Unlike other professional sports, MLB has an industry standard scale used to evaluated players.
Whether it’s their tools or skills, players are rated based on a scale from 20-80 on myriad categories — from power to fielding to speed, for example.
Fans might hear analysts use the word plus when it comes to player evaluation, which typically starts at a 60 grade for the respective tool or skill. Plus-plus, for example, is how evaluators express a 70-grade tool.
Earning an 80 grade is beyond rare, as some scouts view an 80 grade as the best in the sport, such as Shohei Ohtani’s power, Aroldis Chapman’s fastball or Chandler Simpson’s game-breaking speed. A 50 grade is seen as average, whereas 55 is slightly above-average.
Here’s a full explanation of how scouting grades work in baseball ahead of the MLB draft:
How do MLB scouting grades work?
While scouting grades may differ slightly across scouting services, media and individual teams, they all follow the same scale.
Players are evaluated on each individual tool from a scale of 20-80, with 20 being poor and 80 being one of, if not the best, in the sport. Grades are usually based on what the player will eventually develop into rather than where they stand at the time of being drafted or early on in their professional career.
Players are also evaluated with an overall score, with players rated 60 or better usually seen as those who can develop into impactful MLB players, or even All-Stars. It’s important to note that while the scouting grades are used by virtually all of baseball, not every organization or scout gives players the same grades.
There’s also not an exact science to what grade indicates future success. For example, some teams or organizations may be more reluctant to handing out 70 or 80 grades, saving those grades for the most elite players in that category they’ve seen. Some, however, may be more willing to give players high-end grades.
MLB scouting grades scale
Here’s a look at the scouting grades scale and what they mean, as defined by MLB.
20-30: Well below average40: Below average50: Average60: Above average70-80: Well above average
To compare how different scouting services use scouting grades, here’s how Baseball America defines its grades.
20: As bad as it gets for a major leaguer.30: Poor, but not unplayable.40: Below-average45: Fringe-average50: Major league average55: Above average60: Plus70: Plus-plus. Among the best tools in the game.80: Top of the scale.
MLB draft scouting grades 2025
Only five players have overall scouting grades of 60 or better in 2025, which means they could potentially develop into an All-Star one day — or have the best chance at doing so, as scouting baseball players isn’t an exact science, of course.
Here’s a look at the top-ranked players of the 2025 MLB Draft class, according to MLB’s grades:
INF Ethan Holliday, 60LHP Kade Anderson, 60RHP Seth Hernandez, 60LHP Jamie Arnold, 60SS Eli Willits, 60
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: MLB scouting grades, explained: How players are evaluated
