Round Overall Player Position 1 17 A.J. Pollock OF ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- BA: Pollock hasn't performed as well this spring as he did last summer in the Cape Cod League, where he was the MVP after finishing second in hitting (.377) and first in slugging (.556). While there's debate as to whether he's a true first-round talent, with a shortage of quality college hitters he should get selected in the bottom third of the round. Six-foot-1 and 200 pounds, Pollock stands out most for his athleticism and pure hitting ability from the right side. He has a simple approach, a quick bat and strong hands. Scouts do say he'll have to stop cheating out on his front side and stay back more on pitches in pro ball. Those who like Pollock say that the rest of his tools are solid, while those who don't say he doesn't have another plus tool and question his power. He projects as a 30 doubles/15 homers threat in the majors, and he's a slightly above-average runner who has plus speed once he gets going. Pollock also has good instincts and a solid arm in center field. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- pgcrosschecker: SCOUTING PROFILE (3/1): Pollock significantly enhanced his prospect status last summer by winning the Cape Cod League's MVP award. At .377, he finished second to teammate Jimmy Cesario in the batting race, and topped the league with 61 hits, 15 doubles and a .556 slugging average. He also had four homers and 25 RBIs, and made strides in developing his raw power-the one tool in his arsenal that was lacking prior to his arrival on the Cape. Pollock's fast, compact swing has a flat, line-drive plane to it that is geared towards driving balls hard to the alleys, though, and may not be ideally suited for power on anything more than a casual basis. Pollock's own approach at the plate may not be suited to hitting for power, either. He squares up balls consistently and thrives at making adjustments with two strikes, and from at-bat to at-bat. He rarely chases pitches and struck out only 10 times in 216 at-bats as a sophomore at Notre Dame, while hitting a team-high .352 with four homers and 42 RBIs. He also topped the Irish with 28 stolen bases in 31 attempts, and speed is another of Pollock's more advanced tools. He has runs the 60 in 6.5 seconds and knows how to use his speed-both on the bases and in the field. Pollock's versatility and athleticism have marked his game to this point in his development. He was primarily a shortstop throughout his career at a Connecticut high school and was an all-Big East Conference third baseman as a freshman at Notre Dame, but never showed the deft hands desired in an everyday infielder. Moved to center field as a sophomore at Notre Dame, his speed, first-step quickness and instincts played well there, though his hands weren't one of his strong points there, either. His moderate arm strength also may be better suited for left field than center, though his lack of raw power may not be ideal for a corner position. Pollock's capability to play almost any position on the field remains one of his strengths, and he routinely took ground balls at second base during the summer, but never played the position in a game situation.-ALLAN SIMPSON UPDATE (5/15): Pollock followed up his breakthrough summer in the Cape with a big junior season at Notre Dame, hitting .365-10-52 with a team-best 69 runs and 21 stolen bases. He showed more power this spring than he did as a freshman and sophomore, when he combined for seven homers. But the aspect of Pollock's package that continued to impress scouts most was his athleticism-possibly the best of any potential draft pick in the four-state area that includes Indiana, Kentucky, Michigan and Ohio. He also reaffirmed to most scouts who have that area that center field is his optimum position. His instincts and solid-average speed play extremely well there, and help to offset an average arm, his weakest tool. Pollock lacks middle-of-the-order upside with the bat, but scouts believe he will hit for enough average and be enough of an igniter to have significant value as a No. 1 or 2 hitter.-ANUP SINHA ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- MLB.com: Hitting ability: Pollock has a great approach at the plate and is very quiet and soft on his stride. He makes contact and doesn't chase pitches. Power: He's a gap-to-gap, line-drive hitter and won't hit a ton of homers -- maybe 10-12 at most per year. Running speed: He's an above-average runner and uses his speed on both sides of the ball. Base running: He has good instincts and knows how to steal a base. Arm strength: He has an average yet accurate arm. Fielding: A converted shortstop, he's still learning the nuances of playing center field and should eventually be an above-average defender. Range: He's a little flat-footed and doesn't always get great jumps, due to inexperience, but his speed makes up for it. Physical Description: Pollock is a well-proportioned athlete with a lean muscular frame, though he's not overly physical. There's some room to grow, but he'll never be big. He's reminiscent of a less physical Darrin Erstad. Medical Update: Healthy. Strengths: Great hitting ability -- one of the better pure college hitters in the class. Above-average speed. Weaknesses: A lack of experience in the outfield. Summary: Pollock is one of the better college hitters available in this Draft class, with a great approach and the ability to make consistent contact. He won't hit for a ton of power, but has some extra-base ability. His above-average speed helps him on offense and in the field , though he is still learning to play the outfield. He's the type who makes everything look effortless and with his hitting ability, could be the kind of college bat that moves quickly through the Minors. --

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