Drafted in the 2nd round (57th overall) by the Boston Red Sox in 2005 (signed for $625,000).
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A veteran of Georgia's East Cobb program, where he played on a team featuring Posey and Quigley, Egan was an AFLAC All-American and had a lofty profile coming into his senior season. He then had an up-and-down campaign that cast some doubts on his draft status, starting with a loss of some of the athleticism that made him so attractive. One scout said he thought Egan was closer to 225 pounds than his listed 210, saying Egan's lower half had lost life. He questioned whether Egan could remain a catcher, where he had shown defensive polish the previous summer. His quiet demeanor doesn't particularly suit him for catcher. Egan's bat has a chance to play either at first base or behind the plate. He has long arms and some holes in his swing, but when he connects, the ball makes a different sound coming off the bat. His raw power was the best in the state, leading to speculation he could be drafted in the first three rounds.
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Organization Prospect Rankings
Drafted primarily for his power potential, Egan looked sluggish and tentative at the plate in 2005. Things got worse in September, when police arrested him for driving while intoxicated and found traces of cocaine in his wallet. The Red Sox say it was an isolated incident, and he entered a counseling program and apologized to his instructional league teammates. Egan looked like an entirely different hitter in 2006. He possesses raw power similar to Lars Anderson's, and it was more evident once he stopped taking so many hittable pitches. He looked much more comfortable against pro pitching and did a better job of keeping his strength through the summer. When Egan was coming out of high school, some clubs viewed him as a masher who would have to move to first base, but his defense has been a pleasant surprise. Though he's 6-foot-4 and 210 pounds, he moves well behind the plate and has better receiving skills than anticipated. He has a strong arm but his big frame hampers his release and his pop times (mitt to glove at second base) are a mediocre 2-2.15 seconds. He still threw out 33 percent of basestealers last year. After two seasons in Rookie and short-season leagues, Egan is ready for low Class A in 2007.
Egan's first year as a pro didn't go as expected, on several fronts. A second-round pick in June who signed for $625,000, he had a reputation as a slugger who might not be able to stay behind the plate in the long term. Yet in his debut, his defense outshone his offense. Though he has a big frame, Egan showed surprising agility and good receiving skills. He also threw better than Boston expected, erasing 39 percent of basestealers. Meanwhile, his bat wilted in the heat of the Gulf Coast League. His raw power didn't come out in games and his swing looked sluggish. He was too tentative at the plate. While Egan drew walks, he didn't pull the trigger on pitches he could crush and took too many called strikes. The most alarming part of his year came after the season ended. Egan was arrested for driving while intoxicated and police also found traces of cocaine in his wallet. The Red Sox believe it was a one-time incident and supported him as he dealt with the aftermath, including placing him in a counseling program. He apologized to his teammates after reporting late to instructional league, a significant step for a kid known for his quiet demeanor. He could move up to low Class A this year, but Boston may take it slow and start him in extended spring training before sending him to Lowell in June.
Minor League Top Prospects
Egan's bat was supposed to be his meal ticket after he hit .588 with 16 home runs this spring at a Georgia high school, but he impressed managers in the GCL more with his defensive ability. He excelled behind the plate with his arm strength and accuracy, producing consistent 1.9-second pop times to second base. Egan's hands, footwork, blocking ability and game-calling skills also stood out. With his 6-foot-4, 210-pound frame providing a big target for pitchers, he even drew defensive comparisons to Joe Mauer. Egan struggled with the bat, particularly against some of the better fastballs he saw in the GCL. But he jumped all over mediocre pitching, showing decent bat speed and power to the opposite field. A little soft for his size, Egan should develop above-average power as he tightens his body.
Scouting Reports
Drafted primarily for his power potential, Egan looked sluggish and tentative at the plate in 2005. Things got worse in September, when police arrested him for driving while intoxicated and found traces of cocaine in his wallet. The Red Sox say it was an isolated incident, and he entered a counseling program and apologized to his instructional league teammates. Egan looked like an entirely different hitter in 2006. He possesses raw power similar to Lars Anderson's, and it was more evident once he stopped taking so many hittable pitches. He looked much more comfortable against pro pitching and did a better job of keeping his strength through the summer. When Egan was coming out of high school, some clubs viewed him as a masher who would have to move to first base, but his defense has been a pleasant surprise. Though he's 6-foot-4 and 210 pounds, he moves well behind the plate and has better receiving skills than anticipated. He has a strong arm but his big frame hampers his release and his pop times (mitt to glove at second base) are a mediocre 2-2.15 seconds. He still threw out 33 percent of basestealers last year. After two seasons in Rookie and short-season leagues, Egan is ready for low Class A in 2007.
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