Miles Head

Organization Prospect Rankings

• 
  Ranked Oakland Athletics #22 prospect in 2014
  The Athletics have unquestionably come out ahead on the December 2011 deal that sent Andrew Bailey to the Red Sox for Head, Josh Reddick and Raul Alcantara, but Head had a lost season in 2013. Signed by Boston for an above-slot $335,000 in 2009, Head was a smashing success in his first full season with the A's in 2012, winning the organization's minor league player of the year award after hitting .333/.391/.577 across two levels. Not the most athletic player to begin with, he came into camp in 2013 out of shape, and shoulder problems limited him to 40 games for Double-A Midland. Despite the setback, Head has undeniable natural hitting ability. He has a calm presence at the plate and takes short, compact swings. He can barrel up balls in all parts of the strike zone with the strength to be a 20-homer hitter. His contact skills worked against him at times last year, as he needs to show more patience and learn what pitches he can drive. The Red Sox played Head at first base, where his subpar athleticism is less of a factor, but the A's are trying to have him make a go of it at third thanks to his plus arm. Head will return to Midland in 2014.
• 
  Ranked Oakland Athletics #7 prospect in 2013
  The best pure hitter in the 2009 Georgia high school class, Head signed for an above-slot $335,000 as Boston's 26th-round pick. The Red Sox sent him, Josh Reddick and righthander Raul Alcantara to the A's for Andrew Bailey in December 2011. Head led Oakland farmhands in hitting (.333) and RBIs (84) while finishing second in homers (23) in his first season in the system. Head's swing isn't graceful, but it's quick and compact. He has outstanding bat control and the ability to barrel pitches in all parts of the strike zone. He has strong wrists and great bat speed, giving him the power to profile on a corner. Head played first base for the Red Sox but the A's shifted him to third base, his high school position. He has enough arm and can make routine plays at the hot corner, but his lack of range and athleticism leave his ability to stick there in question. He's a well below-average runner. The A's will soldier on with Head at third base after having him work on speed and quickness during the offseason. He planned on playing in the Arizona Fall League but left after one game when he strained his left shoulder taking a swing. He was too aggressive and less productive after his promotion to Double-A, so he'll return there to begin 2013.
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  Ranked Boston Red Sox #13 prospect in 2012
  Like Brandon Jacobs, Head is a Georgia high school product who signed for over-slot money in the 2009 draft and broke out in 2011. Signed for $335,000 as a 26th-round pick, he was leading the low Class A South Atlantic League in hitting (.338) and OPS (1.021) last June when he earned a promotion to high Class A. He didn't tear up the Carolina League, but he also wasn't overmatched at age 20. Head has one of the best bats in the system, the product of a loose swing, quick hands and a mature approach. He has above-average power potential but doesn't try to force the issue, instead focusing on driving the ball up the middle. He has a good sense of the strike zone and shortens his stroke with two strikes. Head doesn't provide much beyond offense. Managers rated him the SAL's best defensive first baseman and he does have soft hands, but he's a well below-average runner with substandard athleticism and range. Head will have to really produce at the plate to overcome the stigma of a short, righthanded-hitting first baseman--and he may just do that.

Minor League Top Prospects

• 
  Ranked California League #7 prospect in 2012
  The Cal League's toughest out during the first half, Head led the circuit in all three slash categories when he was promoted to Double-A in June. He consistently puts together quality at-bats, not chasing bad balls and barreling up pitches in all parts of the strike zone with a short, compact swing. He doesn't have as much raw power as some of the other hitters on this list, but it's enough for him to profile on a corner. "He's a hitter," Bakersfield manager Ken Griffey Sr. said. "He'll hit probably 20, 25, 30 home runs. He'll hit you a high average. Doesn't miss very many pitches. I don't care what you're throwing--fastball, slider, changeup--it doesn't matter. You leave it out over the zone, he'll hit it." The Red Sox had played Head at first base, but the Athletics moved him back to third base, his high school position, after acquiring him in the Andrew Bailey deal last December. He has the hands and arm strength to make the routine play, but he's a well below-average runner with limited range.
• 
  Ranked South Atlantic League #20 prospect in 2011
  Like Jacobs, Head is another Georgia high school product who got well above slot money ($335,000) as a late-round pick in the 2009 draft and didn't put up big numbers in his first two pro seasons. He also broke out this year, leading the SAL in hitting (.338) and OPS (1.021) when he jumped to high Class A at the end of June. Head attracts raves with his approach, as he looks to drive pitches up the middle and does a nice job of splitting the gaps with his above-average power. He's not much of a runner but displays good footwork and soft hands at first base. He prompts comparisons to a righthanded-hitting version of Freddie Freeman. "His at-bats were all very good," McMillon said. "He showed power and he hit for average. In the first half, he did about as well as anyone in this league, offensively and defensively. I think he has a chance to impact clubs as he moves up, just the way he did here."

• December, 2012 Scouting Report
  Background: The best pure hitter in the 2009 Georgia high school class, Head signed for an above-slot $335,000 as Boston's 26th-round pick. The Red Sox sent him, Josh Reddick and righthander Raul Alcantara to the A's for Andrew Bailey in December 2011. Head led Oakland farmhands in hitting (.333) and RBIs (84) while finishing second in homers (23) in his first season in the system. Scouting Report: Head's swing isn't graceful, but it's quick and compact. He has outstanding bat control and the ability to barrel pitches in all parts of the strike zone. He has strong wrists and great bat speed, giving him the power to profile on a corner. Head played first base for the Red Sox but the A's shifted him to third base, his high school position. He has enough arm and can make routine plays at the hot corner, but his lack of range and athleticism leave his ability to stick there in question. He's a well below-average runner. The Future: The A's will soldier on with Head at third base after having him work on speed and quickness during the offseason. He planned on playing in the Arizona Fall League but left after one game when he strained his left shoulder taking a swing. He was too aggressive and less productive after his promotion to Double-A, so he'll return there to begin 2013.
• December, 2011 Scouting Report
  Like Brandon Jacobs, Head is a Georgia high school product who signed for over-slot money in the 2009 draft and broke out in 2011. Signed for $335,000 as a 26th-round pick, he was leading the low Class A South Atlantic League in hitting (.338) and OPS (1.021) last June when he earned a promotion to high Class A. He didn't tear up the Carolina League, but he also wasn't overmatched at age 20. Head has one of the best bats in the system, the product of a loose swing, quick hands and a mature approach. He has above-average power potential but doesn't try to force the issue, instead focusing on driving the ball up the middle. He has a good sense of the strike zone and shortens his stroke with two strikes. Head doesn't provide much beyond offense. Managers rated him the SAL's best defensive first baseman and he does have soft hands, but he's a well below-average runner with substandard athleticism and range. Head will have to really produce at the plate to overcome the stigma of a short, righthanded-hitting first baseman--and he may just do that.