Aidan West showed up this spring bigger, faster and stronger, and it didn’t take long for scouts to notice. With guidance from MLB outfielder and fellow Maryland native Jackson Merrill, West turned a key offseason into a breakout year.
The Long Reach High School shortstop added more than 10 pounds of muscle, powered his way into the record books and positioned himself as a potential second- or third-round pick in July’s MLB draft.
“I’ve just tried to create as many opportunities for me as I can,” West said. “I also wanted to pass the eye test and not be looked at as a skinny, scrawny guy out there my senior year. I wanted to leave no doubt.
“Having 15 to 20 guys show up to watch you take batting practice before a game and staying to watch is pretty crazy. It was awesome to experience, and I couldn’t ask for anymore.”
West is a 6-foot-2, 205-pound shortstop who uses a compact left-handed swing to drive the ball with authority into the gaps. He makes it look easy at the plate and has made notable strides throughout high school to develop into an impact hitter.
West also boasts notable above-average speed. He went 34 for 34 on stole-base attempts as a senior this spring. He has the speed and athleticism to take an extra base on a ball hit into the gap and to steal bases when he is on first or second.
“My physicality is my biggest strength right now,” West said. “I take a lot of pride in being an all-around type of guy and also the speed I added. An individual goal I set this season was to break the stolen base record, and I cleared it by 12 bags this year in like 20 games. That was a big thing for me was leaving no doubt about every single one of my tools, and I really try my best to impact my team successfully in any type of way.”
Defensively, West plays with poise and natural feel at shortstop. He flashes solid range, fluid actions, quick transfers and a strong, accurate arm.
While West hopes to stick at shortstop long-term, he’s open to moving around the diamond if it helps his team win and gets him on the field.
“In the future, I just want to settle in (defensively) wherever I end up playing,” West said. ” I just want to prove that my arm strength can play anywhere in the field. That was a big focus in the offseason was showing the arm strength at shortstop. That’s still what I am focusing on improving moving forward.”
In addition to his rising draft stock, West is committed to playing at North Carolina State. His decision was shaped by a strong relationship with the coaching staff, a genuine appreciation for the university and a meaningful personal connection to the program.
“My grandfather Eddie actually played there in the early 1950s, so he was a catcher and a quarterback there,” West said. “I unfortunately never got to meet him, but you know my dad and my grandma always told me stories about him. I’ve been writing his initials in the dirt since I was like 10 years old, even before the recruiting process. That was a huge part.
“It came down to NC State and Maryland. Playing in the ACC was a huge part, too, especially in North Carolina. It doesn’t get better than that.”
Video of Aidan West.
Dan Zielinski III has covered the MLB draft for 10 years. He has interviewed 580 of the top draft prospects in that period, including four No. 1 overall picks. Multiple publications, including Baseball America, USA Today, MLB.com, The Arizona Republic and The Dallas Morning News, have quoted his work, while he has appeared on radio stations as a “MLB draft expert.” Follow him on Twitter @DanZielinski3.
