July 17, 2021 – West Palm Beach, FL –
Gunner Halter, a shortstop out of Oklahoma City University, is now a member of the Washington Nationals organization. Halter has been drafted two times, once in 2017 by the Toronto Blue Jays in the 22nd round and in 2018 by the Cleveland Indians in the 26th round. Halter is an intriguing prospect, not just due to his father playing in the majors previously.
Halter is a utility guy who seems to be able to do everything well in the field. Gunner has always been exceptional hitting for average and has some decent pop on his swing. In just his freshman year at Mississippi State, Halter was outstanding, constantly providing plenty of production at the plate. He ended the season with 35 extra-base hits and 19 home runs. Along with his team-leading .440 average, Halter was already one of the best hitters on the team.
In his sophomore season, Halter had a similar story, leading his team in 5 statistical categories. He slightly improved his power numbers by hitting 42 extra-base hits and 20 home runs. His efforts during his sophomore year earned Halter MVP at the NJCAA Region II tournament.
After Halter’s sophomore season, his power numbers decreased significantly; in fact, all of his numbers decreased. In his third year with Mississippi State, Halter slashed .287/.364/.350 with only one home run in 54 games. Whether it was mental or physical, Halter was not the same player from previous years.
However, in the next two seasons with Oklahoma City University, Halter slowly played back to his standards, Hitting 21 home runs over the next two seasons while slashing a .718 slugging percentage.
While the stats are not as polarizing as the ones Halter posted in his first two years, he has proved to be a steady presence in the lineup with solid fielding. Halter has also shown versatility in the field, playing anywhere in the field and everywhere in the outfield. With his soft hands and quick, athletic frame, Halter can be a huge plus defensively. Halter has also had some work pitching and a fastball that can reach around 92-93 mph.
While versatility is a plus in baseball, Halter will have to show that same level of consistency from his first two years with Mississippi State in the minors. He has proven to have a great eye at the plate along with decent speed, yet his power and true potential remain a mystery. Halter will be a fun player to keep your eyes on while he tries to figure out who he is as a player.
