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Austin Charles
- Quad Cities River Bandits - A+
- SS
Collapse Explore Scouting Report
- Bats: S / Throws: R
- Age: 22
- Rule 5 Eligible: After 2027 Season
- Acquisition Method: Draft
Scouting Report
Charles was off to a hot start in 2026 before being sidelined due to a hip and stomach ligament issue that required surgery in early June. Charles was recently added to the 60-Day IL, and it seems unlikely that he will return to the River Bandits this season.
Before the injury, the 22-year-old infielder demonstrated all the skills and intangibles that made him an intriguing prospect a couple of seasons ago in Low-A Columbia.
In 30 games and 123 plate appearances, Charles was slashing .306/.377/.491 with an .868 OPS, .185 ISO, and 121 wRC+. The lanky (he's 6'5) prospect also had three home runs, 20 runs scored, 19 RBI, and eight stolen bases on nine attempts. It was a nice bounce-back for Charles after he struggled in his initial exposure in High-A in 2025 (57 wRC+ in 232 PA).
Charles was a 20th-round pick in the 2022 MLB Draft out of Stockdale High School in Bakersfield. He had a commitment to UC Santa Barbara, but signed with the Royals after they offered him an overslot signing bonus of $429,500. Charles was a multi-sport athlete in high school who didn't focus solely on baseball, yet possessed intriguing offensive and defensive tools that got the attention of MLB scouts. He was always seen as a bit of a raw prospect, much like Lorenzo Cain, but Charles has developed nicely over the past couple of years and has gotten rave reviews regarding his leadership and makeup.
The injury is a bummer because Charles was likely on his way to earning a promotion to Double-A ball around this time. If fully healthy, he could be making his Double-A debut on Minor League Opening Day in 2027.
Monthly Splits
| Split | Team | G | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | BB | IBB | SO | SB | CS | AVG | OBP | SLG | OPS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| No Outs | QC | 25 | 32 | -- | 10 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 3 | 0 | 9 | -- | -- | .313 | .389 | .406 | .795 |
| Two Outs | QC | 28 | 38 | -- | 11 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 8 | 5 | 0 | 7 | -- | -- | .289 | .372 | .500 | .872 |
| Runners at 1st & 2nd | QC | 6 | 6 | -- | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | -- | -- | .167 | .167 | .167 | .334 |
| One Out | QC | 25 | 38 | -- | 12 | 3 | 0 | 2 | 7 | 4 | 0 | 11 | -- | -- | .316 | .372 | .553 | .925 |
| Ahead in Count | QC | 23 | 24 | -- | 8 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 8 | 12 | 0 | 2 | -- | -- | .333 | .556 | .667 | 1.223 |
| Starter | QC | 30 | 48 | -- | 14 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 5 | 0 | 10 | -- | -- | .292 | .358 | .333 | .691 |
| Batting Seventh | QC | 1 | 3 | -- | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | -- | -- | .333 | .333 | .667 | 1.000 |
| Runners at 1st & 3rd | QC | 8 | 8 | -- | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 3 | -- | -- | .125 | .222 | .125 | .347 |
| Batting Sixth | QC | 23 | 84 | -- | 25 | 6 | 1 | 2 | 15 | 9 | 0 | 19 | -- | -- | .298 | .362 | .464 | .826 |
| Bases Loaded | QC | 3 | 2 | -- | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 0 | -- | -- | .500 | .667 | 1.000 | 1.667 |
| On Grass | QC | 30 | 108 | 20 | 33 | 9 | 1 | 3 | 19 | 12 | 0 | 27 | 8 | 1 | .306 | .377 | .491 | .868 |
| Day Games | QC | 8 | 29 | 4 | 7 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 2 | 1 | .241 | .233 | .517 | .750 |
| Extra Innings | QC | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | .000 | .000 | .000 | .000 |
| Home Games | QC | 16 | 56 | 6 | 12 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 8 | 6 | 0 | 15 | 5 | 1 | .214 | .286 | .321 | .607 |
| First Inning | QC | 9 | 5 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | .000 | .375 | .000 | .375 |
| Second Inning | QC | 23 | 22 | 6 | 10 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 2 | 1 | .455 | .455 | .682 | 1.137 |
| Away Games | QC | 14 | 52 | 14 | 21 | 3 | 1 | 3 | 11 | 6 | 0 | 12 | 3 | 0 | .404 | .475 | .673 | 1.148 |
| Seventh Inning | QC | 17 | 15 | 3 | 5 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 0 | .333 | .412 | .533 | .945 |
| Runner at 3rd | QC | 4 | 4 | -- | 2 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 1 | -- | -- | .500 | .400 | 1.250 | 1.650 |
| Behind in Count | QC | 24 | 48 | -- | 12 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 8 | 0 | 0 | 16 | -- | -- | .250 | .245 | .354 | .599 |
