Cody Strait Stats & Scouting Report

Full name William Cody Strait
Born 05/28/1983 in Beaumont, TX
Profile Ht.: 6'1" / Wt.: 180 / Bats: R / Throws: R
School Evansville
Drafted in the 12th round (348th overall) by the Cincinnati Reds in 2004.

View Draft Report

A transfer from Ranger (Texas) JC, where he played third base and shortstop in 2003, Strait settled in as a center fielder at Evansville. His speed (6.5 seconds over 60 yards), arm strength (88 mph from the outfield) and athleticism so impressed area scouts that some said he was the only true center fielder in their coverage area. He also led Evansville with a .374 average and hit 10 home runs. A handful of scouts see Strait as a third- or fourth-round pick, while others believe he's no better than a fourth outfielder.

Top Rankings

Beaumont, Texas, has been very good to the Reds. Jay Bruce, the team's top outfield prospect, and Strait both grew up in the southeast Texas town. A University of Evansville product, Strait is proof that basestealers can be made. He possesses 55 speed on the 20-80 scouting scale and has worked hard on getting good jumps, which allowed him to steal 50 bags last season to tie for the high Class A Florida State League lead. He also has tick above-average power, as he also tied for top honors in the FSL with 57 extra-base hits. He's a plus defender in right field, with a strong throwing arm that ranks with the best in the organization, and is adequate in center. Though strikeouts have been a problem for Strait, he trimmed his strikeout rate compared to 2005, and scouts in the Arizona Fall League were impressed with his improved two-strike approach. The hit tool is Strait's biggest problem. He projects to be a below-average hitter unless he can shorten his swing and tone down the aggressiveness that sometimes leaves him chasing pitches out of the zone. Some scouts don't see a lot of projection left in Strait--he already has a very muscular build. Strait is headed to Double-A in 2007.

Beaumont, Texas, has been very good to the Reds. Jay Bruce, the team's top outfield prospect, and Strait both grew up in the southeast Texas town. A University of Evansville product, Strait is proof that basestealers can be made. He possesses 55 speed on the 20-80 scouting scale and has worked hard on getting good jumps, which allowed him to steal 50 bags last season to tie for the high Class A Florida State League lead. He also has tick above-average power, as he also tied for top honors in the FSL with 57 extra-base hits. He's a plus defender in right field, with a strong throwing arm that ranks with the best in the organization, and is adequate in center. Though strikeouts have been a problem for Strait, he trimmed his strikeout rate compared to 2005, and scouts in the Arizona Fall League were impressed with his improved two-strike approach. The hit tool is Strait's biggest problem. He projects to be a below-average hitter unless he can shorten his swing and tone down the aggressiveness that sometimes leaves him chasing pitches out of the zone. Some scouts don't see a lot of projection left in Strait--he already has a very muscular build. Strait is headed to Double-A in 2007.