Cory Dunlap Stats & Scouting Report

AB	1425
AVG	.275
OBP	.4
SLG	.411
HR	37

Full name Cory L. Dunlap
Born 04/13/1984 in Almeda, CA
Profile Ht.: 6'1" / Wt.: 205 / Bats: L / Throws: L
School Contra Costa CC
Drafted in the 3rd round (88th overall) by the Los Angeles Dodgers in 2004 (signed for $430,000).

Top Rankings

Organization Prospect Rankings

While Dunlap continues to show an innate ability to hit, poor conditioning continues to hold him back. He ballooned to 300 pounds in high school in Alameda, Calif., where he played with Dontrelle Willis, but lost approximately 70 pounds and led all California junior college players with a .512 average in 2004. Former Dodgers farm director Terry Collins seemed to connect with Dunlap in his effort to promote better conditioning, but otherwise Dunlap hasn't shown enough drive to stay in shape. He came to camp well over his listed weight of 230 pounds last year and repeated high Class A. Dunlap has tremendous bat-head awareness and an advanced approach at the plate. He controls the strike zone, works counts and uses the entire field. He led the organization with a .435 on-base percentage. He shows plus raw power when he gets extended and finishes his swing. Dunlap can be beaten with fastballs in on his hands. He hit just .145 against lefties in 2006. He has adequate hands and instincts at first base. His range is well below-average, as is his speed. Dunlap will most likely spend most of 2007 at Double-A.
Because he was overweight, Dunlap wasn't drafted out of Encinal High (Alameda, Calif.), where he played with Dontrelle Willis. After Dunlap improved his conditioning and led all California junior college players with a .523 average in 2004, he went in the third round and signed for $430,000. He led the Pioneer League in walks and on-base percentage in his pro debut, then skipped a level and spent 2005 in high Class A. His efficient approach and modest power remind scouts of Tony Gwynn. Unfortunately, Dunlap's body also has been compared to Gwynn's--when Gwynn was at the end of his career. Dunlap's hands work well at the plate and he has good plate discipline, though he has a tendency to swing with his shoulders and lose balance. He added a toe tap that helped him keep his weight back, but his swing remains a work in progress. Until he gains consistent balance, he'll struggle to hit home runs. He does show raw power, especially to the pull side, in batting practice. His bat will have to carry him, because his speed and his range at first base are well-below-average. He does have adequate hands and an average arm. The Dodgers may slow things down for Dunlap a bit by sending him back to high Class A to start 2006.
Dunlap has dropped 70 pounds after ballooning to 300 in high school in Alameda, Calif., where he was a teammate of Dontrelle Willis. He maintained his conditioning at Contra Costa Junior College with the help of former major league all-star Willie McGee and climbed draft boards last spring. He led all California juco hitters with a .523 average. Described as a professional hitter, Dunlap had a strong debut and led the Pioneer League in walks and on base percentage while ranking as the league's No. 7 prospect. Dunlap's spray approach has drawn comparisons to Tony Gwynn's. He has a simple, level stroke with good strike-zone judgment. His power is mostly to the gaps now, but he shows potential to hit 25-30 home runs a year, and will pull pitches deep to right field on occasion. Dunlap has good plate coverage but is susceptible to balls in on his hands. He is a 30 runner on the 20-80 scouting scale. Defensively, Dunlap shows good instincts and adequate hands at first, though his range could improve. He tends to rush throws, leading to inaccuracy, though his arm strength is at least average. Sustaining his conditioning and improving his strength will be integral to his development. Dunlap could move quickly and should open 2005 in low Class A.

Minor League Top Prospects

The Dodgers have placed at least three players on our PL Top 10 in each of the last three years. Dunlap helped keep that streak going after signing as a third-round pick in June, a year after going undrafted as a junior college freshman. He hit .523 at Contra Costa JC in the spring to win the California community college batting title, then led the league with a .492 on-base percentage. His best tool is his bat. He has a simple, pure stroke from the left side and has a knack for finding the gaps in the outfield. As Dunlap improved on covering the inside part of plate, he showed power potential, and he projects to hit 25-30 homers annually. "He's a pure hitter," Carey said. "His stroke reminds you of Tony Gwynn. You have to pitch him in but he's learning how to hit that pitch where early in the season he hit everything the other way. He wears you out with balls away." Dunlap is an adequate defender at first base. He showed improvement around the bag and displayed an average if inaccurate arm.