Profile: OF - 6'3" - 190lbs -BT:R - TH:R - 2011 Age: 20
Tools:
• Hit: 50-70
• Power: 55-65
• Eye: 55-70
• Range: 50-60
• Hands: 50-60
• Arm: 55-65
• Run: 50-60
Background:
Another product of Dayton Moore's aggressive strategy of being willing to pay top dollar for any high-end talent that falls to him, the Royals were able to snag Myers in the 3rd round after teams passed on him on concerns about his signing demands. In short, he wanted to be paid like a Top-10 pick or he'd go to college. No one else had the courage to meet those demands, but the Royals did, and for 2m they've bought themselves a elite hitting talent.
Myers has a very aggressive swing. His stance to start is short and open, back elbow held high. But when his actual swing starts he has a long (not high) and stride. Either way, the stride really opens up his hips. For some hitters such a long stride can throw off their balance, but Myers is very athletic and does a good job transferring his weight into his swing. He doesn't hit over his back knee the way you'd like, which is a partial by product of his elongated stride. It's not something I'd advise to anyone, but for Myers, who has exceptionally quick hands, and a powerful uppercut swing, it works.
Still, for as amazing a hitter as he's been, he's probably not maxing out his abilities in terms of mechanics. I'm not saying I'd tinker until they stop working, or IF they stop working. But between his stride and a swing that can get a bit long at times, there are areas available for improvement.
A shortstop in high school, the Royals thought his talents would translate well behind the plate and decided to try to move him there. Unfortunately the move didn't work out as well as hoped and this off season the Royals finally made the decision - one that's been anticipated for some time - to move Myers out from behind the plate to the outfield. While the decision will reduce his value on the defensive end and from a positional/replacement standpoint, it will speed up his arrival to the Majors, given that his bat was so far ahead of his defensive skills.
Given Myers good, but not great speed and solid arm he projects better in right field than center or left and he should have the tools to allow him to make that transition fairly easily. His speed, especially for a catcher, has always been solid to good and that figures to play up as well now that he's out from behind the plate and he could end up as a 15-20 steal guy at the Major League level.
Performance Analysis:
| Year | Age | Level | PA | AVG | OBP | SLG | OPS | wOBA | ISO | BABIP | LD% | BB% | K% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2009 | 18 | RK | 80 | .426 | .488 | .735 | 1.223 | .527 | .309 | .490 | 17% | 11.3% | 22.1% |
| 2010 | 19 | A | 294 | .289 | .408 | .500 | .908 | .416 | .211 | .335 | 17% | 16.3% | 22.7% |
| 2010 | 19 | A | 247 | .346 | .453 | .512 | .966 | .434 | .166 | .411 | 17% | 15.0% | 19.0% |
He has thoroughly dominated every level he's been at despite being young for those levels. Pick an area and he's at least good, and in most, he's exceptional. His LD rate suggests there is room to barrel a few more balls, and his strikeout rate could get a improve, but you're nitpicking at that point. He hits for tons power, especially given that he was only 19 last year and he's only going to get bigger and stronger. He's posting insane BABIP marks because everything his bat makes contact with gets pulverized. And for good measure he stole 11 bases in 2010.
I'd love to be able to give you something to criticize, but it just isn't there.
Projection:
His tools are phenomenal, above average to plus is every area. There have been a lot of Jayson Werth comps and they make sense, both because of the fact that they are both now converted catchers, and because of their all-around game. The difference is that Myers has a chance to be a better bat.
Corey Ettinger is a Senior Writer for Baseball Digest as well as a proud contributor to both 612Sports.net, 312Sports.com, and 313sports.com. He also provides extensive analysis of the American League Central Division at his own blog, AL Central In Focus. Be sure to follow me on Twitter @Coreyettinger for the latest updates, random thoughts and general tomfoolery.
No comments:
Post a Comment