea, though he is prone to expanding his zone and getting out of his approach. Dirden's ability to hit the ball hard consistently plays into his slightly aggressive tendencies. He lets his plus raw power drive the ball deep to all parts of the park. An above-average runner, Dirden's speed plays less in the form of basestealing and more in his ability to get out of the box and stretch singles to doubles. His running ability allows him to play center field at an average level, but he's best in an outfield corner where his above-average arm will be an asset.
  
  The Future: Dirden is a late-bloomer--he turns 26 late in the 2023 season--with an unusual background who has developed into a potential everyday regular.
  
  Scouting Grades: Hitting: 45. Power: 55. Speed: 55. Fielding: 50. Arm: 55
• April, 2022 Scouting Report
  BA Grade: 45/High
  
  Track Record: Dirden played five years at the collegiate level, missing the 2017 season after transferring from East Carolina to Southeastern Missouri State. He signed as a nondrafted free agent after the 2020 season. He spent his first professional season split between both stops of Class A in 2021, hitting .274/.397/.537 over 83 games. Dirden was assigned to Double-A Corpus Christi out of camp this spring.
  
  Scouting Report: Dirden is an under-the-radar prospect who&#39s impressed the Astros internally with his consistency at the plate and ability to handle all three outfield positions. He&#39s an average bat-to-ball hitter with average on-base skills and above-average game power. His ability to take consistent attack angles to pitches in the zone and his barrel control allow Dirden to make the most of his contact in games.
  
  The Future: The fourth outfielder label is often thrown around as a catch-all but Dirden shows the perfect skill set for a bench player, with the ability to fill in a variety of roles defensively while providing competent and professional at-bats. Scouting Grades: Hit: 50. Power: 55. Run: 50. Fielding: 50. Arm: 50