Jalen Battles will be taking his defensive talents to the west coast of Florida, officially signing with the Tampa Bay Rays.
Official got the best job in the world 🤷🏽‍♂️💯 @RaysBaseball #RaysUp pic.twitter.com/haJRKik88p
— Jb (@Jalenbattles2) July 26, 2022
Battles has been touted as one of the best defensive prospects heading into the MLB Draft. He was drafted in the 5th round, 164th overall by the Rays, in a draft class that includes two other shortstops.
Battles’ journey to the majors is honest, being a junior-college product before Arkansas. The Philadelphia Phillies drafted Battles in 2019, but he elected to return to college.
5th-rder Jalen Battles signs with @RaysBaseball for $247,500 (slot 164 value = $328,400). @RazorbackBSB SS, one of top defenders in college class. @MLBDraft
— Jim Callis (@jimcallisMLB) July 26, 2022
As a Razorback, Battles had a .279 career batting average and 122 career starts at shortstop. Alongside Robert Moore, who signed with the Milwaukee Brewers, he created the best double-play duo in college baseball.