James Baldwin Stats & Scouting Report

Full name James Baldwin III
Born 10/10/1991 in Pinehurst, NC
Profile Ht.: 6'3" / Wt.: 205 / Bats: L / Throws: R
School Pinecrest
Drafted in the 4th round (142nd overall) by the Los Angeles Dodgers in 2010 (signed for $180,000).

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Elon recruit Baldwin III is the son of the former big league pitcher, James Baldwin Jr., who was drafted by the White Sox out of the same high school (Pinecrest) in the fourth round in 1990. The father threw more than 1,300 major league innings over 11 seasons, and now serves as the Pinecrest pitching coach. The son has also worked as a righthanded pitcher but is a prospect as an outfielder, with athleticism that stands out in this year's high school class. His bat is raw because he was both a football and basketball standout as well during his prep career, and he'll be a safer pick coming out of school in three years unless a team buys into his big league bloodlines.

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Baldwin played for his father, longtime big league pitcher James Jr., at Pinecrest High in Southern Pines, N.C. His father was Pinecrest's pitching coach and Baldwin played both ways in high school, but his father encouraged him to make the outfield his future, and he signed for $180,000 with the Dodgers out of the 2010 draft. Getting his first shot at a full-season league last year, he opened the season in a 1-for-30 rut, and his average hovered around the Mendoza Line most of the year. The tools are there, but Baldwin needs a lot of polish. He's an outstanding athlete and wiry strong, unleashing plenty of bat speed to generate power. His power potential has been a double-edged sword, however. He sells out far too much, not taking advantage of his speed, becoming too pull-conscious and giving away at-bats. Los Angeles wants him to bunt more and focus on hitting balls on the ground because he has well above-average speed. He ranges well in all directions to track balls down in center field and led the low Class A Midwest League with 53 steals last year despite his struggles to get on base. Baldwin's ceiling remains high as a center fielder and potential top-of-the-order hitter, but he has a long way to go, beginning with likely repeating low Class A in 2013.
Baldwin kept busy at Pinecrest High (Southern Pines, N.C), enjoying standout careers in football and basketball as well as baseball, where he both pitched and played outfield. His father James Jr. pitched 11 seasons in the majors and was Pinecrest's pitching coach, but the son's future is as a position player. The Dodgers signed him away from an Elon commitment for $180,000 after taking him in the fourth round of in 2010. Baldwin is more raw than Joc Pederson, his teammate at Ogden last season, but his tools offer intriguing projection. He's an outstanding athlete with a lean build. Los Angeles projects him as a solid hitter in time, though he still has a ways to go. His swing can get long and he gives at-bats away at times. Baldwin struggled against quality stuff in the Pioneer League and hit just .183/.300/.367 against lefthanders. He has some pop in his bat and he projects to have 20-homer power once he fills out. There's little question about Baldwin's defense. He can be a frontline center fielder, showing the well above-average speed to go and get balls, and he has a strong arm. His quickness makes him a threat on the bases, too. Baldwin likely will need development time at every level, but his tools could be worth the wait. He'll get his first look at full-season ball at Great Lakes in 2012.
Baldwin grew up around big league clubhouses, as his father James pitched 11 seasons in the majors and was an all-star in 2000. The younger Baldwin was a three-sport standout in high school, also excelling in basketball and football, and got a $180,000 bonus as a fourth-round pick last June to pass up a commitment to Elon. Baldwin is a tremendous athlete, with a frame that should allow him to get stronger as he matures. He can be a dynamic center fielder, getting good jumps on balls, and his speed rates a 70 on the 20-80 scouting scale. That's not to say he doesn't have offensive potential as well. Baldwin's swing has drawn comparisons to Garret Anderson's, and he worked on getting shorter to the ball after turning pro. He's able to keep the head of the bat in the zone for a long time and is willing to drive pitches the other way. He won't be a major power threat, but he could develop enough to hit 12-15 home runs a year as he gets stronger. He's still raw in other respects, such as picking up on how pitchers are attacking him and learning when to utilize his speed to steal bases. He's a few years away and could end up staying in extended spring training to start 2011 before taking an assignment to Ogden.

Minor League Top Prospects

Like Joc Pederson and C.J. Cron, Baldwin boasts big league bloodlines. His father James pitched for seven clubs in 11 seasons, making one all-star team. The younger Baldwin dabbled with pitching in high school, but his plus speed, athleticism and lefty stick sealed the deal as a position player. Baldwin's long, lean frame drew physical comparisons with center fielders both past (Devon White) and present (Dexter Fowler). His well above-average speed plays on the bases (he finished fifth in the league with 22 steals) and on defense, where he can outrun his mistakes. He throws well and his wiry frame offers plenty of room to project future strength. Several PL managers expressed reservations about his swing, however. Baldwin struggled to make contact, batted .183 against lefthanders and hit just .149/.277/.245 away from Ogden's hitter haven. "He'll show you plus tools, but I wouldn't bet the house on him hitting good pitching," one manager said. "We threw him nothing but fastballs and he couldn't catch up."
The first 2010 draftee on this list, Baldwin improved significantly after looking overmatched early after signing as a fourth-rounder. The son of the former all-star pitcher of the same name, he hit .357/.378/.512 in August after developing a more compact swing working daily with Dodgers hitting coach Leo Garcia. He's still working on controlling the strike zone after fanning 60 times and walking just nine. Baldwin has a lean, athletic body that could add power as he fills out. He has plus-plus speed and stole 17 bases in 20 tries, though he still has much to learn about basestealing. He shows plus range and an average arm in center field, and he improved his routes during the summer. "He's taken control of this team from the leadoff spot," Dodgers manager Lorenzo Bundy said. "When he was getting on base for us, we were a lot better ball club."