BA scouting report - 美國職棒

Dustin Ackley:

Ackley played at a 1-A high school against modest competition, and while area
scouts knew about him they couldn't pull the trigger three years ago. Their
loss was North Carolina's gain, as Ackley is in the midst of his third
consecutive .400 season. The 2007 BA Freshman of the Year, Ackley has the
best pure swing and pure bat in the '09 draft class, and maybe the best this
decade. He's also a 70 runner (on the 20-80 scale) underway and should be a
top-of-the-order, base-stealing threat in pro ball. Ackley has a disciplined
approach and makes hitting look easy thanks to his advanced athleticism. He's
balanced at the plate and has amazing hand-eye coordination, getting the
barrel of the bat to the hitting zone quickly and leaving it there as long as
possible. After hitting 17 home runs in his first two seasons, he was tied
for second in the Atlantic Coast Conference with 16, and scouts grade his raw
power as average, if not a tick above. His lone below-average tool is his
arm, which he injured as a prep senior while pitching. He has played
primarily first base at North Carolina and had Tommy John surgery at the end
of the summer of 2008. He made two starts in the outfield in mid-May, and
most scouts project him as a future center fielder and potential plus
defender. He's a solid-average defender at first base if he winds up there.
Scouts struggle to come up with comparisons because he's such a unique
player. If he becomes a batting champion and premium leadoff man as a pro,
he'll become a player others are compared to.


Nick Franklin:

n Auburn recruit, Franklin is the latest in a line of Lake Brantley High
baseball stars that has included Jason Varitek, Felipe Lopez and brothers
Rickie and Jemile Weeks. Franklin, who helped lead last year's team to a
state 6-A title, has surpassed them all in terms of performance, hitting 10
homers this spring to lead Lake Brantley back to the state playoffs. A
switch-hitter, Franklin has shown bat speed to catch up to good fastballs and
uses the whole field. Scouts don't expect him to hit for even average power
with wood, but he should have enough strength in his wiry frame to keep
pitchers honest. Scouts have made comparisons to players such as Aaron Hill
or Lopez offensively, though he has less power. He's an above-average runner
with fast-twitch athleticism and the ability to stay at shortstop as a pro,
which makes him likely to go out in the first two rounds. Franklin has
infield actions, solid footwork that needs polish and more than enough arm
strength for shortstop, as it grades above-average. Franklin's makeup
resembles Hill's more than Lopez's, which is a strong positive.


Steve Baron:

Baron is the centerpiece of Duke's recruiting efforts and has strong academic
motivation. He always was considered a defense-first catcher, and that's
still the case, but he has made significant progress offensively, pushing him
toward the front of a crowded, competitive Florida prep catcher crop.
Defensively, Baron stands out, with some scouts rating his arm a 70 on the
20-80 scale. He's an above-average defender with a smooth transfer and good
footwork. Baron made strides tightening up his body and getting in better
shape from fall to the spring, and scouts noticed. He has holes in his swing
and doesn't project to hit for a high average, but a .250-hitting Baron could
hit 15 home runs. At worst, Baron's defense should get him to the majors, but
to buy him out of Duke, a team will have to believe Baron has enough
offensive upside to become a regular.


Rich Poythress:

After helping Georgia to the College World Series last season, Poythress has
had an impressive follow-up season, hitting consistently as the anchor of
Georgia's lineup. He recovered from a torn ACL in the fall of his freshman
year to make 38 starts and hit .282. He's hit close to .390 the last two
seasons with 36 home runs. Poythress does it more with strength, a polished
approach and leverage in his swing rather than pure bat speed. He's more of a
hitter rather than a slugger, lacking the raw power that Bulldogs shortstop
Gordon Beckham showed. He ranked second in the Southeastern Conference in
batting, slugging, on-base percentage and home runs while having a stellar
junior season. His swing is geared to use the middle of the field, and he
could hit for more power if he learns to pull for power better. Some scouts
wonder if he'll hit for power against better velocity and consider him a
solid hitter but more of a second-division player rather than a
difference-maker. Poythress gave third base a whirl last summer in the Cape
Cod League and in the fall but fits better defensively at first base, where
his soft hands are an asset.


Kyle Seager:

A three-year starter for North Carolina, Seager is an area scout favorite,
not to mention a player opposing coaches respect immensely. National
evaluators have a harder time pegging him because he doesn't fit a neat
profile. His best tool is his bat. He has a smooth, balanced swing and makes
consistent contact with gap power. He ranked third in the nation in 2008 with
30 doubles and was on a similar pace in 2009. He has a patient approach but
doesn't project to hit for much home run power because of his modest bat
speed and flat swing plane. While he's a fringy runner, he's a fine
baserunner. Seager played second base for his first two seasons and moved to
third this year, where he has played good defense. Featuring an average arm
and impressive agility, he's an average defender at third, if not a tick
above. Scouts who like him see a Bill Mueller type who doesn't fit the
profile but grinds out at-bats and outs in the field. His detractors see him
as a safe pick with low upside and a future reserve or utility player.

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