2024 MLB Draft Profile: Payton Green
Draft Profile: Payton Green (Georgia Tech)
Height: 6'3
Weight: 190
Bats/Throws: Right/Right
Payton Green, an impact transfer bat for Georgia Tech in 2024, is poised to be selected in the earlier rounds of the MLB Draft.
Green’s initial observations offensively bring two things to mind. First, he has plus power to the pull side. He can generate power to that side, and his toolsier profile displays that in his swing when damage is evident in that direction. He can build on that raw power potential over time.
Second, he is in the realm of being a free swinger. He will chase and be aggressive at times, but for someone of his physical prowess, that is not entirely surprising.
Green’s impact on fastballs is tangible, and a plus to his profile. He has a SLG% over .800 against them from either side and has hard-hit rates of at least 53% versus either side — in addition to being able to lift them consistently. He has quality contact against higher velocity levels, which is helpful.
He does chase them out of the zone a ton, and you can expand the zone on him due to his aggressive nature. The contact quality is there though.
Another plus in Green’s game is his palpable plus arm strength. He can stick on the left side of the infield because of that alone. Though his glove is decent, his long-term profile likely fits at third base based on his offensive profile and arm strength.
Green’s profile is not without holes. He needs to improve on swing decisions considerably over time, and has only homered once in ACC play so far, and has slowed down on the progression of building his walk rate in 2024. In addition, he struggles with breaking balls. He has gotten worse against them this year and has not adapted very much in 2024, I’d like to see an OPS higher than .620 against them, at least maintaining some type of competitive balance.
Overall, Green’s profile is toolsy enough that someone should give him a look on day two of the MLB Draft. His arm strength and raw power carry his profile, but those are two important tools to possess and will make up for other deficiencies in his game. Swing decisions will never be his strength, but he needs to progress in that area against better competition. The contact quality and tools are there that he can build upon progress, but I think he will be selected somewhere in rounds 4–6.
