Jose Canseco

Organization Prospect Rankings

• 
  Ranked Oakland Athletics #1 prospect in 1986
  Scouts say he can handle any pitch when he's at full-bore concentration because the wrist-action in his swing might be the quickest and strongest in the game. That, plus his full body strength, give him enormous power to all fields. When Canseco has problems, it usually is a matter of overswinging, which causes him to chase poor pitches. He didn't fall into many of those ruts last season at Huntsville and Tacoma (.333-36-127 overall in 118 games) and handled big league pitching in September (.302-5-13). One of his homers landed on the roof in Comiskey Park. Canseco was developing into a decent right fielder, but Michael Davis has that position with the A's, so Canseco will have to adjust to left, where one of the strongest outfield arms in the game will be wasted. He runs well but is not a base stealer. How Canseco reacts to the pressure and attention that is inherent to being a heralded prospect remains a question. He has shown a moody, dark personality at times and was considered somewhat of a discipline problem during his early years with the A's.

• December, 1985 Scouting Report
  Scouts say he can handle any pitch when he's at full-bore concentration because the wrist-action in his swing might be the quickest and strongest in the game. That, plus his full body strength, give him enormous power to all fields. When Canseco has problems, it usually is a matter of overswinging, which causes him to chase poor pitches. He didn't fall into many of those ruts last season at Huntsville and Tacoma (.333-36-127 overall in 118 games) and handled big league pitching in September (.302-5-13). One of his homers landed on the roof in Comiskey Park. Canseco was developing into a decent right fielder, but Michael Davis has that position with the A's, so Canseco will have to adjust to left, where one of the strongest outfield arms in the game will be wasted. He runs well but is not a base stealer. How Canseco reacts to the pressure and attention that is inherent to being a heralded prospect remains a question. He has shown a moody, dark personality at times and was considered somewhat of a discipline problem during his early years with the A's.