Christian Yelich, OF

[emkayseven]

Discuss.

[Miamarlin21]

Well they threw a curveball

[Fish and Chips]

http://mlb.mlb.com/video/play.jsp?co...pic_id=8080130

Scouting Report
Hitting ability: Yelich has a very smooth left-handed stroke. He can hit to all fields and should hit for average at the next level.

Power: He doesn't hit for much power now, but should grow into some as he continues to fill out his frame. Right now, he's got more line-drive gap power.

Running speed: He's got good speed, running the second fastest 60-yard dash at the showcase.

Base running: While he's better underway, guys with long legs are like that, he's a good base runner who will steal a base. He ran the bases easily in legging out a triple at the showcase.

Arm strength: It's below-average right now. He's more of a slinger when he throws. It's gotten better, but still not as strong as other parts of his game.

Fielding: He has decent actions at first and he's athetic enough to play an outfield spot, though the arm will limit him to center or left.

Range: He's got enough range at first and could cover some ground in the outfield.

Physical Description: Yelich is a tall and athletic, left-handed hitting first baseman, kind of like a very athletic John Olerud type.

Medical Update: Healthy.

Strengths: Good hittability, excellent athleticsm. Starting to grow into his frame.

Weaknesses: Below-average throwing arm limits his position somewhat, hasn't shown any power now as of yet.

Summary: Yelich is the type of high school bat that could rise very quickly on draft boards as the spring unfolds. He's got a sweet left-handed stroke and as he fills into his tall, athletic frame, he should hit for more power. He runs well and could even handle an outfield spot, though his below-average arm might limit him somewhat. Kind of an under-the-radar guy when the season began, strong performances and physical maturity will make many teams take a closer look at his bat and his ceiling.

[emkayseven]

Bat compared to James Loney or Casey Kotchman. Was committed to UM.

6 of the last 8 first round picks have been HS players now.

[Fishfan79]

isnt he a low powered 1st baseman? a Gaby sanchez lefty?

[Madman81]

Was anyone predicting this? Just out of curiosity.

[MiamiHomer]

I wanted a pitcher.

[lou]

isnt he a low powered 1st baseman? a Gaby sanchez lefty?

I think the marlins would prefer John olerud or mark grace, and he was announced as an OF, but from what I have seen not a bruiser Prince type.

[Miamarlin21]

I wanted a pitcher.

Same here

[LocoMarlinFan]

This pick doesn't make sense. Supposedly Christian Yelich is more of a 1b and he has a below average arm and power. With that said, I will get over it if tomorrow we draft a ton of high ceiling prospect like the Pirates did last yr.

http://mlb.mlb.com/video/play.jsp?to...ent_id=7172555

[Fishfan79]

pitcher would of been nice

[Bobbob1313]

We've got more pitching depth in the lower minors than hitting.

Seems like a nice player. I'm psyched, but it's kind of hard to be psyched about someone I've seen 10 seconds of.

[tjfla]

Really weird pick but he was moving up the board fast so it was a good pick. Most talk was him to NYY,but a nice young bat. People say sweet lefty stroke like Will Clark/John Olerud.No power at all but should be like Logan Morrison type so not too bad


Give this kid 1.25 mil fast and lets get him to the GCL

[MiamiHomer]

Hard to figure a guy his size has no power but you got to expect if/when he fills out that frame the power can come.

[nny]

oh man watch his throwing mechanics

All they gotta do is fix that and bam OFer np (Cuz fixing anything is as easy as a bam). Supposedly might even be athletic enough for CF

I like it, though every name he gets mentioned with also has awesome eyes, so hopefully that doesn't disappoint.