Name: Emaarion Boyd
Position: OF
Born: August 22, 2003
Country: US
Bats/Throws: R/R
Height/Weight: 6’1″ 177lbs
How Acquired: Drafted in the 11th Round of the 2022 Draft by the Phillies
Signed: August 1, 2022
Bonus: $647,500
Options Remaining: 3
Rule 5 Eligible: 2026
MiLB Free Agency: 2028
Stats
Hitter Statcast
*Statcast data only available for FSL (2021-2023), AAA (2023), and isolated select games and locations.
| Year | Balls in Play | Average EV | 90th Percentile EV | Max EV | Median Launch Angle |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 | 7 | 77.4 | 86.2 | 87.3 | 12 |
| 2023 | 267 | 82.8 | 98.5 | 105.1 | 2 |
Prospect Rankings
Role: Second Division Regular/4th Outfielder
Risk: Extreme – Boyd was one of the lightest hitting batters in the Phillies org in 2023. The Phillies were also already starting to shuffle him off to an outfield corner, despite his speed, and his bat will not play in a corner.
Summary: There isn’t a lot of deception or surprise to Emaarion Boyd as a baseball player. He is skinny and thin framed, and he posted the second lowest average exit velocity among measured hitters in the Phillies system. He had a 90th exit velocity of 98.6mph, and his average exit velocity increased over the season, so there is a chance he does have a bit more impact coming. However, he doesn’t have the body where he is going to add a lot of usable strength. He got the ball off the ground more than Justin Crawford, but his ground ball rate of 60% was among minor league leaders, and he only had 14 extra base hits. At the plate, he isn’t a hacker (47.6% swing rate) and he rarely missed fastballs, but he consequently ran up high whiff rates on changeups and sliders. His gaudy on base percentage was further bolstered by being hit by 22 pitches. Boyd has plus plus speed, but he doesn’t fully use it on the bases or in the field. He stole 56 bases, but he was caught 18 times. He mostly played left field for Clearwater while sharing a team with Crawford, and there are some worries that he won’t be a center fielder defensively due to his route running. Overall, there isn’t enough in his bat to play left field unless he is going to be Juan Pierre offensively. If he can play center and weaponize his speed on the bases, there is a starting outcome potential for him.
2024 Outlook: Boyd likely moves to Jersey Shore where he likely still won’t get center field reps, but he might be able to show the route running acumen that indicates he would be able to play there if not sharing a roster with a better center field prospect. The biggest watch point will be whether he added any strength this offseason and if it translates to more impact at the plate.
Role: Defense First Everyday Center Fielder
Risk: Extreme – Boyd is not physically at a level where he would survive the major leagues, and unlike some of his peers there is a worry his body won’t ever allow him to get there. On the positive side, he looked like he belonged in pro ball after signing.
Summary: The Phillies drafted Boyd in the 11th round and signed him to their second highest bonus in their class behind Justin Crawford. Boyd is a lanky athletic right handed hitter. His biggest asset is his speed which is at least plus plus and translates to plus plus defense in center field. At the plate, Boyd showed a solid approach and feel for contact in his pro debut. Right now that contact comes with little impact, with Boyd currently lacking strength. Boyd has a narrow frame, and while he should put on strength going forward, it is unlikely that he will ever add enough to be a power threat.
Boyd’s defensive ceiling gives him a high floor to build upon, but it is not a high enough floor to be a major leaguer, as high end speedsters before him like Roman Quinn, Billy Hamilton, and Jarrod Dyson have struggled to be everyday players and in some cases not even bench bats. In order for Boyd to be a good prospect, he will need to be an at least minimal offensive threat. While he will never be a huge home run hitter, it will be important that he is putting the ball for solid line drive contact and not just slapping and running.
2023 Outlook: Boyd looked polished enough in his debut that the Phillies sent him to Clearwater after the FCL season ended. He should return to the Threshers and will likely spend all or most of the season in Florida.
Role: Second Division Regular/4th Outfielder
Risk: Extreme – Boyd was one of the lightest hitting batters in the Phillies org in 2023. The Phillies were also already starting to shuffle him off to an outfield corner, despite his speed, and his bat will not play in a corner.
Summary: There isn’t a lot of deception or surprise to Emaarion Boyd as a baseball player. He is skinny and thin framed, and he posted the second lowest average exit velocity among measured hitters in the Phillies system. He had a 90th exit velocity of 98.6mph, and his average exit velocity increased over the season, so there is a chance he does have a bit more impact coming. However, he doesn’t have the body where he is going to add a lot of usable strength. He got the ball off the ground more than Justin Crawford, but his ground ball rate of 60% was among minor league leaders, and he only had 14 extra base hits. At the plate, he isn’t a hacker (47.6% swing rate) and he rarely missed fastballs, but he consequently ran up high whiff rates on changeups and sliders. His gaudy on base percentage was further bolstered by being hit by 22 pitches. Boyd has plus plus speed, but he doesn’t fully use it on the bases or in the field. He stole 56 bases, but he was caught 18 times. He mostly played left field for Clearwater while sharing a team with Crawford, and there are some worries that he won’t be a center fielder defensively due to his route running. Overall, there isn’t enough in his bat to play left field unless he is going to be Juan Pierre offensively. If he can play center and weaponize his speed on the bases, there is a starting outcome potential for him.
2024 Outlook: Boyd likely moves to Jersey Shore where he likely still won’t get center field reps, but he might be able to show the route running acumen that indicates he would be able to play there if not sharing a roster with a better center field prospect. The biggest watch point will be whether he added any strength this offseason and if it translates to more impact at the plate.
Role: Defense First Everyday Center Fielder
Risk: Extreme – Boyd is not physically at a level where he would survive the major leagues, and unlike some of his peers there is a worry his body won’t ever allow him to get there. On the positive side, he looked like he belonged in pro ball after signing.
Summary: The Phillies drafted Boyd in the 11th round and signed him to their second highest bonus in their class behind Justin Crawford. Boyd is a lanky athletic right handed hitter. His biggest asset is his speed which is at least plus plus and translates to plus plus defense in center field. At the plate, Boyd showed a solid approach and feel for contact in his pro debut. Right now that contact comes with little impact, with Boyd currently lacking strength. Boyd has a narrow frame, and while he should put on strength going forward, it is unlikely that he will ever add enough to be a power threat.
Boyd’s defensive ceiling gives him a high floor to build upon, but it is not a high enough floor to be a major leaguer, as high end speedsters before him like Roman Quinn, Billy Hamilton, and Jarrod Dyson have struggled to be everyday players and in some cases not even bench bats. In order for Boyd to be a good prospect, he will need to be an at least minimal offensive threat. While he will never be a huge home run hitter, it will be important that he is putting the ball for solid line drive contact and not just slapping and running.
2023 Outlook: Boyd looked polished enough in his debut that the Phillies sent him to Clearwater after the FCL season ended. He should return to the Threshers and will likely spend all or most of the season in Florida.