Xavier Nady Stats & Scouting Report

AB	2969
AVG	.268
OBP	.323
SLG	.432
HR	104

Full name Xavier Clifford Nady
Born 11/14/1978 in Carmel-By-The-Sea, CA
Profile Ht.: 6'2" / Wt.: 215 / Bats: R / Throws: R
School California
Debut 09/30/2000
Drafted in the 2nd round (49th overall) by the San Diego Padres in 2000 (signed for $1,100,000).

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Nady was the most closely watched player in the country this spring, often attracting as many as 40 scouts for batting practice alone. After pressing early, he solidified his stock by hitting with authority again down the stretch, taking his average from the low .300s to the high .300s. With Nady, it's all about the bat. He has exceptional hand-eye coordination, hits all pitches and pitchers and, according to scouts, has more raw power than Pat Burrell or Eric Munson--the first college players selected in the last two drafts--even though he's smaller. Nady ranks third on the Pacific-10 Conference career home run list. He doesn't bring anything else above-average to the table, and scouts seem resigned that he will never be more than an average third baseman. He may even move to first base, but his bat will play at any position.

Top Rankings

Organization Prospect Rankings

Nady entered 2000 as the No. 1 prospect for the June draft, but he had a so-so .329-19-59 season at California and signability was a concern. As a result, he slid to the Padres, who signed him to a big league contract with a $1.1 million bonus. His deal mandated a September callup, and he singled off Eric Gagne in his lone at-bat. Nady hasn't been back to San Diego since, with injuries the main culprit. He tore a ligament in his elbow in the Arizona Fall League in 2000 and had Tommy John surgery after the 2001 season. Last year, he couldn't play in the field until mid-June and strained a quadriceps muscle in the AFL. Nady has an impressive offensive résumé. He eclipsed Mark McGwire's Pacific-10 Conference record with a .718 slugging percentage, and was the high Class A California League's MVP and home run leader in 2001. The Padres envision Nady as an impact hitter who will produce for both power and average. He has the strength and stroke to hit 40 homers a year, and he has an advanced approach at the plate. After trying to do too much after his midseason promotion to Triple-A Portland, Nady adjusted and closed holes in his swing. He batted .316-4-19 in the final month, then hit .323 in the AFL before getting hurt. Nady drives the ball hard to all fields. He's a determined competitor and has worked hard on his defense. Injuries have hampered his defensive development. He was drafted as a third baseman, but Sean Burroughs had a claim to that position. The Padres talked about trying Nady at second base, but his elbow problems limited him to first base in 2001. Left field is his position du jour, but he was only healthy enough to play 63 games (including the AFL) there in 2002. With more experience, Nady should become an average left fielder. He can make the routine plays and has improved his jumps on fly balls. His arm isn't quite average now but should stretch out more as he gets healthier. The only offensive concern with Nady is his plate discipline. Bubba Trammell and Brian Buchanan are all that stand between Nady and a big league job. The Padres will give Nady a long look in spring training, though he probably needs more time in Triple-A before he's fully ready. San Diego got just 20 homers out of its left fielders last season, and Nady could exceed that total as a rookie.
Once projected as the No. 1 overall pick in the 2000 draft, Nady lasted until the second round because of a disappointing junior season and signability concerns. Despite just one at-bat of pro experience, he led the California League in homers, extra-base hits (65) and total bases (276) while winning MVP honors in his first full pro season. A classic run producer, Nady has an advanced concept of hitting and will produce for both power and average. He drives the ball to all fields and adjusted easily to pro ball. Moved around the infield in college, he was named the Cal League's best defensive first baseman in 2001. Nady tore ligaments in his elbow in the Arizona Fall League in 2000. The injury kept him from trying second base or the outfield last year, and he stayed in high Class A so he could DH when needed. He doesn't run well. Nady required Tommy John surgery in the offseason and won't be able to throw before mid-2002, so he'll spend most of the year as a DH at Double-A Mobile. His elbow is the only thing holding him back, and it's preventing him from settling into a position.
Entering last spring, Nady was the top-rated prospect for the 2000 draft. Because his junior year at California (.329-19-59) wasn't as strong as his previous two seasons, and because he sought a contract similar to the $6.75 major league deal Eric Munson got as the No. 3 overall choice in the 1999 draft, Nady slid to the 49th pick. He spent the summer with Team USA before agreeing to a four-year big league contract that includes a $1.1 million bonus, another $1.75 million in guarantees and up to an additional $3.55 million in incentives. Nady was the best all-around hitter in the draft. He broke Mark McGwire's Pacific-10 Conference record with a .718 slugging percentage. With his strength and eye at the plate, Nady should hit for both power and average as a pro. He lacks speed and a definite position. He played second base and shortstop as a freshman, then moved to third base as a sophomore. It's uncertain he can play the hot corner as a pro, but it's moot because Sean Burroughs is the franchise's third baseman of the future. With Ryan Klesko signed through 2004, first base may not be an option either. Scouts soured on Nady a bit after he slumped as a junior, then batted .238 with one homer using a wood bat for Team USA. He became the first 2000 draftees to reach the majors last September (per the terms of his contract), singling off Eric Gagne in his lone at-bat. The Padres hoped the Arizona Fall League would prepare Nady for Triple-A in 2001, but he had to leave after one game with elbow tendinitis. His likely destination now is Double-A. He'll play third base and may even get a look at second. The guess here is that he'll reach the majors as a left fielder.

Minor League Top Prospects

Nady needed Tommy John surgery following the 2001 season. He didn't lose any at-bats due to the procedure, but it forced him to return to the Cal League--where he hit .302-26-100 and was MVP a year ago--so he could DH. He wasn't ready to play a position until the end of May, when he was promoted to Triple-A. The injury didn't seem to affect him at the plate, though. "He looks like an extremely strong human being," High Desert hitting coach Rich Morales said. "He looks like a prototypical power-type guy in the big leagues." After spending 2001 at first base, partly because of his elbow problems, Nady became an outfielder in the Pacific Coast League. He showed the potential to become an average left fielder.
The only real concern regarding the future of the league's MVP and rookie of the year is where he'll play. Drafted as a third baseman, a position of strength in the San Diego organization, he spent the entire 2001 season at first base, primarily because of an elbow injury. The Padres may try him at second base, where he played as a University of California freshman. Wherever it is, the Padres will have to find some way to use his bat. "The ball comes off his bat like a golf ball," Brown said. Nady tied for the league lead in home runs in his first full pro season. He doesn't shy away from the spotlight either. He singled in his major league debut in September 2000, then belted a long home run in the California/Carolina League all-star game in June.