George Springer Scouting Report

George Springer has been drafted by the Houston Astros and is expected to sign.

This is Part 10 in a series previewing 12 potential players for the Orioles’ #4 overall selection in the 2011 draft. The full series:

1. Anthony Rendon, 3B, Rice
2. Gerrit Cole, RHP, UCLA
3. Danny Hultzen, LHP, Virginia
4. Sonny Gray, RHP, Vanderbilt
5. Jed Bradley, LHP, Georgie Tech
6. Bubba Starling, OF, Gardner-Edgerton HS, Kan.
7. Francisco Lindor, SS, Montverde Academy HS, Fla.
8. Trevor Bauer, RHP, UCLA
9. Dylan Bundy, RHP, Owasso HS, Okl.
10. George Springer, OF, Connecticut
11. Taylor Guerrieri, RHP, Spring Valley HS, S. Car.
12. Archie Bradley, RHP, Broken Arrow HS, Okl.

George Springer is a tale of two players; he shows skills that make me feel he can be a power hitting corner outfielder that may win sliver sluggers. There are other times I wonder how much contact he will make to showcase the power in his swing. For college players, there usually is not so much “Boom or Bust” in a position player, although Springer shows flashes of being the best power bat in the class with the ability to man center field. In any draft, those two key factors make him an intriguing prospect.

School: University of Connecticut
Position: OF
Bats: Right
Throws: Right
Height: 6’ 3”
Weight: 205
Body: Slender, athletic, displays solid ratio between the upper body and lower body with muscular development typical of a throwback ball player. A lot of projection in the body, as his frame could easily add 15-20 pounds as he matures. Above average wrist and forearm development.

Swing

George Springer is a tale of two players; he shows skills that indicate he can be a power hitting corner outfielder that wins sliver sluggers.

At times, Springer’s hands load a bit too much back and down, which drops his bat head into the zone quickly. It elongates his swing and exacerbates the larger issue of his backside drop of the shoulder, elbow, and knee. The combination of these factors force him to swing up on the ball; he compounds the uppercut swing with dead pull tendencies. While it can lead to fly balls and with his power the chance to increase home run production, it can really curb his ability to make consistent contact because the barrel is not going through the zone in an ideal contact to put balls in play. This does not spell gloom and doom because hitters can last with a collapsing backside with quick hands and bat speed.

Mark Teixeira is a prime example that collapsing can work, but it is not the most productive method of hitting. If the bat speed is not on for stretches, fly balls, weak grounders, and higher strikeout totals should be easily seen out of his game.

Recently, Springer has started to clean up aspects that I previously pointed out, but they still rear their ugly heads from time to time. His load is not as exaggerated, slightly more compact, and not as pull heavy. It has a slightly shallower path, but still an uppercut pull swing. The collapse is not as severe either, but still present. These minor tweaks are most likely the key factors for his increase in production in the last few weeks, but it could still pose problems against professional pitching. He still projects as a slightly below average to average hitter with the power potential that could play at every position in the outfield.

Speed

Springer shows exceptional quickness out of the box and path down to first, overall showing above-average to plus speed while on the base paths. He has more than enough speed at this stage to be a threat on first. I am rather skeptical that his speed will stay the same as he ages. His frame could carry 220-225 pounds without impacting him, but it is likely that his speed would decrease and he would simply be an average or slightly above average runner.

Defense

At this stage, Springer flashes the ability to stay in center field with good instincts, a solid glove, range, and leaping ability. Some question his arm strength, but it is adequate at this time to play everywhere besides right field. As with his speed, I think he outgrows center field and with arm strength an issue the future is likely left. It is not a foregone conclusion that he cannot stick in center, but adding the bulk could hurt his range and athleticism to stay at the position. Realistically, his range and glove would make him an above average left fielder and strengthen the overall defensive lineup. His bat would allow him to play any of the three outfield positions.

Intangibles

Springer has seen it all and faced some really good pitchers in the Cape Cod summer league with success. He has shown the ability to tweak his hitting skills in-season and shows you that he can be coached up. He has two things at this stage that you can never teach: power and speed. While most players that are labeled “power/speed” types are raw and lack skills, he shows skills to hit, run the paths, and play solid defense. His body could outgrow some of the qualities that make him very attractive, but if he can simply become an average hitter anyone can live with it when you have the power behind the stick.

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This is Part 10 in a series previewing 12 potential players for the Orioles’ #4 overall selection in the 2011 draft. The full series:

1. Anthony Rendon, 3B, Rice
2. Gerrit Cole, RHP, UCLA
3. Danny Hultzen, LHP, Virginia
4. Sonny Gray, RHP, Vanderbilt
5. Jed Bradley, LHP, Georgie Tech
6. Bubba Starling, OF, Gardner-Edgerton HS, Kan.
7. Francisco Lindor, SS, Montverde Academy HS, Fla.
8. Trevor Bauer, RHP, UCLA
9. Dylan Bundy, RHP, Owasso HS, Okl.
10. George Springer, OF, Connecticut
11. Taylor Guerrieri, RHP, Spring Valley HS, S. Car.
12. Archie Bradley, RHP, Broken Arrow HS, Okl.