Shaun Boyd
| AB | 2519 |
|---|---|
| AVG | .274 |
| OBP | .344 |
| SLG | .383 |
| HR | 39 |
- Full name Shaun Boston Boyd
- Born 08/15/1981 in Corona, CA
- Profile Ht.: 5'11" / Wt.: 188 / Bats: R / Throws: R
- School Vista
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Drafted in the 1st round (13th overall) by the St. Louis Cardinals in 2000 (signed for $1,750,000).
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Like projected first-rounders Mike Stodolka and Matt Wheatland, Boyd is a UCLA recruit. The Bruins' chances of keeping him are a little better because he had a poor year defensively and moved from shortstop to the outfield. He has two plus tools--speed and hitting--and scouts admire his all-out approach to the game.
Top Rankings
Organization Prospect Rankings
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Boyd's continuing search for a defensive home might finally end in the outfield. He has bounced between the outfield and second base since the Cardinals drafted him, but they finally put him back there for good after he committed 40 errors at second in 2002 and got off to a rough start there in high Class A last year. Boyd has the potential to be a dynamic offensive presence, and when his defensive struggles started to affect him at the plate, St. Louis decided a change was needed. He has a smooth swing and profiles as a No. 2 hitter with some pop in his bat. He draws walks and makes contact, but Boyd must start driving the ball with more consistent authority. Though he has taken to the outfield and can make up for many mistakes with his athleticism, Boyd still needs repetitions to improve his routes and other nuances of outfield play. He played left and center field in the Arizona Fall League, and the Cardinals hope he can handle center because he doesn't profile as well as a corner outfielder. His arm is OK and could get better with more outfield work. The move to the outfield may allow Boyd to move more quickly up the organizational ladder. He'll open 2004 back in Double-A. -
Boyd lingered on the fringes of prospect status for his first two years in the organization based more on draft status and potential than anything he did on the field. After a pitch broke his jaw and ended his 2001 season early, Boyd went back to the Midwest League and had a breakout season, finishing among the league leaders in several offensive categories. With his speed and quick bat, Boyd is an exciting offensive prospect. He has good bat discipline and uses the whole field, rarely getting pull-happy. He profiles as a No. 2 hitter and could even hit from the three hole if his power continues to develop. The only category Boyd led outright in the MWL was errors by a second baseman, with 40. He moved from the outfield after signing, and though the Cardinals think he'll stay there, he needs a lot of work. He was usually OK on bang-bang plays, but on other plays his throwing mechanics got out of whack. He also needs work on turning the double play. Boyd doesn't profile nearly as well as an outfielder, but if he stays at second base he could be a premium player. The Cardinals will give him plenty of time to work out those bugs if he keeps hitting. He'll move up a step to Palm Beach in 2003. -
Primarily a shortstop in high school, Boyd passed on a scholarship to UCLA and signed as a first-round pick with the Cardinals, who moved him to the outfield for his 2000 debut. He told the organization he wanted to move back to shortstop, and they compromised on second base last year. His bat got the Cardinals excited, as he raised his average steadily after a slow start, but his season ended in August when a fastball hit him in the face and broke his jaw. Boyd is a potential .300 hitter with gap power now. He has the bat speed to hit home runs eventually. Boyd has a good approach to hitting for his level of experience, but he needs to learn the strike zone. He's athletic and has the tools to play second base, though he still requires a lot of refinement. He has quick feet and his arm still needs work. Boyd is young and hasn't played a lot of baseball, so the Cardinals will send him one step up to high Class A and see what develops. -
Boyd was a UCLA recruit, and many people thought he would fall in the draft and head to college after a disappointing senior season in high school. The Cardinals took him in the first round, though, because of his athleticism. He had a solid debut at Rookie-level Johnson City playing in the outfield, where he moved during his senior year because of defensive struggles at shortstop. He was bothered by nagging hamstring and groin injuries. When he came to instructional league, Boyd told the Cardinals he wanted to move back to shortstop. The organization doesn't think he's suited for the position but said it would try him at second base. He also is going to become a switch-hitter, which may work because he has a nice hitting stroke. He has a quick bat and potential leadoff skills. All in all, it should be a busy spring as Boyd tries to find his niche. The organization still isn't sure where he fits best, but will try to put him where he's comfortable and where he can get to the big leagues the quickest.
Minor League Top Prospects
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Boyd was so lackluster in the league a year ago that several managers couldn't believe he had been drafted 13th overall in 2000. He started hitting toward the end of the season, then got hit in the head by a pitch. He made a triumphant return to Peoria, re-establishing himself as a prospect the second time around. He shortened his swing and did a better job of using the entire field. Boyd can hit any fastball and is a high-percentage basestealer. With a little more discipline, he'll fit nicely at the top of a batting order. Boyd's bat will have to carry him. He's more athletic than Hairston, but Boyd is slow on the double play and lacks quick feet. He also made 40 errors, three more than any other MWL second baseman. Boyd started his pro career as an outfielder but probably won't have the power to be a major league regular at that position.
