Billy
Amick

Has hit the ground running in Knoxville after a part-time two-year career at Clemson one that saw most of his playing time as the designated hitter. Despite early negative reviews on Amick’s chances of sticking at third base defensively in the long term, he has improved to the point where it’s now reasonable to ask: How far above average can he rise? Last fall, Amick looked solid at the hot corner against Virginia Tech and continued to show his progress throughout the three-game series in Tuscaloosa. Amick showed sure hands and better than average range. His arm strength was also above average to plus from all angles and while on the move. He made all of the plays that came his way, including ranging far to his right, well behind the third base bag, for a ground ball that he fielded cleanly and fired on a line to first for the out. Offensively, Amick can be compared to Trevor Story; one who can hit for both above-average power and batting average. On Friday Amick was his usual self with early pitch recognition, a great feel to hit and the resulting hard contact. He walked twice and singled twice. On Saturday, it was the Amick I had not seen before. He seemed confused at the plate, not seeing the ball well at all, chasing a fastball above his letters for a strikeout and then taking a called third on a down/away fastball in the zone. On Sunday he was back to his usual hit-collecting self with three knocks in five at-bats. For the season he currently has a .442 ISO to go along with a 15.6% strikeout rate and an 11.1% walk rate. He has also mastered the art of hitting the ball in the air (46% fly ball rate), keeping it off the ground which allows his plus bat speed and 60-grade raw power (114 max EV) to be put into full use. Overall, Amick combines performance on both sides of the ball with tools, makeup and analytic-friendly data. If the draft was tomorrow, he would hear his name called in the first round.

Cape Cod: Amick was a breakout star as a sophomore who played a big role in Clemson’s second-half surge to a national seed this spring, hitting .413/.464/.772 with 13 homers and 17 doubles in 167 at-bats. But he spent most of the spring DHing and entered the transfer portal this summer with an eye toward playing third base next spring, and he wound up latching on with Tennessee. Hyannis alternated Amick and Smith at the hot corner during the 11 games Amick was on the Cape, and right now he remains a liability at the position, with suspect lateral mobility and arm accuracy. Perhaps he just needs more reps, but he looked uncomfortable at the position and might be a better fit at first base. Regardless, Amick’s righthanded bat should play, as it did this summer, when he hit .368 with two homers and two doubles in 38 at-bats. He has outstanding barrel awareness and strike zone judgment, as well as plus raw power that plays to all fields — one of his homers went to the spacious pull side at McKeon Park, and the other went to the oppo-gap in right-center. He’s a below-average runner but might have enough athleticism to handle left field if needed down the road.

Position: 3B/2B

Body: 6-1, 205lbs. Physical presence, mature frame. Athleticism has trended up. 

Hit: Powerful, athletic stance. Controlled hand load and barrel turn load. Medium leg kick with medium stride length. Barrel lag, launches uphill through contact with big time bat speed. Full rotation in the lower half. Whippy barrel and extension through contact. 

Power: 103 mph Exit Velocity. Big time raw power. Juice to all fields. 

Defense: Short, controlled footwork. Fluid exchange, quick hands and athletic body control. Fields the ball out front and exchanges at the belt. Tempo plays up in game.

Arm: 90 mph INF velo. Short arm action, showed accurate throws from multiple slots. 

Speed:  6.84 sixty. Athletic start and powerful strides. Time is trending down from earlier looks and has improved as his athleticism has improved. 

Strong 6-0, 190lb frame with athletic build. Moderate projection remains with an athletic base to continue building on. Relaxed set up at the plate with slight pre pitch rhythm. Medium leg lift times a short hand load and coils the barrel at the top. The stride foot hits on the ball of foot and firms up the front side as the back side fires. Good hip rotation and torque present. Lofted path at contact with good extension. Above avg. raw power with pullside tendencies. Multiple HRs during BP rounds, HR and double in game, both to LCF. Athletic defender with good body control. Smooth with the transfers and maintains rhythm through the fielding process. Able to control the arm slot based on body position and get the ball out quickly. Plenty of arm strength is present when needed.