| Eighth Inning | QC | 12 | 11 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 0 | .182 | .250 | .273 | .523 |
| Runner at 2nd | QC | 14 | 15 | -- | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 4 | -- | -- | .200 | .294 | .200 | .494 |
| May | QC | 10 | 36 | 3 | 7 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 4 | 3 | 0 | 16 | 0 | 0 | .194 | .250 | .333 | .583 |
| Leading Off Inning | QC | 22 | 22 | -- | 5 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 8 | -- | -- | .227 | .346 | .273 | .619 |
| Ninth Inning | QC | 8 | 7 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | .286 | .375 | .714 | 1.089 |
| April | QC | 20 | 72 | 17 | 26 | 7 | 1 | 2 | 15 | 9 | 0 | 11 | 8 | 1 | .361 | .439 | .569 | 1.008 |
| Runners at 2nd & 3rd | QC | 6 | 5 | -- | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 3 | -- | -- | .400 | .500 | .600 | 1.100 |
| Scoring Position | QC | 26 | 40 | -- | 10 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 15 | 5 | 0 | 11 | -- | -- | .250 | .326 | .375 | .701 |
| Third Inning | QC | 10 | 9 | 3 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 3 | 0 | .222 | .300 | .222 | .522 |
| vs Right | QC | 30 | 93 | -- | 28 | 8 | 1 | 3 | 16 | 10 | 0 | 23 | -- | -- | .301 | .371 | .505 | .876 |
| Fourth Inning | QC | 19 | 18 | 1 | 6 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 4 | 1 | 0 | .333 | .368 | .556 | .924 |
| Fifth Inning | QC | 12 | 10 | 1 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 6 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | .400 | .417 | .800 | 1.217 |
| Runner at 1st | QC | 16 | 18 | -- | 6 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | -- | -- | .333 | .333 | .500 | .833 |
| Reliever | QC | 29 | 60 | -- | 19 | 7 | 1 | 3 | 15 | 7 | 0 | 17 | -- | -- | .317 | .391 | .617 | 1.008 |
| Sixth Inning | QC | 14 | 10 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 3 | 0 | 6 | 1 | 0 | .200 | .385 | .200 | .585 |
| Bases Empty | QC | 29 | 50 | -- | 17 | 4 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 7 | 0 | 14 | -- | -- | .340 | .431 | .580 | 1.011 |
| Night Games | QC | 22 | 79 | 16 | 26 | 7 | 1 | 1 | 13 | 12 | 0 | 21 | 6 | 0 | .329 | .424 | .481 | .905 |
| Late / Close | QC | 9 | 10 | -- | 4 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2 | -- | -- | .400 | .455 | .600 | 1.055 |
| vs Left | QC | 12 | 15 | -- | 5 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 2 | 0 | 4 | -- | -- | .333 | .412 | .400 | .812 |
| Batting Fifth | QC | 6 | 21 | -- | 7 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 4 | 3 | 0 | 8 | -- | -- | .333 | .440 | .571 | 1.011 |
| First Half | QC | 30 | 108 | 20 | 33 | 9 | 1 | 3 | 19 | 12 | 0 | 27 | 8 | 1 | .306 | .377 | .491 | .868 |
| Season | Team | LG | Level | G | AB | R | H | TB | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | BB | IBB | SO | SB | CS | AVG | OBP | SLG | OPS | GO/AO |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 | A-ROY | ACL | ROK | 3 | 11 | 1 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 0 | .273 | .273 | .273 | .546 | 1.00 |
| 2023 | 2 teams | - | Minors | 71 | 272 | 34 | 65 | 104 | 19 | 4 | 4 | 34 | 22 | 1 | 76 | 12 | 3 | .239 | .296 | .382 | .678 | 0.81 |
| 2023 | A-ROY | ACL | ROK | 2 | 11 | 5 | 5 | 11 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 | .455 | .455 | 1.000 | 1.455 | 2.00 |
| 2023 | COL | CAR | A | 69 | 261 | 29 | 60 | 93 | 18 | 3 | 3 | 31 | 22 | 1 | 73 | 12 | 3 | .230 | .290 | .356 | .646 | 0.79 |
| 2024 | COL | CAR | A | 117 | 409 | 62 | 105 | 158 | 15 | 4 | 10 | 64 | 50 | 0 | 124 | 36 | 7 | .257 | .353 | .386 | .739 | 0.65 |
| 2025 | 2 teams | - | Minors | 63 | 220 | 24 | 45 | 65 | 10 | 2 | 2 | 20 | 19 | 0 | 65 | 11 | 5 | .205 | .260 | .295 | .555 | 0.59 |
| 2025 | A-ROY | ACL | ROK | 4 | 15 | 0 | 3 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 0 | .200 | .200 | .267 | .467 | 0.17 |
| 2025 | QC | MID | A+ | 59 | 205 | 24 | 42 | 61 | 9 | 2 | 2 | 20 | 19 | 0 | 60 | 11 | 5 | .205 | .264 | .298 | .562 | 0.63 |
| 2026 | QC | MID | A+ | 30 | 108 | 20 | 33 | 53 | 9 | 1 | 3 | 19 | 12 | 0 | 27 | 8 | 1 | .306 | .377 | .491 | .868 | 0.85 |
