Greg Burns Stats & Scouting Report

AB	2314
AVG	.244
OBP	.344
SLG	.337
HR	19

Full name Gregory Burns
Born 11/07/1986 in Phillips Ranch, CA
Profile Ht.: 6'2" / Wt.: 185 / Bats: L / Throws: L
School Walnut
Drafted in the 3rd round (98th overall) by the Miami Marlins in 2004 (signed for $395,000).

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Burns is all about speed. He's been compared to Mickey Rivers, Vince Coleman and Juan Pierre--all center fielders who could fly. Burns has been clocked at 6.4 seconds in the 60-yard dash and 3.6 second to first base on a drag bunt. He glides to balls defensively. At 6-foot-4 and 180 pounds, he has a long athletic body and could add power as his lanky frame fills out. Scouts question whether he'll hit for average but he made major strides with the bat this spring, hitting .462 with four homers. His arm was also suspect in the past, but it's gotten much stronger since he stopped pitching. The 2004 season not only saw a marked improvement in Burns' tools, but his work ethic. He played with much more energy than in the past. Burns seemed like a sure bet to attend college when he committed to Hawaii last fall, but that now seems like a longshot. He's expected to be drafted in the first four or five rounds.

Top Rankings

Organization Prospect Rankings

Sent back to high Class A for a second crack at the Florida State League in 2009, Burns led the league with 163 strikeouts but still made progress in other areas. He set a career high in walks and attempted the most stolen bases of his career and displayed flashes of raw power. After six seasons, Burns remains one of the best athletes in the system--he turned down a football scholarship to play wide receiver at Hawaii--but still needs more strength and refinement. Burns struggles against lefties and must improve his bunting, and his lower half continues to betray him at times at the plate. As a result, he can't take full advantage of his plus-plus speed. He has tremendous range and closing speed in center field, and he doesn't shy away from walls. He also shows an average arm with good accuracy. Burns continues to add strength to his frame and has a strong work ethic, and he's only 23. But the clock is ticking with the depth of outfield prospects in the system. Burns figures to open 2010 in Double-A as the Marlins continue to wait patiently for him to take off.
Strikeouts are becoming even more of an issue with Burns, whose game must be predicated on speed and contact. As a result, he spent the full year in high Class A as fellow outfielders John Raynor, Scott Cousins and Bryan Petersen moved ahead of him and two more (Isaac Galloway, Bryan Petersen) passed him on this list. Burns has made himself more of a threat against lefties and his body continues to fill out with muscle, but he's still not putting up offensive numbers. He regressed in 2008 as his strikeout rate rose to a career-high 38 percent of his at-bats. He's at his best when he uses his strong hands and flat swing to put the ball in play, the better to take advantage of his blazing speed. Burns has yet to master bunting, and while he's a solid basestealer, he could do better considering his natural gifts. A plus defender with tremendous range and closing speed, he isn't afraid to throw his body into walls. His arm is average. Burns turned his back on a scholarship to play receiver at Hawaii, which made him an object of local curiosity when he was assigned to Hawaii Winter Baseball after last season. His athleticism, strong work ethic and outstanding makeup make him still worth watching as he tackles Double-A in 2009.
Part of an all-prospect outfield at Greensboro last year, Burns may have an even higher ceiling than those who flanked him, John Raynor and Scott Cousins. Burns' bat is still developing, but he did establish career highs for batting average (.280) and slugging percentage (.401) while repeating low Class A. He stayed in much better against lefthanders, actually faring significantly better (.318 average, .892 OPS) against them than against righties (.267, .698 OPS). He's growing into his body, adding muscle through the legs and shoulders, and that should add to his gap power. He has strong hands and a flat swing, and he does a good job of keeping the ball on the ground to take advantage of his speed. He has been clocked at 3.9 seconds to first base. Burns still must improve his bunting, but he has shown a strong work ethic and a willingness to try anything. He's a plus center-field defender with excellent range and closing speed. Once wary of walls, he now crashes into them in pursuit of fly balls. His arm is average despite a funky throwing motion. He managed to stay healthy, avoiding the sort of minor injuries that cost him time in the past. Next up should be a shot at high Class A as he progresses step by step up the organizational ladder.
How coachable is Burns? Enough to take the suggestion of assistant general manager Jim Fleming that he could cure his problem of striding too far into the plate by placing a 4-by- 4 piece of wood at his feet during cage work. Suddenly Burns was packing additional lumber for road trips and ignoring the ribbing of teammates. The teaching aid helped Burns salvage what a disappointing year with a strong August. He missed three weeks during the first half, after he jammed him thumb while sliding, and he often appeared overmatched at the plate. But his improved approach turned things around. Burns' all-around athleticism, especially his 3.9-second speed to first base, will always allow him to catch up in a hurry. His strong hands gives him some power. He has a flat swing and understands his role. Bunting remains a challenge even though he dropped 100 bunts a day during early work at home. Burns is a plus defender because of his range and closing speed. His arm is average despite an unusual throwing motion. He will try to carry his late surge to 2007 in high Class A.
Some scouts compare Burns to a young Kenny Lofton, only with more gap power. Marlins national crosschecker Joe Jordan, who since has become Baltimore's scouting director, saw him four times at a summer showcase in California and was wowed by his blazing speed on an inside-the-park homer. Burns signed quickly for $395,000. An 80 runner on the 20-80 scouting scale, Burns is regularly timed at 3.9 seconds or faster from the left side of the plate to first base. He is a plus defender because of his range and he has better arm strength than initially thought because of his funky arm action. His arm is accurate as well despite his form. He showed good plate judgment in the Gulf Coast League but must improve his basestealing instincts after getting caught in half his attempts. He has strong hands, and his swing mechanics were shockingly clean for such a young player. His upside is great as he didn't turn 18 until November. He has good makeup, a quiet demeanor, great confidence and wants to learn. His broad shoulders suggest he will add muscle as he matures.

Minor League Top Prospects

Burns is typical of the young, raw athletes who appeal to the Marlins. His game is built around speed, though he was plagued by a nagging hamstring pull and hit just .243 while getting caught in half of his 14 steal attempts. "His numbers haven't shown up yet, but he's the real deal," Marlins hitting coach Johnny Rodriguez said. "He's Juan Pierre--with power." Burns, who played all season at 17, has a feel for hitting and showed a willingness to take walks. He'll have to makes adjustments at the plate, as he has a long, uphill swing path. He also needs to keep both feet on the ground when swinging and to hit more grounders to take advantage of his speed. His quickness allows him to outrun his mistakes in center field, but he needs work on his jumps and routes. His arm strength is adequate and is enhanced by his quick release.