Drew Cumberland Stats & Scouting Report

AB	912
AVG	.316
OBP	.38
SLG	.43
HR	10

Full name Andrew L. Cumberland
Born 01/13/1989 in Pace, FL
Profile Ht.: 5'10" / Wt.: 175 / Bats: L / Throws: R
School Pace
Drafted in the C-A round (46th overall) by the San Diego Padres in 2007 (signed for $661,500).

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Separating this year's crop of prep middle-infield prospects hasn't been easy for scouts. Cumberland is one of five high school shortstops who could be drafted in the supplemental round. He has a slight advantage because of premium quickness, speed and athleticism. He was an all-state selection as a defensive back and running back in football and consistently turns in 4.0-second home-to-first times from the left side of the plate, making him a 70 runner. His game is similar to that of Orioles second baseman Brian Roberts. Cumberland is an above-average hitter who has enough strength and bat speed to drive balls from gap to gap, though his swing and approach have holes. He's a high-energy player who makes spectacular plays on defense but botches the routine ones. His brother Shaun is in the Devil Rays organization, and he's expected to join him in pro ball soon.

Top Rankings

Organization Prospect Rankings

Cumberland ranked fourth in the minors in batting (.365) when he was promoted to Double-A last June. Fifteen games into his time with San Antonio, he slid into a railing and sustained a deep laceration to his left knee, ending his year. He still has yet to play in more than 77 games in a season while dealing with oblique, finger and hand injuries. Cumberland has three future above-average tools in his ability to hit, run and defend, though he has virtually no power and his arm is inaccurate. His short, quick lefthanded stroke could make him a .290 hitter in the big leagues because he makes contact so easily. With improved plate discipline, he would profile as an effective leadoff hitter. To that end, San Diego challenged him to bunt more and steal more frequently last season, and he stole a career-high 21 bases. Cumberland features soft hands and plus range at shortstop, but he profiles better at second base because his throws tend to sail on him--the result of excessive sideways rotation--when he makes plays from the hole. All of Cumberland's injuries have resulted from all-out play, and the Padres certainly don't want to discourage that behavior. They regard him as a potential regular at the keystone, but for now he'll head back to Double-A as a shortstop.
On a traditional development path, Cumberland would be competing in Double-A this season. But because of several injuries, he's still trying to put the Midwest League in his rearview mirror. He has logged just 130 games in two years of full-season ball, all in low Class A. A strained oblique and jammed finger cut into his playing time in 2008. Last year, an errant pitch struck the back of his hand, bruising ligaments, tendons and bones and knocking him out of the playoffs. Cumberland tried to return for instructional league but pain and swelling put the kibosh on that. His brother Shaun is an outfield prospect in the Reds system. An electrifying talent, Cumberland has performed well for Fort Wayne when healthy, batting .290 with 35 steals and nearly as many walks (57) as strikeouts (60). He has good feel for the strike zone and for putting the barrel on the ball. With his plus-plus speed and below-average power, he fits at the top of the order. Cumberland has improved his efficiency at shortstop and strengthened his arm as he has physically matured and pursued an aggressive long-toss program. He still grades as merely adequate in those departments and may face a shift to second base, but that's no longer a foregone conclusion. A 2010 season free of serious injury could return Cumberland to his normal trajectory, including his first glimpse of Double-A.
Injuries have cost Cumberland valuable developmental time, which he needs after starring as a defensive back and running back in high school diverted his attention from baseball. The brother of Reds outfield prospect Shaun Cumberland, he hurt his hamstring late in his senior high school season. After signing for $661,500 as a supplemental first-round pick in 2007, he missed time with a dislocated finger in his pro debut. A pulled ribcage muscle sidelined him for a couple of weeks last May, and then he jammed the index finger on his throwing hand while turning a double play at the end of June, knocking him out for most of the rest of the year. Cumberland is a plus-plus runner and was one of the more athletic players in the Midwest League last year. With live hands, a quick lefthanded stroke and strong strike-zone awareness, he has the skills to be a plus hitter. He's strong for his size, but his power is strictly of the line-drive variety. Opinions remain mixed on Cumberland's defensive future. He has the range and hands to remain at shortstop, but his average arm strength is sabotaged by a motion that leads to erratic throws. He has 31 errors in 69 pro games at short, and some see him as a future second baseman or center fielder. Cumberland's strong makeup would allow him to handle a jump to high Class A, but the Padres may want him to return to Fort Wayne to begin 2009.
An all-state selection as a defensive back and running back in football and a plus-plus runner--he can get down the first-base line in 3.9-4.0 seconds--Cumberland offers premium quickness, speed and athleticism. The brother of Reds outfield prospect Shaun Cumberland, Drew went 46th overall in the 2007 draft and signed for $661,500. With live hands and a quick, short swing, he has the strength and bat speed to drive balls from gap to gap and already is an above-average hitter. He has more work to do defensively, as he made 13 errors in 23 games at shortstop and worked in instructional league to improve his arm path. He tended to use an exaggerated load to his throws and cut his arm action off in front of his body. His actions and range are average, as is his arm strength. He could fit at second base or center field if he can't handle shortstop. Cumberland hurt his hamstring late in the high school season, then missed time after signing when he dislocated a finger while trying to catch a pop-up. A high-effort player, he's ticketed for low Class A, where he'll need every ounce of his energy to grind through the tough hitting environments of the Midwest League.

Minor League Top Prospects

Oblique, finger and hand injuries limited Cumberland to a total of 130 games in low Class A in 2008-09. He made quick work of the Cal League, earning a promotion to Double-A in mid-June, before a freak injury delayed his development once again. He severely cut his left knee when he slid into a concrete wall while chasing a foul ball and didn't play after July 15. If he can improve his patience at the plate, Cumberland has everything else to be an effective leadoff hitter. He has a line-drive stroke with gap power, makes consistent contact and has plus speed that makes him a threat to bunt or steal bases. Though he has plenty of range and good hands, Cumberland lacks the arm strength for shortstop and likely will end up at second base. He brings his hand too far behind his head when he throws, getting a sideways spin on the ball that results in reduced velocity and accuracy.
Cumberland hurt his hamstring late in the high school season, and he also missed time this summer after dislocating a finger while trying to catch a popup. In the month he was on AZL diamonds, he showed the tools that prompted the Padres to draft him in the supplemental first round, starting with plus-plus speed (he can get to first base in 3.9 seconds on drag bunts). He also has good bat speed and should be able to drive balls to the gaps consistently. Cumberland has more work to do defensively than offensively. He made 12 errors in 21 games at shortstop and will need to take to the Padres' throwing program to improve his arm strength if he's to remain on the left side of the infield. He should fit at second base if needed and is athletic enough for center field if he can't handle the infield.