| Date | Team | OPP | AB | R | H | TB | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | BB | IBB | SO | SB | CS | AVG | OBP | SLG | HBP | SAC | SF |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-04-07 | QC | vs WIS | 2 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | .500 | .750 | 1.000 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 2026-04-08 | QC | vs WIS | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | .200 | .500 | .400 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 2026-04-09 | QC | vs WIS | 4 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | .222 | .462 | .444 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 2026-04-10 | QC | vs WIS | 3 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | .250 | .438 | .500 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 2026-04-12 | QC | vs WIS | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | .200 | .368 | .400 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 2026-04-12 | QC | vs WIS | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | .167 | .318 | .333 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 2026-04-14 | QC | @ CR | 5 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | .261 | .370 | .435 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 2026-04-16 | QC | @ CR | 3 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | .308 | .400 | .462 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 2026-04-16 | QC | @ CR | 2 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | .321 | .441 | .464 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| 2026-04-17 | QC | @ CR | 2 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | .333 | .474 | .467 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 2026-04-18 | QC | @ CR | 4 | 2 | 2 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 0 | .353 | .476 | .559 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| 2026-04-21 | QC | vs LAN | 3 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | .378 | .500 | .595 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 2026-04-22 | QC | vs LAN | 4 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | .366 | .480 | .585 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 2026-04-23 | QC | vs LAN | 4 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | .378 | .481 | .600 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 2026-04-24 | QC | vs LAN | 5 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | .380 | .475 | .580 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 2026-04-25 | QC | vs LAN | 4 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | .370 | .460 | .556 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 2026-04-26 | QC | vs LAN | 5 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | .356 | .441 | .525 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 2026-04-28 | QC | @ WIS | 6 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | .338 | .419 | .492 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 2026-04-30 | QC | @ WIS | 3 | 3 | 2 | 7 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | .353 | .436 | .574 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 2026-04-30 | QC | @ WIS | 4 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | .361 | .439 | .569 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 2026-05-01 | QC | @ WIS | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 | .338 | .414 | .532 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 2026-05-02 | QC | @ WIS | 4 | 1 | 2 | 6 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | .346 | .418 | .580 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 2026-05-05 | QC | vs CR | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | .333 | .411 | .560 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 2026-05-06 | QC | vs CR | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | .322 | .398 | .540 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 2026-05-10 | QC | vs CR | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | .311 | .382 | .522 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| 2026-05-12 | QC | @ LAN | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | .298 | .368 | .500 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 2026-05-14 | QC | @ LAN | 3 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | .299 | .373 | .495 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 2026-05-15 | QC | @ LAN | 4 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | .317 | .391 | .515 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 2026-05-17 | QC | @ LAN | 3 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | .317 | .390 | .510 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 2026-05-19 | QC | vs BEL | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 0 | .306 | .377 | .491 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
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