The first thing that immediately stands out about Ethan Bass is how all of the players on the field tend to gravitate towards him. He's a well-liked guy in the dugout thanks to his hair-on-fire mentality, easy going temperament and ultra-competitive gamer personality between the lines. Bass is a swing-tinkerer who is finally beginning to come into his own at the plate. There's been several variations of hand setups and leg kicks in his swing over the years. Of late he's been more upright in his setup, hands resting at shoulder height with a moderate stride and leg-lift to help incorporate his lower half. It's allowing him to tap into more of his natural raw power as ringing doubles and shots off the wall have become more prevalent of late. Bass generates whippy bat speed and has shown feel for getting to his pull-side with bigger and louder intent over the last calendar year. The hit tool has ticked up in the right direction over the last year too. Better still, Bass is a plus runner who will add value on the bases.
With that said, when teams are buying this profile it is also because of the glove. Bass is a bouncy defender who is light on his feet with a gliding nature about his play. His footwork and natural feel for the dirt are rivaled by very few in the class. He can make just about every throw from every angle and makes playing the shortstop position look like an art form. He's shown capable of playing third base at a high level too if for some reason he outgrows the hot corner. There is the potential for a true plus-or-better glove here.
If the bat continues its rocket ship trajectory as July approach, Bass has early-round tools. A true joy to watch play the game.
