'Professional at-bats' paved way to quick rise to Altoona for Duce Gourson

Ninth-round pick in 2024 becomes first from class to reach Double-A

After getting drafted in the ninth round out of UCLA, Duce Gourson jumped immediately into pro ball, playing in 22 games before the end of the season.

He made his pro debut with the Bradenton Marauders, playing 11 games in Single-A before a promotion to Greensboro to close out the season.

Gourson batted .229/.438/.343 with eight runs scored, six RBI, and two stolen bases with the Marauders. He also walked (10) as many times as he struck out (10) in 48 plate appearances.

A closer look at his time in Bradenton, he had a strong hard-hit rate (HH%), but his upper exit velocity numbers didn’t stand out (99.2 mph 90th percentile EV). So, he was hitting the ball 95 mph or higher 44% of the time, but he maxed out at 104.7 mph.

He didn’t chase out of the zone, and made solid contact, the profile leaned more towards to a heavy reliance on doubles as oppsoed to over-the-fence power.

The 11 games he played in Greensboro weren’t ideal, as he hit .179/.319/.205 with less power and walks and more strikeouts.